BigEdge02

Thanks for all the info zbeck!! I've dropped and replaced a few transmissions before so I'm somewhat familiar with that process, so I might take the full replacement route especially if thats the cheaper way to go. I'll probably still venture inside the "broken" tranny though once its off to get an idea of whats going on in there. Thanks for all the references to the manual too, that'll definitely come in handy! Thanks for all the posts everyone....wish me luck!

Thanks for all your help friends, and for writing back so quick! The lock-up solenoid, aka:Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid Valve (TCCSV) sticking sounds exactly like what might be causing the issue. I guess as the tranny heats up the solenoid probably becomes "un-stuck" since it drive fine when its warmed up. So now for the dirty part....Is this TCCSV something that can be replaced in the average home mechanics driveway, or should I not even ask how to do it and just bite the bullet and take er in to a shop?

I use the e-brake all the time pretty much, its a habit from driving my camaro which is manual.

Hey All, I've been having some tranny problems lately and despite trying all the "basic" fixes, I can't get it taken care of. Within the first 3 to 5 min. of driving is when all the issues occur....When I start er up after sitting for awhile (like overnight), it starts fine in Park, but when I put it in gear (D or R), sometimes it stalls right away, sometimes its fine. If I get going, and accelerate, it always stays in 1st gear (doesnt shift at all regardless of lifting off the pedal, or manually shifting it into other gear positions) and when I come to a stop it shudders then stalls and then I start the process over again. No check engine light/codes come up at all. Like I said though, this ONLY occurs within the first 3 to 5 min. of driving, after its warmed up, it drives like it was brand new, no issues at all....I'm stumped! I've tried a basic tranny fliud/filter change....nothin. I tried a fluid flush....nothin. I even tried a transmission additive on a whim...nothin. I didn't see any metal chunks in the fluid/pan, but there were some small bits (like about half the size of a BB) and the usual metal filings on the magnet. So all the "basic" stuff has been tried, any ideas what I should try next? Anybody experience anything like this ever? I'd like to have a good idea of what might be going on before I take it in to a repair shop and get a $2000 bill for a new tranny I might not have needed. Its a '99 R50, AT, 4x4, 157,000 miles Thanks for any help you can offer!

Alright, so I thought I had a '99.5 (because thats what the dealer told me) but now I'm thinking its a '99. I bought it brand new and I'm pretty sure (didn't look through all my old files yet) that I got it in Feb. of '99. The build date on the sticker is 6/98 which right there tells me that its probably not a '99.5 because I'm pretty sure, after doing some searching and talking to you guys, that 12/98 was when they began the '99.5's. I did a vehicle VIN look-up (at a site called motoverse.com) and it also tells me its a '99, here is my look-up: http://www.motoverse.com/tools/vinDecoder/JN8AR05Y3XW296085 I'm not sure if the look-up could distingiush between '99 and '99.5 because it was just one of those basic free look-ups, no in-depth details really. Also, after some more researching, I'm pretty sure that the '99.5's (among many other changes) also got new front and rear bumpers that look different from the '99's. I'm pretty sure that from '96 to '99 the front bumper had the fog lights more towards the middle, near the tow hooks, and '99.5 to '04 had the full plastic bumper with the fogs more towards the outside, kinda like the qx4 (mine is the like the '96 to '99's)...can anyone confirm this? Its not really a huge deal, I love my pathy reardless, I'd just like to finally know the "true" year of my R50. Thanks

Wow, definitely more changes than I thought, so basically I could probably get parts from either the older (96-99) R50's or the newer (99.5 - 04) R50's, depending on what part it is of course. Thanks everyone for all the info! What build date on the driver's door sticker qualifies a 99 as a 99 or 99.5? Thanks

Hey all, Newbie here, I have a 99.5 pathy and I got a question about the difference between the 99.5 and 99. I did a search but couldn't really find what I'm looking for....How can you tell, just by standing there looking at it, if its a 99 or a 99.5? I know that you can check the build date on the sticker on the drivers door, but I'm not really sure what date means what. The main reason for my question is because I'd like to know about interchangeable parts for the R50's, especially the trans cause I think its starting to go, got 167k miles on 'er. I know that in 2001, the R50 went from the 3.3 to the 3.5 motor, so does that mean that all pathy's from 96 up to 2000 are the same (parts wise)? Thanks for any info!