The End. '95 TS 3.8

While driving home yesterday from a little league game, I was accelerating normally from a stop. While the vehicle was shifting from 1st to 2nd, it seemed to go 1st to nothing (revved up). Then as I let off the gas, I heard what sounded like a bucket of bolts rolling around. I pulled into the nearby grocery store parking lot to examine things. The engine ran a bit rough in park, but smoothed out when I put it in gear with the brake on. I could accelerate, but again, no 2nd gear, just the bucket of bolts sound. No reverse either. I was 3 miles from home, drove it home in 1st gear, topped at 30mph.

With 194,000 miles, I call it quits. Not interested in a tranny rebuild at this point. We did that with my wife's '95 TS when it had 100K (still running great at 170K). I am planning to turn this car in with the upcoming government program. If the law passes as it looks now, I'll get $4500 toward a new Honda Fit, which is like a mini-minivan. The program's interesting, as all vehicles need a max of 18MPG, at least 10 years old. The running condition is not specified, but it is irellevant, as long as I can drive it there. All cars turned in cannot be resold or used for parts - their engines and transmissions must be destroyed, so the dealer's don't stand anything to gain.

Oh well, it was a great vehicle for the time I had it. I might grab a few parts off of it before it goes for the other van, like the overhead console with the temp/compass etc.

Thats a shame man! Transports are the best vehicles in the world!

Ah! i feel for you, it's a sad moment. My 94 is beign used by the neighbor to hold his barn door shut so no one robs him. I cringe every time I drive by. At the end of August my 16-year-old son will start driving by himself. I will fill her tires and add some oil and get her on the road again! After all, she's only got 435,000 kilos. As long as the floor doesn't fall off, she should be good for a while longer.

Wow where has it been that the bottom is rusted out?

It's just age. I already re-built one strut tower which had popped off due to erosion and the other one is ready to go. I can't jack on the edges any more, it just crumples. It's really a shame, transmission is only 4 years old and engine runs like a top.

That sucks dude. It is really sad when stuff like this happen's. Your car is in a better place now lol

Wow where has it been that the bottom is rusted out?

Here's (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=5869219) how mine looked when I had a first look underneath last year.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=5869024&postcount=4

(http://picasaweb.google.com/yokwada/VanPix#)