[jjam001]

Does anyone have instructions and pictures for changing the solenoid pack on my 93 intrepid. I've searched all over the forum and can't seem to find any complete information on how to accomplish this. I also need to know where to purchase one used and possibly new. trying to get out the cheapest way possible.

[TexasAxMan]

Don't go used on a part like that. I don't know how to replace them (except on a Caddy Northstar), but they are important and you don't want to do it twice, at twice the cost. Search the web, I'm sure you can find them.

[Veeb0rg]

we usually don't mess with them on here.. its usually just cheaper to swap in a 2nd gen trans then aquire a new solenoid pack..

[LH_Chris]

Dang man, I just put my shift kit in, I woulda takin pictures for you. But it not hard to do really.

1-Unhook the shifter linkage at the transmission. Its a 10mm bolt. The nut is square and shouldnt turn but usually does, so youll have to hold it with a 7/16 open end wrench. Once you loosen it, it will take a lil umph, but should slide off the shaft without trouble. When you have removed the linkage, take a pair of channel locks/pliars and turn the shaft counterclockwise as far as it will go, which should be one click past what would be L.

2-Just in front of the shifter linkage is an electrical connection that goes down into the tranny. Pull that connecter out. Blow the area of the connector with compressed air if you can before you do though, so no debre falls into tranny.

3-Undo the pan bolts which are 10mm. If your not careful be prepared for a mess.

4-Once the pan is off and the fluid is out your ready to drop the valve body. There are a bunch of bolts on it, some hold the valve body in, others hold the valve body and peices together. The bolts that you want right now are the ones that can be removed with a 10mm socket, as they are the ones holding it to the case. There is one bolt that is right next to the filter clip, so you will have to loosen the filter clip with a torx bit and swivel the clip out of the way to get at the bolt.
Once you are down to the last bolt, make sure you have a good hold of the valve body and when the final bolt is out, lowwer it SLOWLY, because you have two accuators that will most likely fall out of the trans. Do not let them hit the floor or get marred. Do not get the springs for the accuators mixed either. The accuator pistons are the same, but the spings are different. Once you get it down a little, if something is hold it up, it may be the selecter linkage on the inside. You may not have rotated the shaft counterclockwise enough or you may have to turn the whole valve body counterclockwise a little to get the lever inside to drop out. If the lever in the back isnt dropping out, then I was wrong about the counterclockwise, so go all the way clockwise,lol. Sorry dont have manual infront of me, doing this from memory, but Im pretty sure its counterclockwise.

5-Once you have the valve body out and have it setting somewhere SUPER CLEAN, you are ready to pull the soleniod pack off. It is held on buy 4 bolts(8mm i think) in a diamond shape. Comes off easily. Put your new one on and your ready to put the valve body back in.

6-This is where this job can get annoying. You can do it by yourself, but it helps you have an extra set of hands. Putting the valve body in. If they fell out, put the accuators back in the proper holes and hold or have someone hold them in place. Make sure they move freely and arent bound up. What I found works good is to put them in and have someone hold them in there with a clean putty knife. This allows you to get the valve body very close, then they can slide the knife out when you really close so the accuators only drop down a little bit and dont fall out. While they are holding the accuators up and your using one hand to put the valve body back in, you will have to take your fingers or a screwdriver with the other hand and position that gear selecter so that is slides back into place. Once you have it up and everything in position, only put a couple bolts in to hold it loosely up in place.

7-Now take the electrical connector and plug it back in. Once thats plugged in, put the rest of the bolts in the valve body loosely, and once all are in tighten them down.

8- Put the selector lever back on the shaft and tighten it down. Now go in the car and make sure you can feel it going into the gears. If everything is ok, move on. If not, drop the valve body and position the lever on the inside correctly.

9-If everything is ok, put the pan back on using black rtv sealer for the gasket and add the fluid. It took me about 9 quarts.

-I think this is everything. Good luck, its not a bad job.

[LH_Chris]

my brother put a used one in his car and it works fine...

[LH_Chris]

How do you figure?

[Veeb0rg]

well i know with my trans, the solenoid pack was going bad.. but so was the main pump..

plus ppl have gotten 2nd gen trannys for 100$ or so..

*shrug* his 93 prolly has a lot of miles.. i'd rather swap out a 100k mile tranny for a 36k mile tranny, then to go throu the hassle of replacing the old trans peice by peice.

[jjam001]

Thanks for the information right now i don't need any photos because LH_Chris drew a very clear picture in his instructions I don't think I'll have any problem. Thanks for all the other comments and advice very much appreciated. One more favor I found a picture on the forum of the solenoid pack but for the life of me I can't find it again. Please advise, meanwhile I'll keep looking a search brings a lot of files to look at. Again thanks for everything.

jjam001

[krue]

I spent $100 dollars for an 01 tranny with less than 40k on it including harness and t/c. I wound up with a better tranny and less headache.

Same here. Less mess too!!

[jjam001]

where can I find a tranny for $100?

[Vega420x]

is changin the solenoid pack on the 93 the same as doin it on the 94(im sure it is but i just want to make sure cause im prolly gonna have to change mine)

[LH_Chris]

yes

[Vega420x]

ok thanks Chris

[Big3]

If you pull the shift cable off of the shift lever post (it is a snap on fit), then you can rotate the shift lever very easily to the proper position to remove the valve body. Use a wooden ruler to hold the accumulator pistons up while the valve body is placed into position. I replaced all four of my accumulator pistons and seals with Sonnax piston/sleeve kits with much better seals than OEM.