Im up to around 180k on my 88' automatic 2wd 22re. Ive never had much problem besides my U-joint that is ready to go and vibrates the car a little bit. But now I have noticed a new issue, rarely my truck will hesitate to move... the engine revs but the it takes a second and then kicks into Drive..

I haven't been too worried since the car still drives fine and the problem has only occured a handful of times. But it's a little alarming, a new tranny would be a serious time trial to get my daily/work truck back on the road. And I bet rebuilding it would cost well over a grand.

Are there any test i can do, to diagnose this issue?

 

you may just need a transmission service. flush the old fluids, change some gaskets, and new fluid. Or it could be your fuel pump, had kinda the same syptoms on my old paseo and it turned out.

 

There are several things that make autos slip . First check fluid level hot and engine running
A slipping torque converter can cause this as well as a the forward sprag and primary clutches
A clogged filter the valve body and pump need good pressure/flow to operate at a the appropriate psi
What ever you do don't add any type of fix all trans fluid helper stuff it's a death sentence
At 180k if the trans has never been serviced ? I would be hesitant to do a flush it may kill it depending on the fluid condition .new fluid is ruff on old clutch packs .... If you suspect the filter you can drop the pan and change it .....I normally catch the old fluid in a clean pan filter it using a coffe filter in a funnel into a clean jug and re add it to the trans ..depending on if the trans fluid has never been changed or is showing black material in the fluid . ...swap to a manual trans is another option comparing rebuild prices vs 4/5 spd swap

 

Manual swap it.

 

The tranny fluid was pretty low, so I just added some more. But I think that bad U-joint shaking the whole ride is what is starting to **** me over.

I've never done joints before but Ive seen some videos and they had a pretty tough time getting the old one out. Especially with out a torch :-/

 

its the perfect time to swap in a stick!! just gotta find one now.

 

Just make sure u get the drive shaft to. Itll probably have better ujoints in it as well. Im not positive that u cant keep ur drive shaft. And yes ujoints are a mother!
Also the mount the tranny holds onto has a bolt on plate for the tranny mount to crossmember better get that to for manual. Then obvious pedal assy. Clutch master and slave and lines according. Flywheel. flywheel bolts and a clutch kit! Find a manual truck at a wrecker and have at it!