1985 505 STI ... R.I.P. ?

Mark Samwick (mark@walshnet.com)
Wed, 15 Oct 1997 01:20:58 -0400

Well, after just paying $500 last weekend to replace a radiator fan clutch
(to prevent overheating) and a master brake cylinder (to facilitate
stopping without using the Flintstones' technique), it seems I've lost my
automatic transmission! It was so sad to see the old Peug dangling from a
AAA wrecker hook!

The incident was an accident waiting to happen. The console shifter would
glide between gears all too easily in my opinion. I reached down to change
the channel on my recently-installed Alpine radio, and as a withdrew my
hand, my wrist hit the shifter and bumped it from drive into second. It
had happened a few times before, but not at 70 MPH. It was all over very
quickly and very quietly, as I coasted to the side of the road. Not even
reverse would engage after that. After calling triple-A, I reclined the
driver's seat and spent 30 minutes of solitude watching cumulus cloud
formations through the sunroof. Zen and the art of Peugeot transmission
maintenance.

So as I await the tran-man's inspection, what should I be expecting, in
terms of a dollar estimate, to replace the whole darn thing? Any ballpark
estimates? And will it be worth it? I guess that last one is a pretty
subjective question.

Sad Mark in NC :-(