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Transmission Leaks and Operational Problems Question This category contains featured
questions as examples. They relate to most vehicle.
Question: 1995 Subaru Legacy mileage: 40,000. I have a
question regarding viscous couplers. We just
bought this car last fall and shortly after
drove it in all the gears, including the
lowest. It then began lurching at a low
speed. We had it checked out and they said
nothing was wrong, that perhaps the viscous
coupler had gotten stuck and to release it
one needs to drive it in small circles. Last
Saturday we drove it down a mountain hill in
low for a bit and now it is doing the
lurching again especially with turns to left
and right. Is this a viscous coupler
problem? Why would it be getting stuck? Is
there anything else involved? We've not had
a Subaru before and it doesn't seem to be
the smoothest shifting car even though this
is an automatic. Thank you.
Answer: The problem you are
experiencing is probably caused by the
viscous couplers. Viscous couplers stick
when they are failing - they are not
supposed to stick. You very well may have to
replace them to fix your problem.
Question: 1983 Volvo DL 4
cyl non turbo mileage: 225,000. After
running at highway speeds when it's hot
outside, I can't get the tranny to go out of
overdrive. I've tried shifting into 4th and
even 3rd without any luck. It kind of goes
between both gears like it's slipping and
seems real hard on the gears. I believe that
the overdrive filter may be plugged
according to a manual I was looking at but
would like another opinion to feel better.
Is the fluid really ATF? Any help would
really be appreciated since I recently moved
and can't find my manual! Thanks a lot.
Answer: Your problem with
the transmission not shifting out of
overdrive is probably due to an internal
transmission problem. Changing the fluid in
the transmission may help. If not, it may be
time for some internal repair work.
Question: 1994 Ford F-350
7.3 turbo dsl mileage: 102,154.1. Truck
suddenly dumped all of the transmission
fluid out of vent tube in the dustcover
under the flywheel, what happened?
Answer: It sounds as if the
front seal has "popped" out of the front
pump of the transmission.
Question: 1987 Nissan 300ZX
turbo 6v mileage: 170,000. I purchased an 87
300-zx-turbo/automatic trans at auction a
couple of weeks ago. I pulled the trans pan
and found some very fine powdered chrome in
the pan. I replaced the fluid with Dextron
3. The trans was slow to engage when stopped
if very hot before, now, the trans is very
noisy. I noticed online that there seems to
be quite a few service bulletins regarding
the automatic transmission fluid. Am I using
the correct fluid?
Answer: From what you have
told us, we believe your transmission is
failing.
Question: 1994 Ford Taurus
Wagon 3.8 mileage: 127,000 km. My 1994 Ford
Taurus (3.8 l) will not go into 3rd speed
from my regular D (drive)(1st then 2nd then
stays there) But if I drive it in overdrive
it acts all ok (1st then 2nd then 3rd then
4th) Nonetheless I have been driving using
my overdrive but I will have to get it fix
eventually.
Answer: Scan the drive train
control module for fault codes. This should
help pinpoint the malfunctioning component.
Question:
1992 Geo Metro? mileage: 100,000.
My car's converter was replaced on Saturday,
and on Sunday, the car no longer switches
out of third gear. You can hear and
feel the engine changing gears, but it goes
no higher than third gear. I now also
get much less mileage for my gas, and the
car smells like rubber burning when I get
out. Is this an electrical problem,
and could my mechanic have purposely created
this problem? Thank you.
Answer: Probably when the
catalytic converter was changed, a wiring
loom may have been damaged. Return to
the service center that installed your
converter and ask them to re-inspect their
work, especially for wiring close to the
exhaust.
Question:
1994 Ford T-bird 4.6 V8 mileage: 75,900.
I had transmission trouble in November.
I had the transmission rebuilt. In
Feb., it started acting up the same way.
I took it back to my repairman and he claims
he cannot find anything wrong with it. It
will downshift out of overdrive at
anytime...at 55 miles an hour on a straight
road for no reason. What can be
causing this if the transmission is ok?
Answer:
You may have to replace the torque converter
clutch solenoid (TCC) as it may be “hanging
up”. Also, scan the power train
control module for fault codes.
Question:
1992 Chevy/cavalier 4 cyl mileage: 138,000.
After the car has been driven 20-30 minutes,
when slowing down or coming to a complete
stop it feels as if the transmission is
staying engaged, rather than coasting. If
you shut the car off then immediately
restart, it will stall when shifting into
gear. After being shut down for
10 minutes or so, it works again. I
also noticed once it reaches this point it
auto shifts very roughly. Thanks in
advance, for any help you might provide.
P.S. i had the transmission serviced,
and it didn't solve the problem.
Answer:
Since you have already serviced the
transmission, the next step would be to
remove the valve body and clean paying
special attention to the TCC solenoid.
The TCC solenoid may have to be replaced.
Question:
1994 Chrysler Concord 6 cyl mileage: 64,000.
When you come to a stop, there is a lag
before you can continue. It feels like the
transmission has to "catch up" with the rest
of the car. If you give it gas before
it catches up, the car goes into gear with a
thud. You can't roll through a stop
without coming to a complete stop and wait
for the transmission to "catch up".
Answer:
Your transmission may be ready for service.
Replacing the filter and fluid may correct
the problem. If after servicing your
transmission and driving your car for a week
or two you continue to have problems, you
may need a transmission overhaul.
Question:
1990 Chevy k1500 5.7 auto mileage: 199,851.
I was driving about 70 and my transmission
stopped working in all but first and
reverse. I had it rebuilt and it does
the same thing. Could it have computer
problems?
Answer: Check the ignition
switch. The circuit in the switch that
supplies power (12 volts) that operates the
transmission may have failed.
Question:
93 Ford Taurus LX 3.8 mileage: 78,000.
Transmission is repeatedly low on fluid --
about a quart every 500 miles. No evidence
of a leak anywhere under the car. I
had my mechanic check it thoroughly and
cannot seem to find leak.
Answer:
Assuming your transmission was checked for
leaks with the engine running and your
transmission has a vacuum modulator, your
may be loosing the fluid through the
modulator. There is a slight chance
the fluid is leaking from the transmission
cooler into the cooling system inside the
radiator. If this is the case, the
coolant itself will tell the tale.
Question:
1997 Chevy Silverado x-cab 350 Vortec
mileage: 56,000. My truck seems to have
developed several problems at one time.
The tach and speedometer quit working and
the transmission (electronically controlled
4 speed auto) seems to be in 2nd or 3rd gear
when you take off. Is there any
relationship between these problems that
seem to have happened all at the same time?
Answer: The
ignition switch may be causing your problem.
Just the other day, we had a Chevy truck
with the same symptoms and replacing the
ignition switch did the trick.
Question:
1993 Ford Escort 1.9L mileage: 75,673.
Hi, My name is Mike and I'm eighteen years
old and currently attending college in
Virginia. Lately I have been having some
problems with my car and I was hoping that
you could give me some advice on what the
cause of the problem might be? I have
two questions/problems... 1.)
For about 2 1/2 months now I have been
having problems with (I think) my engine.
My car starts fine it just seems to shutter
when I come to a stop at a traffic light or
stop sign. At first, the shuttering
was barely noticeable but recently it seems
to have gotten worse! Just
today, on my way to school, it "died" on me
(or whatever the technical term for it
turning off by itself is) twice while I was
stopped at a red light. It doesn't
always "die" on me at every red light, but I
can feel it wanting to! I found that
if I put my car into <NEUTRAL> after I came
to a complete stop that the shuttering
wouldn't be as bad. Do you have any
idea what could be causing this to happen?
2.) My second problem it somewhat related to
the first one. I have NO idea
why it seems to being doing this but
whenever I get my car up to around 50 MPH,
it starts to "hop"! (I think its just
shuttering but since I, moving it feels like
it's hopping). The weird thing is that
it only seems to do it at around 50 MPH!
I'll notice that it starts "hopping" and I
give it a little more gas and once I start
to get close to 55 MPH the hopping will stop
(or at least I won't be hopping enough so
that I can feel it)! The first thing
that came to my mind when that started
happening was that I maybe needed new tires.
Well, I got my car inspected in early
December and I was told that I needed new
brakes and tires! So I bought the
brake pads myself and my dad & I put new
brake pads on and I then took it to get new
tires and I got the alignment fixed (which
it wasn't that bad in the first place).
In addition, even after I had all that stuff
done my car still shutters when I come to a
stop and "hops" when I reach about 50 MPH!
Could you please help me out and possibly
tell me what is wrong with my car? I
would be greatly appreciative if you could
give me any advice you might have!
Being a college student & all, I was hoping
to cut whatever it will cost to fix my car
as much as possible. Thank you very
much for your time.
Answer:
Your car has a lock-up torque converter in
the transmission. It locks-up
only in high gear. It is supposed to
disengage at lower speeds. Yours is
not disengaging. There is probably a
valve in the transmission “hanging up”.
Having the transmission serviced with new
fluid may help the problem. Next step,
the valve body will have to be removed and
cleaned paying special attention to the TCC
solenoid. The TCC solenoid may
have to be replaced.
Question:
1990 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1 mileage: 131,000.
Had transmission serviced (fluid replaced)
by our regular mechanic. After
servicing it drove very rough when the
automatic transmission would down shift - it
made you pitch forward/lurching as you
slowed. Returned to mechanic, he
checked it over and stated that the only
thing to do was to disengage the torque
converter? This performs the shifting
for an automatic transmission. Any
other suggestions?
Answer:
Your car has a lock-up torque converter in
the transmission. It locks-up
only in high gear. It is supposed to
disengage at lower speeds. Yours is
not disengaging. There is probably a
valve in the transmission “hanging up”.
The torque converter is controlled by the
TCC (Tongue converter clutch) solenoid.
Replacing it should fix your problems.
Question:
1988 Chevy-Camaro 305TPI mileage: 80,000.
The torque converter engages in 3rd gear
most of the time. If I accelerate
faster than normal, it will not engage until
4th, only during cruising. It is a
700R4 with no modifications. Is there
a test for the TCC, 3rd and 4th gear
switches, its getting annoying?
Answer:
Scanning the PCM (power control module) for
fault codes should pinpoint your problem in
your transmission.
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