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Car Transmission Questions
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.Repair
Topics / Transmission-1
/ Transmission-2 /
Transmission-3 /
Transmission-4 /
Transmission-5
/ Transmission-6 /
Transmission-7
/ Transmission-8
/ Transmission-9
/ Transmission-10
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