Transmission does not shift?

Tiny
ELIZABETH BURCHAM
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 2.2L
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 96,000 MILES
So I noticed that my car shifts first in second but once I am at 40 mph it does not shift and it revs to 3 but still goes faster. I had an auto store hook up their machine and it is saying that the speed sensor is off. I have no idea. No one will help me if it is the transmission because these vehicles are very hard when dealing with transmission. What to do?
Thursday, November 8th, 2018 AT 6:44 AM

32 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning.

Was there a code set that the parts store got on there scan?

The throttle position sensor controls the shifting command for the transmission and the TCM tells the shift solenoids to work as well.

When was the last time the oil/filter in the transmission was serviced?

Roy

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission
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Thursday, November 8th, 2018 AT 7:19 AM
Tiny
VANCE24
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Boosted the battery in my car and now it will not shift into overdrive. I can only drive 60 km/hr at about 3000 rpm. Any ideas?
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,798 POSTS
Hey VANCE24,

When you jumper the battery did you by chance jump it backwards of a second? If so the computer has been knocked out and needs replacement. If not, check all fuses, here is a guide to help you.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Let me know what you find.

Best, Ken
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VANCE24
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Brought it to a mechanic, couldn't find any bad fuses. He hooked up a scanner and thinks that it may be a transmission control module located inside or around the transmission. Now I have to bring it to a tranny guy. This make sense?
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
As ken has mentioned if the battery was hooked up reverse polarity even just a battery flash, this can burn out circuits in the pcm and other control modules, the scan should give info on what is at fault, if this mechanic is not sure by all means get a second opinion before doing anything, if you can post any codes set that will help up look a little deeper into this problem.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VANCE24
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
PO 446,496,602,603, po62f, 722,741,757,973,974,1810,1816,1818,446,496,602,603, 62f, 705,716,722,741,742,751,752,756,843,973,974,977, p2534,2764, u0073, u0100
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,798 POSTS
Yep it looks like the computer is burned up, you will need a new or used one sorry, it happens. Let me know after you have replaced it.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAWN32
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 30,895 MILES
Chevrolet Colbalt ODBII Codes
The Code Reads P1174 I Can clear It And It Returns About 48 Miles Or So The Light Come Back on The Car Drives Fine No Engine Or Trans Shifting Problem What Is This Code And Should I Be Concern About It

Thanzs In Advance
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Hello

P1174 indicates fuel trim cylinder balance malfunction. This means that your cylinder-to-cylinder air to fuel ratio is not balanced properly. Usually caused by a faulty heated oxygen sensor located on the exhaust. It will not harm your vehicle but it will lower your fuel mileage and the engine light will remain on until the issue is fixed, which will fail an emissions test for some states.

Thanks for using 2CarPros. Com !
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VANCE24
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
For some reason, after doing the scan, then erasing all the codes before unplugging, everything is working normal.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GARYMTB51
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have the same problem on Daughters car wouldn't the code for O2 sensor show too
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Well that is odd, normally I would expect that the pcm would be toast, but if it is working just test drive and if there is no problem your on a winner, just keep us informed as to how it goes.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
No, not always. The computer may only show the 1174 but it will actually be the oxygen sensor causing the code and teh computer just doesn't recognize that the o2 sensor is what is really the culprit. The OBDII system is a great way to start troubleshooting but if you aren't careful you can still end up spending $$ on parts that are not actually at fault.

Thanks for using 2CarPros. Com!
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CGREENJULES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 135,000 MILES
On my way to work this morning, the car started idling weird and the check engine light came on, so I pulled over and it died. I let it sit for about 10 min and started it. I was able to make it to work but while I was driving, the car was not shifting properly. The rpm's were staying at 2.5. It is an automatic. About a month ago I replaced the fuel filter and had the throttle body cleaned. Can you please give me an idea?
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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The "check engine" light is an indicator for a system that monitors many electronic functions in the system, also called the "malfunction indicator lamp" (MIL). It can come on for any of hundreds of different causes from any of the systems that the computer monitors. Some are very important and can lead to further component or engine damage and some are emissions related not as serious but still a problem and need to be repaired.

Your first step is to have the computer scanned to retrieve the trouble codes that were set when the check engine light came on. Those codes will give you specific information about what the computer saw and will get you pointed in the right direction to find your problem. With a 1996 or newer and some 95 cars and you have an AutoZone or Advanced auto parts in your area, they will read them for free. Once you have these code numbers, we can be a lot more specific about what your problem may be.
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,542 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 104,000 MILES
It is an automatic and when I drive it will not go past the 7 rpm mark. It wont shift into the higher gear
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
7000 rpm? Thats ause to this model. The trans has a fault and needs a shop to check it for failure

Roy
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NELSON1870
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have the same problem on my chevy cobalt 2006 went I drivin dont shift 4 and 5th shift I dont know if is the transmission or computer I ready change the transmission control systen but I steel have same problem I hope samebody can help
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHADCOTNER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 93,000 MILES
Hi everyone,

I went out this morning to start my Cobalt and the battery was gone. I called AAA who came out and replaced my battery. I thought I was good to go after this. Once I started my car, I noticed that the temperature indicator wasn't working and once I started to drive, I noticed that the speedometer isn't working and the car won't shift past first gear. AAA tried to jump start my car before they replaced the battery, and I'm thinking that a fuse might've been blown out whenever they tried to do so, which may be causing the problems with the car not shifting and the speedometer/temp indicators not working.

When I called AAA and told them about this, they sent someone out to my house who looked at the car and basically told me that I was full of it to think that a battery switch could be causing all of these problems. Yet, the car was working fine before the battery was switched out and the car was jump started.

I don't have a method to check the voltage on the fuses right now. Anything in particular I should tell the mechanic to check/look out for?

Can anyone provide some insight as to what might be going on here?

Thanks,
Chad
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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:22 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,798 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like fuses got blown when the battery was changed, could be becasue the key was left on when the battery was connected. You will need to do a visual inspection on all fuses, here is a guide that will help you and the fuse location below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

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Thursday, July 16th, 2020 AT 7:22 PM (Merged)

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