Alright - my car : 1998 Sunfire with a 2200 SFI and the 3 speed automatic.
Issuse: Car damn near refuses to shift from second to third. It gets to the shift point and just revs like there's no tomorrow. Checked trans fluid (little bit low, added like half quart) and checked for any visual damage to transmission case. Case looked good, no leaks that I can find and trans fluid is bright red and doesn't smell burned at all. Also, no metal shavings or anything of the like to tell me something has gone horribly wrong.
Any thoughts?
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How many miles are on it? The transmission could just be plain worn out. By revs like no tomorrow, do you mean it doesn't shift and just stays at high R's, or it starts slipping and free revs like it's in Neutral?
-95 CAVfire SE Sedan 2.2L *Retired*
-99 Sunfire GT 2.4L
-85 Dodge Shelby Turbo TII Roller Cam Build *in progress*
Its got about 171,000 miles on it. By revs like no tomorrow I mean it won't shift from 2nd to 3rd and just stays at high RPM. I guess it could just be worn out, but I don't know why the problem would show up out of nowhere then. I guess I figured it would be more gradual if that's what it actually is.
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OK, if it just isn't shifting into 3rd it may be fixable. I am not a transmission guy, but a severely clogged filter could be it, or I have heard of a solenoid that the 3 spds have that goes out and prevents the transmission from shifting right. It may be as simple as the shift cable being out of place, and you may really be putting it in 2L instead of D.
-95 CAVfire SE Sedan 2.2L *Retired*
-99 Sunfire GT 2.4L
-85 Dodge Shelby Turbo TII Roller Cam Build *in progress*
Agree with what Dave said. You could try "on a safe place" reversing the car I mean putting the pedal to the metal in reverse and making a hard stop and simultaneously moving your shift stick to forward and slamming in the pedal again ( you may have to do it two or three times) this sometimes works getting free a stuck valve, because of sudden oil pressure changes in the valve body liberate the valve although not sure if in your tranny what makes the changes in oil press are electric solenoids mmm Do you have a check engine or trans warning light on? On a 93 automatic Camry that did not go into 1rst.not even manually putting it in 1 we fixed it replacing the 1rst-2nd solenoid. So I guess if your tranny has a second to third solenoid that must be it.
Dave Taylor wrote:OK, if it just isn't shifting into 3rd it may be fixable. I am not a transmission guy, but a severely clogged filter could be it, or I have heard of a solenoid that the 3 spds have that goes out and prevents the transmission from shifting right. It may be as simple as the shift cable being out of place, and you may really be putting it in 2L instead of D.
I am going to try to change the filter. Not sure where the selenoid is, never had the 3 speed out of the car. Will do some digging on line for that.
Luis Baptista wrote: You could try "on a safe place" reversing the car I mean putting the pedal to the metal in reverse and making a hard stop and simultaneously moving your shift stick to forward and slamming in the pedal again
That sounds like a horrible idea to me. I don't want to ^#&( up the gears any more than they are already. It still shifts from 1 to 2 and all that would do is actuate the valve for 1st. I will pass on that... and I wouldn't recommend trying it to anyone reading this post either.
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Yeah what Luis said sounds like ur going @!#$ up more then fix, and in all of the 14 years I have been working on cars have I ever heard a mechanic tell someone do this. Granted he is alot older then we are, but even during my GM certs, and technical schooling and years of working in the field, have never heard someone doing or saying "Hey neutrual drop your car from going WOT in reverse to drive and see if that fixes it lol. Either way, glad you have a brain and dont try that.
It can very well be the solenoid, and that is located on the side of the trans under a cover. There will be 2 in there IIRC. There will be a Torque Convertor Clutch Solenoid, and a Pressure solenoid. I cant seem to find if it actually had a shift solenoid or not. But it could be that. But TBO, it would be worth it to just go to car-parts.com and look up a transmission for your car. There very easy to put in and can be done in a weekend if you have pretty much a set of hand tools, and a jack or two, and patience. The downloadable repair manual they have on here somewhere will tell you step by step on how to do it. Its just a matter of jacking up the front of the car high enough to pull the engine cradle, and place the jack under it, and then unbolting it, and dropping it from below. Either way that would be the best way instead of dicking around with this one. Goodluck man.
Does anyone know where that repair manual is? I looked at my Haynes for the car and it was less then helpful as far as the selenoid location and also removing the transmisson with the engine still in the car. If anyone knows where that linky is that would be awesome. I searched and couldn't find it in the first 5 pages. (YES I checked the sticky, unless I missed it somewhere.)
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I dont know were that manual is.I know that ATSG has repair manuals or your local library might have a Mitchell manual.Could be your trans is just worn out.Did you drop the pan and check for metal shavings?Is it stalling or bucking? Here is a link dont know if it helps much
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/l/aa011703b.htm .
Library said "we wouldn't carry anything like that." lol. Anyhow - the trans has 171,000 on it, so its possible. I haven't had a chance to drop the pan yet (I live in Michigan... and don't have a garage... wayy too much snow.) It hasn't been stalling or bucking at all. It was shifting flawlessly the last few weeks, then on saturday - gooooood bye 3rd gear.
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Ill try and find it, but its only the Haynes manual, and it wont give u the location. Go to google, and Type in 3t40e and I found a break down of the trans itself.
Alrighty - bringing this back for a little more help. The trans is STILL screwed up. I want to try and replace the simple / cheap stuff first. A fluid and filter change are in line in the next week or so (no garage, too much snow right now) but I have also noticed that the Throttle Valve Control Cable doesn't seem to be working quite the way its designed. I tried adjusting it, but it doesn't seem to want to lock into place. Anyone know where to get a new one? I really would prefer not getting one from the UPull because odds are its just as stretched out as mine is and won't be any help. Local auto parts stores have nothing and some never even heard of it. Do I really have to go through the dealer?
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Luis Baptista wrote:Try rockauto.com
Nope.. no luck. Its like this damn part doesn't exist anymore.
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