Gear shift slips over to Manual Transmission without touching. I have to hold it to keep it in Automatic.
Gear shift indicator can either be Automatic or Manual – when putting in "Drive" from the park position – it slips over to Manual Transmission – I can push the knob and hold it in place ( for automatic) but that's not an optimal way to drive — what gives ? Also – does this model require transmission fluid? I was going to check that – can't find in the owners manual where that would be … please advise
My car has 180000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. All automatic transmissions require transmission fluid for them to work. In your engine compartment by the right side next to the radiator area, there is a box in front of the air filter housing. Remove that box and below the air filter housing you will see the dipstick to the transmission. For the transmission not staying in automatic mode and conveying over to the manual mode only, the shifter has either broke inside or the circuitry has a short in the shifter housing. I recommend replacing the shifter assembly with a new one. If you need further assistance with your shifter not selecting automatic mode, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Transmission Fluid Low or Poor Condition – Vehicles low on transmission fluid or that are operating with worn out or contaminated fluid are likely to experience hard shift conditions. Lack of adequate lubrication within the transmission can cause several problems, including hard shifting.
One main reason why the automatic transmission in your car may not be shifting smoothly is the ECM is going bad. It is best to get this checked out by an experienced auto mechanic technician who understands the electrical system. Other indicators include bad connections within, or worn out sensors and faulty solenoids.
If when you put your vehicle into gear and it won`t move, this may be a problem with low transmission fluid due to a leak, the shifter, shifter cable, or it could even be a problem in the valve body of your automatic transmission.
Volvo vehicles are renowned for their quality and reliability, but even the best cars can have issues from time to time. One common problem that many Volvo owners have encountered is transmission problems.
The most common reasons a manual transmission failed are lack of lubrication, incorrect lubrication and improper or no clutch release.
The Vehicle Speed Sensor measures vehicle speed. When it fails the transmission can stop shifting or shift late and harsh. A bad VSS may also inhibit overdrive and the converter clutch.
It might feel like a jerk, clunk or thud. This is usually caused by troubles with the vacuum, transmission fluid or a faulty sensor. The vacuum modulator valve helps older vehicles determine when to shift gears. There`s a hose that connects the valve with the intake through a hose.
But a blown fuse No. 38 becomes a likely candidate causing a loss of power to the transmission solenoids.
It`s a type of car problem that`s not hard to notice. Volvo XC90 transmission problems can present themselves as shifting delays, grinding or jumping during acceleration, the car shaking on the road, or whistling noises or a burning smell coming from beneath the hood.
In the case of Volvo, there are a few common problems that require attention, including cooling fan issues, complicated transmission, fuse box problems, power steering leaks, and fuel leaks.
If your transmission won`t stay in gear, your clutch is to blame. It`s likely that one of two problems is to blame: First of all, your clutch may be worn down. If you have a clutch with a worn disc, flywheel, bearing, or pressure plate, it may be time to replace the clutch. Second, your clutch pedal may be misaligned.
Gearbox bearing failure symptoms cause shaking, jerking or grinding and will affect the steering wheel. Automatic gearbox problems often cause problems like hesitation, slipping, or trembling during gear changes. Manual cars usually make a grinding sound if it has a gearbox fault.
A faulty crankshaft sensor is also used by the transmission as an input shaft speed sensor for the transmission to shift correctly. The sensor may affect shifting and also the way the engine runs. Your engine may also have went into failure mode if the crankshaft sensor is failing.
Common signs include harsh or improper shifting, cruise control not working, and the Check Engine Light coming on.
Rusting, power failure, irregular pressure, missing equipment, an incorrect amount of voltage or current, dirt stuck in the system and corrosion are some of the possible reasons why a solenoid valve may not properly close or open.
a problem with one or more of the solenoids can cause a lack of pressure, resulting in hard, soft or delayed shifts. a failed shift solenoid can also cause transmission slippage, where your engine revs faster but the car stays at the same speed.
Fixing Rough Transmissions
All you have to do is add a bottle of Transmission Treatment & Leak Stopper. It`s specially designed to smooth rough shifting. As you might guess from the “leak stopper” part, Tranny Honey stops transmission leaks, so low fluid levels should no longer be a problem.
Symptoms of a Bad Transmission
Odd sounds (whirring, squealing, bumping, or thumping) Grinding noise. Transmission jumps out of gear (into neutral) Difficulty shifting gears.
Fixing Rough Transmissions
All you have to do is add a bottle of Transmission Treatment & Leak Stopper. It`s specially designed to smooth rough shifting. As you might guess from the “leak stopper” part, Tranny Honey stops transmission leaks, so low fluid levels should no longer be a problem.
Symptoms of a Bad Transmission
Odd sounds (whirring, squealing, bumping, or thumping) Grinding noise. Transmission jumps out of gear (into neutral) Difficulty shifting gears.
When a shifter becomes hard to move, it is usually the interlock cable. AKA, shift cable. This cable slides in a housing and connects directly to the transmission. When this cables becomes worn, it gets hard to move inside the housing.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Gear shift slips over to Manual Transmission without touching. I have to hold it to keep it in Automatic.
ANSWER : Hi there. All automatic transmissions require transmission fluid for them to work. In your engine compartment by the right side next to the radiator area, there is a box in front of the air filter housing. Remove that box and below the air filter housing you will see the dipstick to the transmission. For the transmission not staying in automatic mode and conveying over to the manual mode only, the shifter has either broke inside or the circuitry has a short in the shifter housing. I recommend replacing the shifter assembly with a new one. If you need further assistance with your shifter not selecting automatic mode, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
There is automatic transmission fluid in a manual transmission. Is it okay to leave or do I need manual transmission fluid?
ANSWER : This would depend on what the manufacturer recommends. Many manual transmissions do take automatic transmission fluid. If your transmission has ATF in it, it is very likely that it is supposed to have that in there. If not, it is likely that the transmission would not function properly with the wrong fluid. Many manual transmissions will also take engine oil as a lubricant. The best way to know for sure is to check your owner’s manual or call your local General Motors dealership to inquire.
VW Bora V5 2001 automatic dosnt shift gear from 3rd (manually shifted) until i hit the rpm over 6000 plus
ANSWER : This is common when the vehicle is low on transmission fluid or has a faulty transmission control solenoid. Automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car’s computer activates a transmission solenoid, which directs transmission fluid into the valve body to engage the correct gear. When this is faulty or not working properly, this can cause a delay in gear shifting or in some cases cause the car to not shift at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take the car for a test drive to more specifically determine the cause for this.
My gear shift doesn’t shift to any other gear its stuck on neutral. I open the gear assembly and I can pull a lever which allows me to move it.
ANSWER : Hi there. The shifter interlock solenoid is not working and needs replaced. The shifter interlock solenoid makes the shifter lock in place so it does not move if you accidentally move it into another gear. If you need further assistance with your shifter not working, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Automatic transmission issues, high RPM at low speeds
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Chrysler Cirrus. The transmission control module would need to be scanned to see if the codes stored may indicate the shifting problem you are having. You may have an internal shift solenoid problem causing the shift problem. A speed sensor for the transmission may also cause the transmission not to go past second gear. I recommend having a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect your shifting issue and high RPM problem in person in order to have the correct repairs made.
my transmission is "slipping" 3% of the time
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your transmission is beginning to slip. This can be caused by many things. The first thing I would do is check the vehicle’s transmission. Automatic transmission use fluid pressure to operate, and will have all sorts of issues if the fluid is low or dirty. If the fluid checks out, I would then move on to looking at the transmission itself. It may be possible that one of the components, such as a sensor or solenoid may be going out and causing your issue. It may also be possible that the transmission is simply worn out and can no longer hold the engine torque, perhaps due to a worn clutch pack, valve body, or torque converter. In these cases of removal and overhaul of the transmission is required. You may be able to continue driving the vehicle, however, because it may cause the symptoms to worsen over time if the issue is not quickly addressed.
2003 jeep liberty stuck in reverse, shifter is stuck…but crawling under and trying to manually shift from transmission stuck
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on what you have written above, it is highly probable that the inner linkage has come loose or there is an obstruction within the inner gear set that is causing your problem. Unfortunately, this typically requires dropping the transmission and repair or inspection from the inside. This is not a service our mobile mechanics are equipped to offer, so your best bet is to contact a local transmission specialist for assistance.
The car doesn’t shift into first gear while it works fine in reverse
ANSWER : The problem could be that the internal transmission pump is weak, or the transmission clutch seals are leaking. It sounds like the transmission will need an overhaul.
I recommend having a transmission mechanic test the pressures and diagnose the problems to verify whether you need an overhaul with a new torque convertor.
