The transmission seems to go into neutral when I stop ,then I turn off the car then restart and I can go again until I stop
Auto trans goes into neutral all of a sudden when I stop,I turn off car ,then I can go until I stop again,I have to keep turning off the car and restarting it ,is my transmission bad or do I need a sensor or something?🚗😕
My car has 157000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. If it starts working fine once you restart the car, then chances are it is not the transmission failing. Most of the time, this is caused by a valve sticking in the valve body. They tend to get caught by debris or because the valve body has warped. I usually remove the valve body and inspect it. Once it is clean, if everything seems to function fine, then I reinstall it. If not, then I replace it. You really should have a transmission specialist take a look at it.
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Most of the time, this is caused by a valve sticking in the valve body. They tend to get caught by debris or because the valve body has warped. I usually remove the valve body and inspect it. Once it is clean, if everything seems to function fine, then I reinstall it.
Internally, the neutral gear also helps the automatic transmission gears transition more smoothly from being in the drive position to the opposite reverse position. And in the dire situation where your car`s brakes aren`t working, putting your car in neutral can help it gradually slow down (unless you`re on a hill).
Like a manual transmission, automatic transmissions also have a “neutral (N)” gear. In this gear, the engine will keep idling, but the wheels won`t turn. This gear isn`t used as frequently on an automatic transmission as on a manual transmission, as in an automatic one can come to a stop in drive without stalling.
A few common causes are low or dirty transmission fluid, or faulty shift solenoids. The transmission uses fluid pressure to shift the gears, and does so using electronic solenoids. If there is an issue with either of these the vehicle may experience problems shifting or transferring power to the wheels.
You might also hear what sounds like revving when your vehicle is in neutral. A sign that your clutch`s input shaft bearing has worn out is a noisy engine before you put your automobile into gear and then a normal-sounding engine once it is in gear.
If you have a neutral dropout, check your transmission fluid, transmission bands, worn-out gears, and solenoids (electrical valves that control transmission fluid).
Over time, dirt, debris and other tiny particles can accumulate in the transmission fluid, affecting its fluid properties. This can cause the vehicle to die when you shift into drive or reverse, allow a loss of power, transmission slip, rough shifts or even prevent the vehicle from shifting into gear at all.
The problem may involve an annoying change (up/down) of engine speed while cruising at a steady pace, a low drop (or even cut-out) at idle or when approaching a stop, a wild high engine speed of several thousand rpm followed by a drop to near zero, etc.
The Idle Air Control Valve is a critical component of your car`s engine. Its primary function is to control the airflow into the engine when the throttle is closed. If the IAC valve becomes dirty or faulty, it can cause the engine to idle erratically, resulting in fluctuating RPM.
The switch prevents the engine from starting when not in park or neutral. This eleiminates the risk of starting an automatic car in drive or reverse mode. Located in the linkage or the transmission box, a bad neutral safety switch can cause irreversible damage to your car`s engine and transmission.
Typically with transmission slipping, it may feel as if your gears are changing for no logical reason. Your engine may start to create a whining sound or pitch when it occurs. Alternatively, it may feel like you haven`t got enough power to drive at the desired speed.
If you happen to be stopped for an extended period of time, you may want to consider leaving your car in neutral and engaging the parking brake, or just leave it in drive. It`s up to you. However, leaving your car in park should mostly be reserved for parking, but it`s not totally wrong to do so.
While braking, you should always depress the clutch.
This is one of the most common scenarios wherein people do apply the brakes but forget to disengage the clutch in-turn stalling the car. Well, stalling the car especially with transmission load will take a serious toll on your vehicle`s gearbox assembly.
If the brakes fail during a drive, most people assume it`s best to turn the engine off. This is the wrong idea because turning off the engine also stops all control of the steering wheel. Placing the car into neutral during brake failure is the safest method as it allows you to steer the vehicle to a safe place.
Is it safe to shift the gear lever to “N” from “D” while the car is moving? If your car has an automatic transmission, you should not shift the gear selector from D to N (Neutral) while the car is moving. The automatic transmission has a built-in hydraulic pump that is driven when transmission is engaged.
If your car has an automatic transmission, the shift solenoid will shift the gears for you. The transmission control unit will take the information from the engine and speed sensors along with other parts of your vehicle to then decide when to shift gears for power and fuel efficiency.
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.
To test the torque converter, you must step on the pedal to the floor and accelerate your engine for up to five seconds. The reading for the revolutions per minute (RPM) will max out at the stall speed.
But a blown fuse No. 38 becomes a likely candidate causing a loss of power to the transmission solenoids.
An idle air control valve, also called an idle air sensor control motor, is an electrically operated valve that controls the amount of air that bypasses the throttle plate in cars with a fuel injection system [source: Autozone]. This causes the idling speed of the engine to change as needed.
Engine hunting and surging at idle is usually caused by a fuel delivery, air leak, or governor system problem. Cleaning/overhauling the carburettor, adjustment of the governor, and/or changing the air filer may be required.
Among the potential underlying causes are vacuum leaks, EGR system malfunctions, malfunctioning oxygen sensors, dirty fuel injectors, fuel pump malfunction, faulty spark plugs, a faulty mass airflow sensor, or a faulty throttle position sensor.
Typically, engines idle at about 600-800 rpm. Older engines may go up to 1200 rpm or more while warming up. But if the engine is revving up while idling, even after it`s sufficiently warmed up, you might have a problem. High idle speeds waste fuel, cause extra wear and tear on your engine, and can be unsafe as well.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
The transmission seems to go into neutral when I stop ,then I turn off the car then restart and I can go again until I stop
ANSWER : Hi there. If it starts working fine once you restart the car, then chances are it is not the transmission failing. Most of the time, this is caused by a valve sticking in the valve body. They tend to get caught by debris or because the valve body has warped. I usually remove the valve body and inspect it. Once it is clean, if everything seems to function fine, then I reinstall it. If not, then I replace it. You really should have a transmission specialist take a look at it.
Shifting from 2nd to 3rd, car stopped going fast. Now it won’t go at all.
ANSWER : It is possible that your clutch has failed. The sound you are hearing is likely due to the clutch not engaging with the engine due to it being worn. I would recommened having your transmission inspected by a qualified transmission expert to determine if your clutch requires replacement in order to resolve this issue. This inspection may require removal and partial disassembly of the transmission in order to verify that the clutch has failed.
Car won’t turn over. No lights come on when I turn it. Can’t even lock my doorsvor push the seat up or back.
ANSWER : Your probably correct, it sounds as though your battery is done. But it also sounds like you have charging system issues. I’m not sure that fixing your battery and charging system will solve the problem with the car shutting off, but it’s possible that it will and it’s a darned good place to start. By contacting Your Mechanic, you can have a technician come to your home or office to check out your car and help you figure out what to do next.
I was stopped on the freeway, started to go about 5 mph, the car jerked and stop without warning like the wheels locked up.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I’d be happy to try to help. It is hard to definitively diagnose what the issue is. At first it seems like a transmission issue. Automatic transmissions are rather complicated and can do strange things when they malfunction. If not an issue with the transmission, you could also have a clutch issue. Always start by checking the simple components first. Check your transmission fluid level. Make sure your transmission filter is clean and debris free. When you have the transmission pan off, you can look and see if there are any metal shavings at the bottom. There is often a small magnet at the bottom of the pan designed to gather any metal shavings for a quick diagnosis. This is a sign of more serious transmission problems. Unless you have experience with automatic transmissions, it is not recommended that major repairs be done at home. I suggest taking your car to a transmission specialist for help.
My car will go into neutral while I am driving it. To get it to work again, I have to pull over, turn the car off, and restart a m
ANSWER : Hi there. Assuming you replaced the TCM (transmission control module) with a factory part, a transmission shift relearn procedure should have been performed. It could be that you have a TCM connector or wiring issue if the same code has returned.
Time needs to be spent to confirm the diagnoses. It could be you received a faulty TCM. A low transmission fluid level could cause the symptom of feeling like the transmission slips into neutral. The low transmission fluid level would allow the vehicle to move a short distance, until the filter could no longer pick up fluid.
When fluid drains back into the pan, the filter can again pick up the fluid until the fluid level goes below the filter. I recommend having the transmission slippage inspected and diagnosed by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
My car stops when engine gets warm and while I am driving I stop on red light and car suddenly turn off and I have to hit starter
ANSWER : Hello, from what you’ve described it sounds like you are having several different issues. The starter should have nothing to do with it stalling, but it will have something to do with the car restarting if it doesn’t turn the engine well. The stalling can be from the distributor or possibly a computer sensor.
The scenario where you hit a car from behind may be from another problem, alongside with the idling of the engine. Without knowing the model and engine size of your car I can only say so much. I would suggest having a mechanic do a thorough check of the entire car to check the engine, brakes, and computer systems to see if the problems can be identified and repaired, or at the very least quoted.
As I’m driving, all my lights inside/out of the car turn off and the car still stays on. But when I turn the car off it won’t turn over
ANSWER : Hello there. The charging system on the car may not be charging the battery as you drive and the systems that keep the engine running are priority so the engine will stay running until the voltage drops below about 9 volts but the lighting and some other accessories may cut off above this voltage first. You should have the charging system tested to see if the alternator needs to be replaced.
I just got a new transmission put in my car and it drives and reverse but won’t go up hill.
ANSWER : This may be a sign of a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, 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.
