Car don’t seem to downshift
When I drive the car everything seems fine until I get ready to slow down and the car jerks. To me it feels like somethings bout to fall but to a man he say its not downshifting but I would like to know the cause.
My car has 15000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi There,
What you are describing sounds like possibly low transmission fluid or a bad speed sensor or potentially a faulty transmission control module, which also controls the speed sensors. The transmission control module has various sensors such as vehicle speed sensors, wheel speed sensors, throttle position sensors, turbine speed sensor, and transmission fluid temperature sensors that all direct information to it in order for it to perform it’s function. Other functions controlled by the TCM are components such as a kick down switch, traction control system, and cruise control module. Any of these may also affect the way the transmission control module performs and controls the transmission and the shifting of your vehicle. A faulty transmission control module may cause also cause a delay in acceleration or erratic shifting of gears. Lastly, this may also be a result of low transmission fluid. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your location to properly diagnose your transmission problem.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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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.
A vehicle that refuses to shift or into gear smoothly indicates there is a problem with your transmission. In most cases, the culprit is your transmission or clutch. A vehicle`s transmission system is very complicated. It has several moving parts, ignoring such an issue could quickly spiral into expensive repairs.
Yes, you will feel the downshifts being more pronounced than in most of the Japanese cars and American cars. It is normal, so relax and enjoy it.
If the downshift solenoid fails or has an issue, the vehicle may experience late shifting when slowing down. The transmission may stay engaged in a higher gear for an extended period of time when it should be downshifting.
Despite this, we wouldn`t recommend regular downshifts into first due to the strain it can put on the components within the transmission. So next time you feel that first gear is necessary to launch out of a corner, make sure you think about the required pedal inputs to perform a smooth shift.
The main reason the car won`t go into gear is that the level of transmission fluid in the vehicle is lower than required. If the level is low despite regular maintenance, there may be a leak. Transmission fluid, therefore, is important to ensure that the car`s moving parts are properly lubricated for functioning.
If your vehicle feels like it`s trying to change gears on it`s own and you can`t stop it, that`s a classic sign of a bad transmission. Shifting is rough. This common symptom of a failing transmission is easily noticed.
You might want to wait until you get to 35-40MPH before downshifting from sixth to fourth to third – using the brake, clutch and accelerator pedals properly. Do be careful if you slip into a much lower gear on the downshift. You might end up to over revving the engine, which could cause problems down the road.
When downshifting to a lower gear to perform an engine brake, you should make sure the rev counter isn`t over the red line. Drive for too long with a high RPM, and the engine could overheat, placing strain on the radiator and cooling system.
This issue may be caused by a couple of different things. A gasket near the transmission filter where it mounts to the valve body could be leaking causing the hydraulics within the transmission not to engage second gear properly. On the other hand, a shift solenoid may also be at fault.
Clutchless shifting is exactly what it sounds like: It means switching gears without utilizing the lever on the left bar. It`s a pretty common practice on upshifts, can work with downshifts, and, if done correctly, won`t hurt your transmission one bit.
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