Delayed shifting
My car lags to get out of 1st gear can it be a sensor ?
My car has 117000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi There,
You may be correct in that this may be a result of a faulty speed sensor, potentially low transmission fluid or a even a faulty transmission control solenoid. As your vehicle travels down the road, the computer analyzes data being sent by vehicle speed sensors and engine speed sensors. Based on this information, the Engine Control Unit (ECU), or the Transmission Control Unit (TCM), executes the appropriate upshifts and downshifts by sending a signal to one of several shift solenoids. These transmission solenoids have spring-loaded plungers inside them, which are wrapped with wire. When this coil of wire receives an electrical charge from the TCM / ECU, it causes these plungers to open, allowing transmission fluid to flow into the valve body and pressurize the desired clutches and bands. When this happens, the transmission changes gears and you continue down the road. The computer controls the transmission solenoid in several ways. If the vehicle is equipped with a dedicated Transmission Control Unit, it can open or close the hydraulic circuit using a direct 12v signal. In some cases, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) can control the solenoid’s plunger by turning the ground circuit on and off. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your transmission.
You may be correct in that this may be a result of a faulty speed sensor, potentially low transmission fluid or a even a faulty transmission control solenoid. As your vehicle travels down the road, the computer analyzes data being sent by vehicle speed sensors and engine speed sensors. Based on this information, the Engine Control Unit (ECU), or the Transmission Control Unit (TCM), executes the appropriate upshifts and downshifts by sending a signal to one of several shift solenoids. These transmission solenoids have spring-loaded plungers inside them, which are wrapped with wire. When this coil of wire receives an electrical charge from the TCM / ECU, it causes these plungers to open, allowing transmission fluid to flow into the valve body and pressurize the desired clutches and bands. When this happens, the transmission changes gears and you continue down the road. The computer controls the transmission solenoid in several ways. If the vehicle is equipped with a dedicated Transmission Control Unit, it can open or close the hydraulic circuit using a direct 12v signal. In some cases, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) can control the solenoid’s plunger by turning the ground circuit on and off. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your transmission.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Delayed shifting is often caused by valves sticking the valve body, which prevents shifts from happening when they should. On newer cars, which control shifts using a computer, the problem could lie in the shift solenoids that are used to trigger shifts.
Shifting delays are often caused by many things but most commonly due to poor maintenance or high mileage. Transmission fluid, in addition to acting as a coolant, keeps internal seals lubricated to help prevent hardening or wearing out.
Causes of delayed engagement include: Low transmission fluid. Poor fluid maintenance. Failed transmission solenoids.
Dirty fuel injectors may cause the engine to run lean which will in turn, cause hesitation when accelerating.
What is the fix for a slipping transmission? It`s simple. Just pop the hood of your vehicle, locate the transmission switch, and change the setting from “SLIP” to “STABLE” . . . If only it were that easy.
The easiest way to remove lag is by installing a device on your gas pedal called a throttle response controller. Throttle Response Controllers are blue tooth controlled, inexpensive, and make a big difference in immediate gas pedal response.
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.
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.
Transmission Hesitation
This warning sign feels less like a stumble or a stutter during shifting, and more like an annoying pause before the next gear engages. If your automatic transmission starts hesitating between gears, it`s going to feel like something is off. You`ll want to have a mechanic examine the system.
Your vehicle could have dirty fuel injectors, a damaged fuel pump, a blocked catalytic converter, a faulty mass airflow sensor, broken spark plugs, or even an accumulation of moisture.
Any kind of problem with the transmission can cause your vehicle to jerk while accelerating. Low transmission fluid, clogged transmission fluid filter, defective solenoid, malfunctioning torque converter, etc. – are the common reasons for a transmission problem.
In a network based on packet switching, transmission delay (or store-and-forward delay, also known as packetization delay or serialization delay) is the amount of time required to push all the packet`s bits into the wire. In other words, this is the delay caused by the data-rate of the link.
Example of Transmission Delay
Find the transmission delay if the bandwidth is 10 Mbps and the number of bytes in the packet is 3000. Ttrans =L / R = (3 × 8× 10–3)/10 = 0.0024 seconds or 2.4 milliseconds.
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.
When your transmission fluid is running low, you can experience a delay or hesitation when shifting to drive or reverse because the fluid pressure simply isn`t strong enough. The gear will eventually change.
When you press down the accelerator pedal and get minimal output, it could mean you have a problem with your fuel system. The most probable issue is a clogged fuel filter. Your fuel filter works to ensure that dirt and debris do not get into the fuel system.
Rough starts, hesitation and poor acceleration are all common symptoms of a bad spark plug. If a spark plug or multiple spark plugs are faulty, they will have trouble creating the spark that causes the ignition process in your vehicle.
Though changing transmission fluid can`t fix mechanical problems, it does make for smoother shifts and can extend the life of your transmission.
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.
For example, in some situations an oxygen sensor can cause poor shifting in your transmission – if the engine isn`t running correctly, the transmission control module may misinterpret when and where it`s supposed to be shifting, causing erratic behavior at the transmission.
When a MAF sensor malfunctions, it can do so in a very subtle way. It can create an erratic or incorrect signal on initial take-off, which can cause an elongated shift. It can deliver an incorrect signal at higher engine speed, which can create shudder that could be mistaken for torque-converter-clutch (TCC) problems.
Shifting is rough.
This common symptom of a failing transmission is easily noticed. If your transmission is having a tough time shifting into other gears, or refusing to do so completely, you`ve got a bad transmission and it`s time to schedule an appointment at your local dealership.
If you`re noticing that your car isn`t shifting gears as smoothly as it used to, then your transmission might need some work. If you feel like the gear changes are starting to happen too slowly or not at all (like when accelerating from a stop), this could indicate that something is off with your car`s gearbox.
If your car hesitates when you try to speed up at a low speed, it`s likely because the air and fuel ratio is too lean. A lean air-to-fuel ratio means the gas going into your engine doesn`t have the right amount of fuel and air.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
A 500 Transmission is shifting harshly or delayed upon take off. There is no Check Engine or MIL light.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the downshift solenoid on the transmission. It seems that the solenoid is sticking or not functioning correctly. I recommend servicing the transmission with changing the transmission oil and filter. If there is some dirt or gummy slush in the transmission, by changing the fluid can help make the downshift solenoid work. If you cannot get the transmission to stop suddenly downshifting, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your transmission.
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Won’t shift out of first unless you let go of gas but it will shift back down and never grab second
ANSWER : If you have all the drive shafts in the front and rear, then you will damage the transfer case or one of the axles if you drive the vehicle and engage the front end. The two different gear ratios will do this. As far as the transmission goes, you have a problem with the governor inside the transmission and may have bad second gear parts. Have a mechanic pressure test the transmission and diagnose the shifting issue for you.
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Truck will shift sometimes then it doesn’t shift. If you wait a while it will shift again. We are trying to figure out what’s going on
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. The first thing I recommend is to make sure the ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is full.
Does the transmission shift up a gear or two and stay in that gear, or does it drive fine for a bit, then stop shifting until you turn the car off or sit still with the motor running? Or, do you continue to drive and eventually it begins shifting again. Are there any codes?
What I would do if I were diagnosing your truck would be to connect a scanner and study the data while driving to know what is going on. Without said data and not quite being clear about what is happening, it comes down to solenoids or sensors that the TCM (transmission control module) uses to calculated shift points based on load values determined by the PCM (powertrain control module).
I’m afraid all I can offer you at this point is suggesting you make sure the fluid is full and clean. If it isn’t clean, begin by replacing the filter in the pan and do a transmission fluid exchange, not just pan drop with a drain and fill. This doesn’t get all the ATF out of the transmission, and when there are problems, it pays to be as thorough as possible.
I recommend the following inspection if you should need further assistance: Car hard to shift
Hope this helps and best of luck!
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Delay in shifting, rambling noise when accelerating
ANSWER : Various items can cause similar symptoms to the ones you have described. The most common would be a bad fuel filter, transmission fault, torque converter issue, shift solenoid problem, low fuel pressure, or a failed fuel injector. All of these are potential contributors to the issues you are describing which may be either separate or related to each other. If you want to have these symptoms inspected firsthand, a professional from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your shifting issue and rattling noise to let you know what repairs should be made.
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recently my Safari started "hesitating" or " shifting" roughly when shifting at low speeds. doesn’t do it all the time
ANSWER : Hi there. Many electronically controlled transmissions are computer controlled. With that said, the input signals for the engine can have a direct affect on the transmission behavior. Do no rely on scan tool recommendations because it is just that, a recommendation and not a diagnosis. Think of the scan tool you witnessed as a tool to sell parts, nothing more. A capable scan tool provides more than codes; it provides live data to the technician to aid in the diagnosis. When the computer sees an operating condition that is out of specification it sets a code; it does not know what or why, but only that it is out of spec. The code leads the technician to the system that has the fault; it does not diagnose it. Before you do anything, have the battery tested. A bad cell or low state of health can wreak havoc on an electrical system. I suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several technicians available that can assist you with a check engine light inspection and a car is shifting hard inspection.
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Erratic shifting, 2000 Ford F-150
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Ford F-150. This could potentially be a transmission speed sensor issue or a variety of other transmission malfunctions. As you may know, the transmission speed sensor monitors the gear ratio of the vehicle and relays this information back to the car’s computer telling it what (if any) adjustments to make. When this is faulty, this can cause inaccurate info to be relayed to the computer which will then make inaccurate corrections to the transmission shifting patterns. I suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose the shift problem and advise you on the right repairs.
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Won’t shift past 2nd gear . It drives normal to 2nd gear but wont shift into 3r – 2000 Ford F150 4×4
ANSWER : Hello – I don’t think this is related to switching back to 2WD per se. There is a shift position sensor on the side of the transmission, and it’s possible that the snow activity caused moisture and/or dirt to get into the sensor. I would recommend a transmission inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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Having delayed shifting issue with my car. It does it more when you accelerate fast. If you accelerate slow it shifts 2003 Honda CRV
ANSWER : Hi there – your slow-shifting behavior is reported fairly often on this vehicle, with an internal transmission fluid pressure leak (linear solenoid gasket) a common culprit. You don’t mention your mileage, but I recommend a fluid and filter change – using Honda fluid and a transmission inspection, performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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