Just changed my transmission fluid and filter, won’t catch gear, and I occasionally hear a knock when I shift back into park.
Just changed my transmission fluid and filter, won't catch gear, and I occasionally hear a knock when I shift back into park.
My car has 287000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi There,
It sounds like the transmission may have a problem building up enough hydraulic pressure to activate a shift 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. This type of problem is amplified any time the transmission is low on fluid creating a drop in hydraulic pressure. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Common reasons for this to happen: Low Transmission Fluid: For both manual and automatic transmissions, the primary cause for whining when in gear is low transmission fluid. If the fluid is too low, then the internal components of the transmission are not lubricated properly.
Transmission won`t engage or stay in gear
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.
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.
One of the most common issues is gear slippage. This occurs because the TCM is not giving the correct commands to shift, which can cause sudden shifting or not shifting at all. Another common symptom is failure to accelerate as usual. If your vehicle cannot change gears correctly, your car`s acceleration will suffer.
Any time a battery is disconnected, or in your case a transmission is replaced, it can take up to 90 days for the engine and transmission computer to relearn your driving habits. It`s normal for an automatic transmission not to shift into higher gears until the engine coolant temperature is at a specified temperature.
Fuel injector nozzles can become clogged over time, which can lead to a sputtering engine, slow acceleration and the car not having enough power. Fuel injectors can be cleaned if the problem is caught early, but as the conditions worsens, the injectors may have to be replaced.
Failing Water Pump Pulley: The most common cause of squealing or squeaking from the timing belt cover is the water pump pulley. If the bearings in the pulley are beginning to fail, they will make noise. Eventually, they`ll seize and the water pump will no longer operate, causing your engine to overheat.
Problems Reversing – One common problem that can happen with a clogged filter is difficulty moving in reverse. The lack of fluid flowing through the transmission can cause the reverse gear to lock. This may prevent the car from going in reverse altogether, or it may cause it to hesitate before launching into reverse.
But a blown fuse No. 38 becomes a likely candidate causing a loss of power to the transmission solenoids.
The transmission position sensor, also known as the transmission range sensor, is an electronic sensor that provides a position input to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) so that the transmission can be properly controlled by the PCM according to the position commanded by the sensor.
Turn off your vehicle`s ignition and wait patiently for 5 to 10 seconds. Start the engine and allow it to idle for several seconds. Switch off the ignition and wait patiently for another 30 to 40 seconds. Repeat these steps 2 to 3 times in order to reset your vehicle`s transmission control module.
Unplugging the TCM will eliminate the possibility of damaging the module during diagnosis and/or repair. The control module may be damaged when the metal case contacts battery voltage.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Just changed my transmission fluid and filter, won’t catch gear, and I occasionally hear a knock when I shift back into park.
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like the transmission may have a problem building up enough hydraulic pressure to activate a shift 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. This type of problem is amplified any time the transmission is low on fluid creating a drop in hydraulic pressure. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Especially when cold, I notice shifts in low gears on my transmission
ANSWER : Hello. If servicing the fluid and filter did not help, then it may be possible that the transmission is worn. If any of the clutch packs that the transmission uses to shift wear out, they may slip and cause harsher shifting than normal. If the problem only occurs when the transmission is cold, then it may be possible that the clutch discs are worn, but can properly grip when the transmission and fluid reach operating temperature. I would recommend double checking the fluid for any signs of damage or wear, any unusual smells or color. If the fluid checks out. If you need help having this looked at, I would then move on to having the shifting issue diagnosed to see if the transmission may be faulty.
Transmission intermittently won’t shift to next gear
ANSWER : It is very possible that the transmission may require a full rebuild or a replacement in order for it to perform properly. Although you are able to shift into other gears, if certain gears are not working correctly, transmission damage may be the cause.
If the transmission has already been diagnosed by the dealer that it needs replacement and the transmission is still not shifting properly, it is unlikely that the transmission will get any better without replacement.
It does not hurt to attempt any reset procedure that may be available, but it is also unlikely that a reset of any kind will resolve transmission issues. Small things to check before replacing the transmission if possible would be the fluid level and any trouble codes that may have been stored due to the issue your transmission is causing.
If any codes exist, this may lead you to other possible parts inside the transmission that may be able to be replaced and have your transmission working again as it should. You can get a second opinion from an local expert, such as one from YourMechanic, in order to diagnose your shifting problem and advise you on the next steps.
Does this transmission have a transmission filter that can or needs to be change at certain miles?
ANSWER : Most vehicles have an internal transmission filter that can be changed by removing the transmission pan. Some diesel trucks will have an external filter that can be changed just like an oil filter. The transmission filter is usually recommended to be replaced either when the transmission fluid is replaced or around 100,000 miles depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation.
As for which fluid to use, I would recommend looking in you owners manual. Your owners manual will list all fluid specifications that are required for your vehicle including capacity and type. I would always recommend using what the manufacturer recommends for the vehicle.
If you’d like to have your transmission fluid and filter serviced, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home or office to do so.
Do I need to get the transfer case fluid and transmission fluid changed?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I looked at your maintenance schedule for your vehicle and found that for up to 150,000 miles, it only says to inspect the fluid level and not change it. The fluids are special fluids and if you did need any work done (i.e. if there is a leak present or other mechanical problem) then make sure the correct Ford certified fluid is used.
When it is time for you to have your transmission fluid serviced, consider having a certified automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to perform the service for you.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
New cars don’t have transmission fluid dipsticks Transmission fluid changing
ANSWER : That’s a very good question. The reason they have gone with no dipsticks is because they don’t want people messing with transmissions other there at the dealership. Some cars went through that a couple of decades ago. They make it a very involved, convoluted process all through, in order to change the fluid on these modern cars. They have special adapters you have to put. Some of them have to have scan computers in order to read the data and what’s in there, and then be able to change it. A lot of these companies claim that this new fluid is the "lifetime" fluid.
Most new use synthetic fluid can last a long time but any fluid is going to get dirty and wear out over time. I would change it at least every 80,000 – 100,000 miles but if you’ve got one that is really hard to change, you are better off hiring a mechanic to do it.
On some of the cars, it would be too hard for the do-it-yourself because of all that equipment you need. The professional mechanics already have that. Just call any good mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, and they will be able to perform a transmission fluid service for you.
My car is leaking transmission fluid – I can’t diagnose the leak
ANSWER : Based on the NHTSA database covering consumer complaints, as well as government mandated recalls and factory service bulletins, for your specific year, make and model, I do not see evidence of widespread complaints about transmission fluid leaks. Such leaks are, in fact, common in transmissions made by any car company, particularly if the transmission is older than say 10 years. There is a manual shaft seal, oil pan gasket, output shaft seals, case seals, torque converter seal (inaccessible) and so forth all of which are potential leak points on your transmission.
If you want to identify and resolve these leaks, certainly a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could come out and perform a transmission leak inspection and let you know where the leak points are and what it will cost to resolve them.
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.
