Thumping when going into first gear. If I bypass first and start off in second and then change up to drive it’s ok.
Thumps into first gear if I bypass first and start off in second gear then change up to drive all the other gears work ok and it changes down ok including first when slowing down and stopping
My car has 300000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, the harsh 1st gear engagement you describe is likely the electronic pressure control solenoid failing. Although you have a work-around by starting in 2nd gear, the problems with internal control pressures will start damaging other parts. I would have a reputable transmission shop perform a diagnosis on the transmission; which will include checking the transmission line pressure to confirm this diagnosis, with a fluid/filter change. If you’d like a second opinion on this, have one of our mobile technicians come out to your location and diagnose the issue with your gears firsthand.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your car struggles to accelerate, you might struggle to change gears or the transition can feel rough. 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.
Automatic transmissions also contain spring-loaded dampeners, called accumulators, which ensure that shifts happen gently. If the car suddenly jerks or slams into gear, i.e. the reverse of delayed shifting occurs, then the accumulators are likely to blame.
Lurching is caused by a mismatch between wheel and engine speed as the clutch engages. Release the clutch more slowly so their speed is synchronized gradually. If you`re shifting at high load your car might also have rev hang, so you`ll have to wait a moment for the revs to drop before you can shift smoothly.
Starter motor or transmission mount
If you hear a thump towards the front of your car whenever you accelerate, it`s probably a problem with either your starter motor mount or transmission mount. Though small, transmission mounts have a huge impact on performance and the overall quality of your drive.
When the fluid in a transmission becomes dirty and contaminated, the particles in the fluid prevent it from building up enough pressure in the transmission lines. In turn, this will prevent proper pressure contact between transmission plates when they are applied. As a result, the transmission will begin to shudder.
A banging and clunking felt in the shift lever and heard under the car usually indicates a broken or loose motor mount. Commonly, the noise is loudest when letting out the clutch when taking off from a stop.
It could be due to worn-out friction material or a pressure plate defect (or combination of both). It could also be caused by an oil leak contaminating the clutch plate. If there is a fault with the clutch, you will need to find out whether it`s a mechanical issue or whether the clutch facing has been contaminated.
Most likely it is because you are giving too much gas vs. clutch position. If you rev too high or come up too fast off the clutch pedal, you will jerk the car. Too much power to the wheels at once.
Signs of Transmission Problems
These sounds can indicate transmission failure. However, keep in mind that transmissions are made up of hundreds of parts, so knocking or clicking noises may also just be a worn-out case, or bearing, requiring a minor transmission repair.
A knocking noise when you accelerate may well be an engine worn out with low oil pressure or a piston slap. Regardless of which one is the issue, you must have the vehicle looked at by a professional.
This noise is caused by the excess air in your transmission line. Commonly, drivers will notice this gurgling noise when their transmission slips while shifting gears. If you hear a gurgling noise, particularly while shifting gears, it may mean that your fluid levels are low enough to cause damage to your transmission.
Rattling is one sound you want to be aware of. If you hear odd rattling sounds when you accelerate, this might be a symptom of a bad torque converter. The same can be true of whirring noises.
Shaking and jerking are good indicators of transmission trouble. Gear grinding is a common symptom in manual transmission vehicles. Automatic transmission failure often begins with some hesitation during gears shifting.
Strange Noises
If the sound resembles humming, buzzing, or clunking, you may be experiencing transmission failure. Bad automatic transmissions may emit humming, buzzing, or whining noises while manual transmissions have harsher “clunking” sounds.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Thumping when going into first gear. If I bypass first and start off in second and then change up to drive it’s ok.
ANSWER : Hello, the harsh 1st gear engagement you describe is likely the electronic pressure control solenoid failing. Although you have a work-around by starting in 2nd gear, the problems with internal control pressures will start damaging other parts. I would have a reputable transmission shop perform a diagnosis on the transmission; which will include checking the transmission line pressure to confirm this diagnosis, with a fluid/filter change. If you’d like a second opinion on this, have one of our mobile technicians come out to your location and diagnose the issue with your gears firsthand.
My manual car won’t go into gear, it turns on and the clutch goes down perfectly fine. It happened after my gears grinded, the car
ANSWER : If the clutch mechanism is releasing properly, and the shift linkage is not malfunctioning, your transmission will have to be removed from the vehicle and inspected. Once a transmission has been removed from a vehicle, if the problem is a broken or worn part or parts, and the transmission has 100,000 miles or more, the most cost effective approach is to just simply rebuild the whole transmission. There are transmission rebuild kits that are sold just for this purpose. Rebuilding a transmission is no big deal and is indeed easier in many respects than rebuilding an engine. You can rebuild your transmission right in your own garage. You can NOT rebuild an engine in your own garage due to the highly specialized, and extremely costly, machine shop equipment required. Occasionally, mobile mechanics will take on a transmission rebuild job especially as once the mechanic removes the transmission from the vehicle, it is just simply a modular unit that can be easily transported to a mechanic’s shop and rebuilt right there and then returned to your vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Vehicle won’t go into gear when running, when turned off, vehicle will go into gear but won’t start. 1998 Ford Explorer
ANSWER : Hello – your clutch hydraulics are the problem here. Check the clutch hydraulics fluid level – and it may share the same reservoir as the brake master cylinder (both use brake fluid as the hydraulic medium). If fluid needs to be added, that means that probably the clutch slave cylinder is leaking – this might be visible as a clear, but bitter-smelling liquid on the ground under the engine. I recommend a clutch hydraulics 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.
My truck won’t allow me to change gears even when pressing the clutch. No gears go in at all. Makes it impossible to drive.
ANSWER : Hello, this concern is possibly the slave or clutch master cylinder failure. These two components use brake fluid to apply pressure for movement of the clutch system. This fluid breaks down in time and causes the seals to fail (leak). A low fluid level would cause this concern as well as internal leakage. Replacement of components would be necessary. This type of concern would need to be inspected. If you’d like, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to diagnose your vehicle, and possibly replace your clutch master cylinder if need be.
Started Three days a go. When I drive the car it doesn’t go in to gears but shows AT.
ANSWER : This kind of reaction is often a sign of low transmission fluid or 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. 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.
Car only drives in first and reverse
ANSWER : What you are describing 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. When this is not working properly, this can cause a jerking reaction, a delay in shifting or in some cases may cause the transmission to hesitate in shifting gears. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your transmission.
Hi I have an 2001 Infiniti i30 and when I put it in drive it starts to shake and when I start driving it starts shaking and rumbl
ANSWER : Hi there. There are many sources that cause vibration, and if a single component designed to dampen that fails, you’ll feel it. Motor mounts, transmission mounts, suspension bushings are just a few of the things that are designed to minimize vibration. However, damage to fuel system components like a mass air flow sensor can also cause this type of problem. The best way to narrow the causes down is to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car shakes and vibrates inspection.
My manual gear box is starting to get a little bit "clunky" as i change gears, is there an additive i can add to the gear oil?
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to drain and check the oil to see if it has any broken chunks of metal or a lot of brass metal pieces that indicate the gears and synchronizers for the gears are bad. If no metal is found then replace oil with recommended oils for transmission. If metal is found then an internal transmission repair is needed.
