Shifting Problems

Trouble Shooting > Shifting Problems

Symptom: Shift Problems

You experience one of several problems while driving your car.

Automatic Transmission

Car will not change into gear
Hard up-shifts
Hard downshifts
Slow gear changes
Early shifts
Slow up-shifts
Slow reverse shifts
Car will not up-shift
No gear changes

Manaual/ Standard Transmission

Can’t press clutch pedal down or shift gears
Clutch pedal loses tension; pedal drop to the floor with no resistance
Clutch pedal works, but gears don’t shift.
Car drops out of gear
Grinding while shifting gears

Car will not shift into gear

Automatic:Transmission does not engage when you use the shift lever. Engine idles normally but car will not drop into gear. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Shift linkage broken
• Internal hard part damage

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Harsh up-shifts

Automatic: Car clunks into gear. Shifts feel harder than normal. Car thuds into gear. Shifts feel firmer than normal. You feel a bang as the car shifts to next gear. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Wrong transmission fluid type
• Transmission fluid is too low
• Fluid is baked or contaminated
• Internal transmission failute
• Engine idle needs adjustment
• Constant Velocity “CV” Joint is degraded or damaged
• Universal Joint is degraded or damaged
• Throttle linkage is lose or damaged
• Vacuum controls need to be adjusted or replaced

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Harsh down-shifts

Automatic:Car shifts into gear with a clunk when you release pressure off the throttle pedal. Hard downshift while passing. Downshifting is normal when you suddenly accelerate to pass, but the downshift should not feel harsh. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Throttle linkage damaged
• Transmission fluid is wrong type
• Low transmission fluid
• Internal transmission problem
• Engine problem
• Transmission electrical or computer control failure
• Vacuum controls need correction

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Slow gear changes

Automatic: Car takes longer than normal to drop into drive. You can move the shift lever into gear but the car delays before engagement. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Wrong type of transmission fluid
• Transmission fluid is too low
• Internal hard part problem
• Engine idle speed needs to be adjusted
• Clogged transmission fluid oil filter
• Throttle linkage needs adjustment

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Premature shifts

Automatic:Automobile loses power between shift changes. The gears change too soon. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Fluid level too high
• Throttle linkage loose or damaged
• Internal transmission problem
• Electrical or computer control malfunction

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Delayed Up-shifts

Automatic:Shifts happen too late. You feel the power increase and then diminish previous to the next shift change. You hear an extended engine rev before the gears up-shift. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Throttle linkage needs adjustment
• Internal transmission problem
• Engine problems
• Electrical or computer malfunction
• Clogged transmission fluid oil filter
• Vacuum controls need adjustment

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Delayed Reverse Shifts

Automatic:There is an long delay when you shift the lever to reverse. Other than delayed engagement, the car operates fine. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Wrong fluid type
• Transmission fluid level too low
• Internal transmission problem
• Transmission fluid is baked or contaminated
• Clogged transmission oil filter

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No up-shift, or delayed up-shifts

Automatic:Car will not shift to the next gear as you press the gas pedal. Problem starts out gradually then begins to get worse. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Shift linkage is restricted
• Internal hard part problem
• Throttle cable loose or damaged
• Vacuum controls need adjustment or replacement
• Electrical or computer control failure

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No gear changes

Automatic:Car will not shift into gear. Moving the shift lever will intermitantly shift the transmission into gear. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Fluid too low
• Fluid wrong type
• Shift linkage needs adjustment
• Internal transmission problem
• Torque converter damage
• Broken flex plate or bolts
• Electrical or computer malfunction
• Clogged transmission oil filter
• Internal transmission components are seized

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Can’t depress clutch pedal or shift gears

Manual/ Standard :You can’t depress the clutch pedal. The pedal feels too firm to press down. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Restricted clutch cable
• Linkage is bound up

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Clutch pedal loses tension; drops to floor with no resistance

Manual/ Standard :Clutch pedal is loose. Pedal presses to the floor without resistance. Gears cannot be changed even when clutch pedal is depressed. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Detached clutch cable
• Fractured clutch cable
• Hydraulic problems
  

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Clutch pedal works, but gears don’t shift

Manual/ Standard :The gear shifter will not move even when clutch is pressed down. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Shift linkage is bound
• Internal transmission problem
• Clutch will not release
  

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Car drops out of gear

Manual/ Standard :Car shifts into neutral when you accelerate or decelerate. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Internal hard part problem
• Shift linkage loose or damaged
  

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Grinding while shifting gears

Manual/ Standard :The transmission makes noise as you shift gears. The gear lever shudders and the transmission grinds. Call our service manager (425) 397-6111 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

• Worn clutch surface
• Clutch surface is worn out
• Needs clutch adjustment
• Shift linkage loose or damaged
  

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