trans stuck in 3rd gear

thefirstone · 07-18-2002, 08:28 PM

I just bought a 1991 talon turbo awd and the transmision is stuck in 3rd gear. I can shift all I want from 2nd to 1st, press the OD button and nothing happens.

2-0turbo · 07-19-2002, 04:17 AM

I was about to give advice and then saw you have an auto. Sorry, I know only " " this much about auto transmissions. Is the auto tranny in our cars electronically controlled? You might disconnect the shift linkage on the tranny and try manually moving it with your hand? Sorry I couldn't be any help.

bluelightning92 · 07-19-2002, 08:19 PM

Hey, I have a 92 Talon nt auto, and i had a shifting problem where it wouldn't shift out of 2nd. i had a warrenty on it, so i took it to the dealership. first they said it was something with the electronically controlled shifting, then i call back 2 days later and they tell me its at a place 10 miles away getting a new tranny. oh well it's free. good luck on your tranny, thats just what i know from what happend to mine. oh yeah, its been 9 days and i still don't have my talon back yet. . .

ninja0331 · 07-25-2002, 11:51 PM

I bought my 92 eclipse non-turbo about 2 weeks ago and the transmission is doing exactly the same thing. It locks up in third sometimes and it takes offf reaaaaaly slow. And the overdrive doesn't kick in or light or anything. But then I just restart my car and sometimes it goes away and sometimes it doesn't. i checked the fluid from the dipstick on the passenger side, which is the only one I see and the fluid was ok. Now it's shifting hard and rattles. If you ever solve your problem let me know what it was, cause I'm getting a new tranny as soon as this one stops working.

TurboSpoolinIns · 07-28-2002, 09:40 PM

2-0 turbo, what were u gonna advise him on? my tranny is stuck in 3rd, i'm just assuming its a broken shift fork. =(

boost · 07-30-2002, 06:10 PM

his car is auto he doesnt have shift forks. Your trans sounds like it has an electrical problem, maybe a stuck solenoid, they are known for electrical problems more than internal failures, although they do that too. Take it to a trans shop, not the dealer they dont know theyll just try and make you buy a new tranny.

tsi91at · 07-31-2002, 09:46 PM

When Your Tranny is in "Limp Mode". You have 3rd gear and reverse only. Usually an electrical problem.

It could be a several things (these are tough to diagnose): Transmission control unit is failing, Your shift solenoids attached to the Valve body (Inside the trans pan, See my shift kit web page) is bad or a wire is cut or disconnected and they (solenoids) are not receiving the signals.

I wont even go into possible stuck valves :eek: If it comes to that, plan on doing a shift kit.

First, check all of the wires goin to the tranny and look for cut or disconnected wires before digging into the tranny itself.

Now, You hit OD and nothing happens or revs high (4th gear no go). It is most likely the end clutches (see my page here: http://www.plymouthlaser.com/ec.htm) This will show you why. The OEM plates bend and bind the clutch. Usually the end clutch is the first to go on the AT.

The other case is the end clutch tube is wrong in the valve body (usually after a rebuild). Once again, that is the shift kit fix.

Check the fluid level in Neutral (Car hot) after shifting this pattern: P-R-N-3-2-1-2-3-N . If it is off, add or remove. THese trannys are sensitive to fluid levels. I ONLY use Diamond ATF or B&M Trick Shift. The final thing, change the tranny filter as suggested. I do mine every 30K.

Charles
http://www.plymouthlaser.com