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2G Spyder Auto Tranny Won't Go Into Gear

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MrChallenger360

15+ Year Contributor
50
0
Jan 12, 2008
Seattle, Washington
Okay guys, picked up my 3rd dsm the last week for uber cheap (it's a 98 spyder gs-t in case your wondering). The bad news is it won't go into gear.

When talking to the previous owner he told me the following when I do not fully believe but here it is anyway.

He was driving it like he usually does with the o/d off but he was gonna get on the freeway so he switched it on and then the tranny stopped working. He told me that it needs a tranny selanoid.

So that's what I got from him. I brought the car home, checked the fluid level and it's good. So I started it up and gave it a try. Well it didn't go into gear. I did notice that when I put it into a drive gear I heard a fast clicking noise like something it trying to engage but not working. It does that in all the drive gears with o/d on and off.

I was reading through my service manual about a/t and it had a list of codes that the car could throw so I decided to hook up a obd2 reader to check it out despite the fact I had no cel. Unfortunately no codes came up so I'm back at square one.

I've been doing some research in the a/t forum but I can't really find an answer. The only thing I got from it is limp mode or whatever. I don't know what that is or if that's my problem so if you can explain that 2 that would be cool.

Thanks guys.
 
You checked the fluid in neutral right? If you checked it in park it is way too low on fluid.

I just went out and rechecked my fluid level in neutral and it is more than full. The dipstick is strange because it has a bunch of different grooves but I checked it with the highest one and it still said above full. Do I need to do it when the car is warm maybe? I assume I use the highest groove as well?
 
limp mode is 3rd gear. Based on the description it sounds like the end clutch is smoked. Does it go anywhere when put in L,2 or D with OD off?

No the o/d button doesn't make a difference. I just continue to get the clicking sound when I put it into any drive gear. It kinda sounds like something electronic is trying to engage but can't or something
 
I just went out and rechecked my fluid level in neutral and it is more than full. The dipstick is strange because it has a bunch of different grooves but I checked it with the highest one and it still said above full. Do I need to do it when the car is warm maybe? I assume I use the highest groove as well?

The vehicle needs to be running and trans is supposed to be warm. The lower mark is the "cold" mark, the upper one is the "warm" mark.
 
The vehicle needs to be running and trans is supposed to be warm. The lower mark is the "cold" mark, the upper one is the "warm" mark.

Yeah even with the car running in neutral the fluid level is above warm so unfortunately I don't think it's that. I think the buzzing noise has something big to do with it because when I put it into gear it buzzes for like 4 seconds then the car idles higher then it stops for 4 seconds then it goes again. It's like a clicking buzz likes something is trying to engage but not. Any ideas?
 
could be the valve body, best bet is to give IPT trans a call and ask them.
 
i just had the same problem....it sounds more like you are not building enough pressure and the soleniod is not activing which comes from not enough pressure coming from the governor/and or valve body.....just my thoughts...
 
i just had the same problem....it sounds more like you are not building enough pressure and the soleniod is not activing which comes from not enough pressure coming from the governor/and or valve body.....just my thoughts...

how would i check that?? i noticed that when i pulled the plug that go's into the neutral safety switch the buzzing stopped ( i hit and cracked my switch during install) so i thought that was it and ordered a new one i just tried to install it 20 minutes ago and still nothing my car wont move and its still buzzing
 
So did anyone find out the problem? I Just picked up a 97 gsx Awd auto, the guy said that the motor was blown i took the motor out to only find out the the flex plate was broke. I replaced the flex plate put it back in and it ran great no engine problems but a buzzing noise in the trans like something is trying to go into gear when you put it in the drive gears but nothing...

If anyone found out the problem it would be great to find out what it is.
 
Has anyone found a solution to this problem ?
There could be multiple reasons any particular car wont go into gear...linkage broken, end clutch toast, valve body clogged, broken solenoid, internal pump not working, etc...

What exactly is it not doing? Beyond not going into gear. Is reverse working? Have you checked fluid levels? Is it throwing codes? Check the simple stuff first (fluid/codes)
 
had the same problem with my tranny which has the trans lab shift kit installed and a restyled Tc from ipt performance... I do remember before the prob started my tranny fluid kept overflowing out of my dip stick tube... Idk why but if I had to guess it was because of a blockage somewhere or the pump may have went out...
 
There could be multiple reasons any particular car wont go into gear...linkage broken, end clutch toast, valve body clogged, broken solenoid, internal pump not working, etc...

What exactly is it not doing? Beyond not going into gear. Is reverse working? Have you checked fluid levels? Is it throwing codes? Check the simple stuff first (fluid/codes)
It only goes in reverse plug the tcm out no limp mode but when you put it in d it jumps and if you re it about 4k rpm it moves a little trying to figure out if I just need a new tranny or maybe it might be something simple fluid level is ok and I checked it in neutral
 
Check all of the connectors and wires that control the er umm electronically controlled transmission. I was gonna say something to the effect of checking for codes but I don't know squat about 2g. On 1g, which I know 1/4 of a squat, you check the tcu from different connector than the ecu.
 
You loss me there for a sec I took the tcm out also no burns or sign of leaky caps smells ok too so.I dont think that is the problem I might drop valve body and clean it and see what happens
 
The tcu registers codes whenever there's an error within the tranny system.. There's an output pin I can't remember which number pin it is exactly, but your supposed to be able to retrieve the last few errors via that one pin where the plug hooks up to your tcu
 
Hi I have the same problem with a Galant tranny is making the clicking noise and the car won't move did anyone find out what the problem is?
 
Yeah even with the car running in neutral the fluid level is above warm so unfortunately I don't think it's that. I think the buzzing noise has something big to do with it because when I put it into gear it buzzes for like 4 seconds then the car idles higher then it stops for 4 seconds then it goes again. It's like a clicking buzz likes something is trying to engage but not. Any ideas?
Did any 1 figure out the tranny issue
 
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