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2G eclipse spyder automatic will not shift into any drive gears

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Sleepwalker

Probationary Member
13
0
May 10, 2012
Macon, Missouri
this is my 96 eclipse project car and as such i have only driven it about a quarter mile up and down my road from my house to my shop depending on what i'm fixing. anyway, one day i drive it to the road and it starts slipping very badly then just loses drive. there wasn't any audible bang, crash or smoke coming from the transmission, nor do i hear any metal on metal grinding when i start it so i think i can rule out the torque converter. i have checked the fluid and it was low, i added two quarts and it's just under level. it does have reverse, which works very strongly. when it's jacked up the wheels spin and when i put it into gear it will pull slowly but when given gas it just stops. it isn't showing any check engine codes. also it doesn't have drive in any gear ie over drive, second first anything just reverse. i've read somewhere that an end clutch kit may help. does the end clutch operate all drive gears or just overdrive?
 
It sounds like your transmission gave out on you, I am sure you can rebuild it but it may be more effective to go pull a good used one. How was the color and smell of the fluid? Black, brown, burnt smelling or sweet smelling?
 
the transmission has 70,000 miles on it so i doubt it's given out on me. the fluid before i changed it was a slightly darker than new fluid red. no burnt smell. also i changed the filter and fluid if it helps. i was under the impression that clutches gave out slowly and considering i lost all of my gears at once i don't think it's a clutch problem. i haven't tested the trans fluid pump any suggestions of how i should go about doing this?
 
I'd check the TCU before I did anything with the transmission itself.
 
yeah that's what i've heard but how exactly would i go about checking it. if it's bad it won't throw codes right? i've heard of using another tcu out of a friends car but nobody i know drive a spyder around here.
 
I'd check the TCU before I did anything with the transmission itself.

Given the smell and color of your old fluid you may want to go this route. Also check you shift linkage. If that goes out you may only be able to get into reverse. Look at where it connects to the gear select under the center console and where it links to the trasmission.
 
alright so i followed the shift linkage to the transmission and hand shifted it while my dad held the brakes. still only reverse. when i jack the wheels up however they spin, it's just like something isn't engaging properly to keep them in gear.

if the tcu did in fact go out would i still have reverse? i feel like if it controls shifting i should have no gears. can i try pulling it and driving it? where would it be located on my eclipse? i see two boxes with wires running to them underneath my dash and behind my radio

so i disconnected the tcu and it jumped into gear! seriously made my week thanks for all your help guys
 
alright so i followed the shift linkage to the transmission and hand shifted it while my dad held the brakes. still only reverse. when i jack the wheels up however they spin, it's just like something isn't engaging properly to keep them in gear.

if the tcu did in fact go out would i still have reverse? i feel like if it controls shifting i should have no gears. can i try pulling it and driving it? where would it be located on my eclipse? i see two boxes with wires running to them underneath my dash and behind my radio

so i disconnected the tcu and it jumped into gear! seriously made my week thanks for all your help guys

So did ya have a loose connection with the TCU or something similar? Did you find it was bad? If the TCU goes, you can lose gears or have very erratic shifting. Or not shift at all. Glad to hear ya found the issue! Happy motoring:hellyeah:
 
i'm not sure, i bought a new tcu and i'm just waiting for it to get here. i opened the one i'm suspecting is bad and all the connections look bad, nothing on the board looks burn't nor does it smell burn't. i cleaned the connectors twice with alcohol so unless i have a few burn't wires somewhere (god forbid) i'm hoping the new tcu will help
 
Well I hope that fixes the shifting issues. Automatic trasmissions are not exactly my forte. Hopefully you dont find out its something in the valve body or servos in the transmission.
 
so i bought a working used tcu and when i installed it same problem. anyone think it's a wiring deal? haha fml. :banghead:
 
1998 here. Auto transmission running fine then immediately downshifted into one gear only. 10 minutes later, check engine light came on. Pulled into parking lot and after stopping, no gears engage. Throwing codes P0715, P0720, P0736 and P0700. I have ideas to try but was wondering if anybody has had and fixed this issue before. Thanks!!
 
1998 here. Auto transmission running fine then immediately downshifted into one gear only. 10 minutes later, check engine light came on. Pulled into parking lot and after stopping, no gears engage. Throwing codes P0715, P0720, P0736 and P0700. I have ideas to try but was wondering if anybody has had and fixed this issue before. Thanks!!
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