1999 Eclipse Auto Trans doesn't work unless warmed up.

[crazysweetguy]

What would cause a 1999 Eclipse Automatic transmission not to work properly unless the car is warmed up for a few minutes? Someone has a car for sale but has this problem. He had a 6 bolt engine installed not long ago and I am not sure if that had something to do with it or not.

 

[SpawnedX]

When's the last time he flushed his transmission?

 

[Red97Eclipseboy]

This happened on my old 1g AWD. It ended up being the trans filter. Change that out with a fluid-flush.

 

[TunaTalon]

Low ATF level. Be sure to check the level in neutral, not park, with the engine running and after briefly selecting every gear. Checking the ATF wrong will cause the level to read Ok when it is actually a couple of quarts low.

After warming up the fluid expands and the tranny works ok, well better anyway.