97 TSI Automatic clunks into gear

[cstaff25]

When I put the car in drive or reverse, it usually clunks into gear pretty hard. Some times it can stall the car and some times it will go into gear nice and smooth. It also shifts while driving rather hard some times, independent of how muh throttle is being used. The hard shifting, driving or while putting the car into gear, does not seem to have a pattern. Also it will do this from P->D, P->R, D->R, R->D, N->R or D.....in other words every combination possible.

I have replaced all the motor/tranny mounts and it hasn't had any effect. The engine moves quite a lot on the hard clunks. I would guess close to 3-4 inches at least most of the time. If I remember correctly, the movement is from the front of the car to the firewall. The car FWD.

Someone else has told me they thought it might be a loose axel or broken U-joint? One last thing...I have had this problem for over a year, but it hasn't gotten any worse.

If it would help, I will try to make a video and upload it to Youtube and post the link here.

I think that is all of the details I have. If someone can help me out here, that would be great.

 

[cstaff25]

Could be a problem with the stator in the torque converter. I had a similar problem in my old DD and the stator was slipping so it would basically stall changing between park, reverse, and drive.

If the stator was freewheeling the car wouldn't accelerate worth a damn off a stop

That harsh engagement is obviously related to high main line pressure slamming the clutches together without any cushioning affect.

Only a few things could cause that. High tv pressure from either a sticking solenoid, out of adjustment tps, sticking pressure regulator valve which is part of the solenoid pack, bad accumulator pistons and that's about it.

The torque converter doesn't change main line pressure. If it has very very poor takeoff I'd suspect the stator but I think he would have mentioned that as it's very noticeable but that still doesn't relate to his original problem

To clear up the acceleration question...I accelerate just fine from a stop. Thanks for all the responses by the way.

 

[blakkat]

Also what is your idle at?

 

[cstaff25]

Also what is your idle at?

When I first turn the car on, it is about 1400. Makes sense why it clunks into gear then. When I am in gear and at a stoplight, for example, it is about 6-700. When I have been driving and put it back into park, it goes to right about 1000.

 

[blakkat]

Try adjusting your idle down a little bit and retest it. And let me know what happens. Ill do a bit more research in the mean time.

 

[cstaff25]

Try adjusting your idle down a little bit and retest it. And let me know what happens. Ill do a bit more research in the mean time.

Thank you. I have done this before actually and it doesn't have any effect on the issue.

 

[blakkat]

Alright, well that was just a piece of advice from a Chrysler master tech. Haha. I'm still going with it being a bad solenoid. We're gonna check all data and get you some specs to check and see if there are any tsbs on it.

 

[cstaff25]

Awesome, thanks

 

[blakkat]

Alright so no related tbs. however he did give me some advice. Adjust tps to fix the banging into gear/ hard shifts. Also you might want to make sure your mount bolts are tight and centered properly .

 

[cstaff25]

I tested my tps real quick while I had the chance. It seems to be working properly, but it starts at nearly 1 volt and then goes to 5. Is it normal to start at 1 volt?

 

[blakkat]

That's odd .5 v at idle is correct for a tps. Idk about the 1volt on start. Honestly at this point to further diagnose this problem your going to need a set of trans pressure gauges. You could check the solenoid pack for resistance as well

 

[cstaff25]

Sorry for my misuse of words. I meant with the throttle at its starting point I am showing like .985 v.

 

[blakkat]

Yeah that's a problem then. You'll need to adjust it to be at .5v at idle
Your PCM is interpreting that as the throttle being open and jacking up trans line pressure for firmer shifts which would be fine if the throttle was actually open

 

[cstaff25]

Okay. I will try to do that over the next couple days and let you know. Thanks for all your help.

 

[blakkat]

Anytime, let me know how it comes out. I edited my previous post to shed some light on why that would be your problem

 

[cstaff25]

So I finally had time to adjust the TPS tonight. Ran out of light and had to rush so I couldn't get it perfect, but I was able to bring it down to about 5.3v. She idles much better, shifts into gear nice and smooth, and shifts perfect while driving.

Thanks again to all those who responded, especially Blakkat.

I did note that my WOT voltage topped out at 4.67v. Is this too low?

 

[blakkat]

All cars are different it will between 4.5-4.9v and glad it fixed your problem. I'm always willing to help.

 

[cstaff25]

Okay, thanks again. I'll mark this one resolved.

 

[dammitcam]

putting in too much tranny fluid can cause that too