DElayed/hard shift into drive

[Cold Dark Shado]

Car: 1993 Eclipse GS
Trans: Auto

When shifting from park to Drive (N to drive) it takes like 3 seconds and then it goes into drive hard. Is that normal for these cars or could something be up?
Goes into reverse fine

 

[Cold Dark Shado]

any ideas?

 

[Cold Dark Shado]

Went out and took it for a ride and checked the trans fluid, Levels good just a touch below that top check hot line and there was a few little bubble in it. Still alot of vibration in gear (R and D)

what would it take/cost to change the trans fluid and filter in it if i took it in to a shop? IM in MN and its cold out otherwise id do it myself

 

[blackbyrd]

A few bubbles in it? Is it, or was it overfilled? How are you checking it? Is it running at NOT when you do?
Check the fluid again, check for discoloring and a burnt smell.
You'll want to check your manual linkage from your shifter, hopefully it just needs adjusting.

 

[Cold Dark Shado]

yea there was a few little tiny bubbles on the stick about the size of a grain of sand, i mean there was maybe 5 or so little bubbles i dont think it has been overfilled, it wasnt when i checked it cold and warmed up
I ran it around town for a little bit, parked it shut it off and checked it. color was good (red transparent) no burnt smell

 

[Cold Dark Shado]

how easy is it to change the trans fluid/filter? i dont know when it was done last so i figure it wouldnt hurt to do it

 

[blackbyrd]

It's pretty easy.
To change the tranny fluid:
Drive the vehicle and get it warm, then immediately drain the fluid. It'll be more effective, but be careful the oil can get several hundred degrees.
First pop up the dipstick, then drain the transmission pan(via the two drain bolts on the bottom of the pan). Then remove the transmission pan from the dozen bolts around it(Remembering/ordering where each bolt went as they might be different/tapped/etc). Next, remove the filter retaining bolts and drop it from the transmission. Put the new filter up into the transmission, and torque the bolts to 48-60in-lbs.
Then clean all the old gasket surfaces off the pan and tranny, make sure its nice and smooth.
You can also wash out your pan at this point in some cleaning solvent and dry it with compressed air. If you do this, remeber to remove the magnet(noting where it went), and reinstall it afterwards.
Then put a new gasket on the pan and lift it back up onto the transmission. Torque the pan bolts to 84-108in-lbs. Reinstall the drainplugs.
Then use a long funnel and add the fluid in from your dipstick. It's best to do this in steps allowing some time for the fluid to make its way into the pan, to get an accurate level. When it looks acceptable, start the engine and move the gear shifter from P-L and back to P and apply the parking-brake. With the engine at idle, check the fluid level, and add fluid up the cold mark on the dipstick. Then drive the car around and allow it to reach NOT, and make sure its up or almost up to the hot mark.
Good luck!

Keep in mind your TC will retain 3-3.5qts of fluid I think, so you won't get it all, but that's alright, after you change your fluid a few times you've effectively changed it all.

And you need to strap on your parka and head on out there, its in the 20's here and i'm in my garage which is not insulated or heated and open, all night long, working on my car. haha.

 

[Cold Dark Shado]

Cool man thanks for the info
How much ATF will i need? type?

I know about the cold, its been in the 20s here at night but i guess its goin to warm up into the 50s the next few days so i plan to get some work on it done and move
I got lots to do

 

[blackbyrd]

Sorry I should've stated that, It requires equivalent of Mopar ATF + 3 Type 7176a. Valvoline sells 4qt jugs of it in the bluish case, that's what I use. You'll need roughly 3.2qts.