Transmission Issue? Hopefully Not...

[Dennyj1992]

So my car has been doing this since I bought it, but going from 2nd to third gear (only this gear, the first 2 act fine) it makes a kick back kind of feel and thumps a bit. I'm hoping it's just a mount, so I will change it and hope for the best. However, when going from third to 4th gear, the RPM's rev up (almost like it's slipping by 200 RPM's or so). Unless I get on the pedal, it does this. If I accelerate from a dead stop lightly, it rev's up when going from third to 4th. Only by about 200 RPM's, but it's still worrying me. Any ideas? Maybe getting the straight pipe fixed will clean up the air flow? Idk, I'm not a master on cars in any sense, but was wondering if anyone here could give me some insight onto what's going on with this car.

If it helps, the tranny fluid looks clean (pink) and topped off well.

I wish I could throw up some videos to help you guys out...

 

[93laser1g]

So my car has been doing this since I bought it, but going from 2nd to third gear (only this gear, the first 2 act fine) it makes a kick back kind of feel and thumps a bit. I'm hoping it's just a mount, so I will change it and hope for the best. However, when going from third to 4th gear, the RPM's rev up (almost like it's slipping by 200 RPM's or so). Unless I get on the pedal, it does this. If I accelerate from a dead stop lightly, it rev's up when going from third to 4th. Only by about 200 RPM's, but it's still worrying me. Any ideas? Maybe getting the straight pipe fixed will clean up the air flow? Idk, I'm not a master on cars in any sense, but was wondering if anyone here could give me some insight onto what's going on with this car.

If it helps, the tranny fluid looks clean (pink) and topped off well.

I wish I could throw up some videos to help you guys out...

It could be a combo of a motor mount and a bad clutch or a transmission mount

 

[Dennyj1992]

Ok dude, thanks. I will have this checked for sure.

 

[96' Eclipse GS]

Slippage in the transmission is usually due to the transmission fluid being low, but can be caused by a variety of other transmission issues. Even if you have topped it off, your transmission gears are slipping (or lagging) when you put your car into gear, hit the accelerator, and the engine revs up, but the car takes a second or two to catch up and begin picking up speed. Watch your RPM's (revolutions per minute); if they exceed 3500, then your transmission is most likely slipping.

-----------------------------------Question time for me?--------------------

1. Any Overheating on a Gauge and in terms of heat coming from the transmission?
2. Any leaks of any sort that you know of or double check to make sure?
3. Does you (OverDrive) work, when you engage the switch? Your RPM's should drop.
4. Any "hard shifts/kick-ins/Slam-in's" when you do push the button?

I'm thinking more of a torque converter issue or the clutches inside the transmission. Also possible (Bands) that are worn.

-----Post a few videos of a (dead stop) to 30mph and back down to stop at normal speeds! Do not push it! #1. I need to see the gauges, when you DO NOT engage the OD & when you DO engage it with a run after and before a run. Thank you.

 

[Dennyj1992]

Slippage in the transmission is usually due to the transmission fluid being low, but can be caused by a variety of other transmission issues. Even if you have topped it off, your transmission gears are slipping (or lagging) when you put your car into gear, hit the accelerator, and the engine revs up, but the car takes a second or two to catch up and begin picking up speed. Watch your RPM’s (revolutions per minute); if they exceed 3500, then your transmission is most likely slipping.

-----------------------------------Question time for me?--------------------

1. Any Overheating on a Gauge and in terms of heat coming from the transmission?
2. Any leaks of any sort that you know of or double check to make sure?
3. Does you (OverDrive) work, when you engage the switch? Your RPM's should drop.
4. Any "hard shifts/kick-ins/Slam-in's" when you do push the button?

I'm thinking more of a torque converter issue or the clutches inside the transmission. Also possible (Bands) that are worn.

-----Post a few videos of a (dead stop) to 30mph and back down to stop at normal speeds! Do not push it! #1. I need to see the gauges, when you DO NOT engage the OD & when you DO engage it with a run after and before a run. Thank you.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/maintenance-repairs/439539-getting-quicker-off-line.html

If this is you in the second & third video, then you caused it in the first place.

I'm gonna check the fluid to make sure it's not low...double check anyways. I have no camera to make a video, sorry about that.

Answering your questions...

1. No, not any sign of overheating at all.
2. No leaks under the car, and the transmission holds fluid well from what it looks like. Fluid is clean, like I said before.
3. Yes, my O/D works just fine. That is where is seems to "slip" by about 100-200 RPM's. From third to my overdrive gear.
4. No hard slams or anything like that, and the transmission shifts smoothly and flawlessly all the way through. If I'm being light on it, it doesn't even do that "slipping" thing from third to 4th gear (O/D). I have to be pushing it around 2600 or more, and it doesn't jump the RPM's up more then 2800 when it acts up.

No, those are different people in those videos, and I was trying to get a comparison on them on why my car looks and feels so much slower off the line. I realize that if I'm ragging on my car, then I would make the transmission act up eventually, but I have had it for only a short time. On top of this, these cars are great on reliability, and are built based on performance, so they should be able to take some kind of beating.

 

[96' Eclipse GS]

I'm gonna check the fluid to make sure it's not low...double check anyways. I have no camera to make a video, sorry about that.

Answering your questions...

1. No, not any sign of overheating at all.
2. No leaks under the car, and the transmission holds fluid well from what it looks like. Fluid is clean, like I said before.
3. Yes, my O/D works just fine. That is where is seems to "slip" by about 100-200 RPM's. From third to my overdrive gear.
4. No hard slams or anything like that, and the transmission shifts smoothly and flawlessly all the way through. If I'm being light on it, it doesn't even do that "slipping" thing from third to 4th gear (O/D). I have to be pushing it around 2600 or more, and it doesn't jump the RPM's up more then 2800 when it acts up.

No, those are different people in those videos, and I was trying to get a comparison on them on why my car looks and feels so much slower off the line. I realize that if I'm ragging on my car, then I would make the transmission act up eventually, but I have had it for only a short time. On top of this, these cars are great on reliability, and are built based on performance, so they should be able to take some kind of beating.

Sorry, as you can now see. Please disregard the (Video Comment), I read the thread "a little" to late. If it has started this soon, then you might get away with farther damage. I would have it checked internally for any (end clutch) damage & go from there...

 

[Dennyj1992]

I'm gonna check the fluid, and have it taken in when I get a chance this week. I'll keep you posted on what happens. Thank you for the help so far dude.

 

[BoosteDsm1993]

Make sure you're checking the fluid level correctly. Start the car, run it till warm, move the gear selector from park to 1st, then back to neutral. Apply parking brake, check level with car in neutral. My 1g auto blew up because I was checking the level in park, and then when I read the service manual and tried the above method, it was like 3.5 quarts low haha.

 

[93laser1g]

Make sure you're checking the fluid level correctly. Start the car, run it till warm, move the gear selector from park to 1st, then back to neutral. Apply parking brake, check level with car in neutral. My 1g auto blew up because I was checking the level in park, and then when I read the service manual and tried the above method, it was like 3.5 quarts low haha.

i did not know he was auto. my auto laser was doing the same thing 1 quart of atf+4 and boom problem solved. also try taking cruise control off for some reason it slips when its engaged especially 2nd to 3rd gear.

 

[Dennyj1992]

Well, I changed the front lower mount today for $115 installed with parts and labor. On Saturday, all of the exhaust is getting fixed, including a new muffler! (It was a lot more expensive then I expected, but hey...imports, what can you do right?) Then I'm having a transmission flush done, the other bottom side tranny mount and a free engine diagnoses while they are at it, thrown in free of charge. I just gotta get my fuse for my cigarette lighter changed, because it's bad, and it's stopping his code reader from reading what's wrong with the car (check engine light comes on, and shuts off every once in a while. It's stuck on right now )

All of this done for around $450, after that first mount, because I excluded that. Not too bad on price, and considering I only payed $750 for it, that means I will have around $1300 into it after all of this. It has 132k on it now, and runs great. The thumping from the other mount is driving me crazy (when putting the car into gear, and slowing down thumps too).

For me, all of this is worth it, considering the mileage it still really great on it. If I would of bought this car on craigslist, I probably (in all honesty) would of payed more and the car would of had (most likely) more problems that would of come with it. Hopefully the tranny flush pays off, and all of this gets fixed. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst???

 

[93laser1g]

Well, I changed the front lower mount today for $115 installed with parts and labor. On Saturday, all of the exhaust is getting fixed, including a new muffler! (It was a lot more expensive then I expected, but hey...imports, what can you do right?) Then I'm having a transmission flush done, the other bottom side tranny mount and a free engine diagnoses while they are at it, thrown in free of charge. I just gotta get my fuse for my cigarette lighter changed, because it's bad, and it's stopping his code reader from reading what's wrong with the car (check engine light comes on, and shuts off every once in a while. It's stuck on right now )

All of this done for around $450, after that first mount, because I excluded that. Not too bad on price, and considering I only payed $750 for it, that means I will have around $1300 into it after all of this. It has 132k on it now, and runs great. The thumping from the other mount is driving me crazy (when putting the car into gear, and slowing down thumps too).

For me, all of this is worth it, considering the mileage it still really great on it. If I would of bought this car on craigslist, I probably (in all honesty) would of payed more and the car would of had (most likely) more problems that would of come with it. Hopefully the tranny flush pays off, and all of this gets fixed. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst???

What could you do? fix it yourself motor mounts are easy to change. also exhaust is very easy its just bolting flanges together.
i only have 120k original on my laser.

 

[Dennyj1992]

What could you do? fix it yourself motor mounts are easy to change. also exhaust is very easy its just bolting flanges together.
i only have 120k original on my laser.

Nice! I would do the work, but I have a third shift position now, and I'm so tired all the time and never get a chance to get free time on the Talon. I work, sleep, eat, girlfriend, repeat. Anyways, I do really like that Laser...I seen a 1g yesterday in Fair Haven haha.

 

[93laser1g]

Nice! I would do the work, but I have a third shift position now, and I'm so tired all the time and never get a chance to get free time on the Talon. I work, sleep, eat, girlfriend, repeat. Anyways, I do really like that Laser...I seen a 1g yesterday in Fair Haven haha.

Oh i see, do you use your car as a dd? And thanks man i love my dsm only payed 550 for the beast.

 

[Dennyj1992]

Oh i see, do you use your car as a dd? And thanks man i love my dsm only payed 550 for the beast.

Ya it's my DD right now, and I want to make sure it's running right for work. In fact, I hardly have enough time to do an oil change on the car .

 

[Dennyj1992]

Resurrecting this thread for a few more questions. I've decided I'm going to change the tranny fluid and filter here in the next few days. How do I go about doing this? I know to undo the bolts on the transmission pan and drop the fluid. Then pull the filter down and replace it with a new one right? Is the filter inside of the pan? Then after changing, tighten the pan back and refill fluid until it's right at the perfect level, and I'm finished. I already have the parts, tools, and fluid ready to go. Do I have this order right? Also, the magnetic particles inside the pan...do they grab onto a magnet inside of it, or is there no magnet? If there are a bunch, do I clean them off with just a rag...or...what are my options?

 

[Dennyj1992]

Well, I sold the car to my cousin today. Looks like as of Thursday I may be getting back into the J-Body scene . I guess you can never get too far from what you really love driving huh? Anyways, thanks for all the help you guys! If I ever end up owning another DSM, I will surely be back to ask you all for more advice. Thanks so far, and I appreciate you all being so understanding and helpful along the way. Peace everyone.

 

[Dennyj1992]

Thread ressurection again, a couple of years later.

Had several cars the past couple of years. Back to the talon though. Bought it from my cousin last week. Still running great!

Just put two front tires on it. Now it needs an oil change and the exhaust fixed properly. Also doing plugs to top it off. I feel basic maintenance would have this car running entirely perfect.