Trans slips

[socal1200r]

Ok, this can't be coincidental...

Just had my lowering springs, s/s brake lines, drilled rotors, and new pads installed this afternoon. Now, the transmission slips like crazy! If you baby the gas pedal, it will rev and shift okay, but anything more than that and it just revs up then slams into gear.

The trans operated fine before I dropped it off to get those parts installed. Could they have done something during the process of installing these parts that has now made the trans run like crap? Is there a hose, wire, sensor, anything like that that they could've damaged? I mean, it ran FINE before...

[Chucksta]

Random thoughts...


Were you there while the work was being done? Or, did you leave her unattended? Was the mileage in noted on the work order. .. how far from the shop to your house? What is the milage now? And, yes, you know where I'm going with that..

Have you checked the fluid level?

How does it feel when you put it in drive or reverse? Same as before? Or, is there more of a delay? Check with the HVAC on and again with it off ( changes base idle speed). Delayed engagement is indicative of a bad front pump. So is ( up to a point ) a flare in RPM on a shift.

Slams into gear? Check the dropping resistor and wiring behind the battery. But if it was the dropping resistor / wiring, all shifts should be hard. So, an outside possibility.

Yes, it is possible that it was a coincidence .. Had a fuel pump on a 5.0 'Stang decide to die while getting some vacuum lines replaced. The mechanic went crazy trying to figure out why it fell flat on it's face when you punched it.. Fuel pump would hold pressure for about ten minutes... then slowly start to drop.. It was fine up until then, it just picked exactly that point to coincidentally die.

Lowered springs? Check the transmission cooler lines in the driver's side front wheel well. Check for a pinched line.

Lowered springs? Check the transmission pan for damage.. Especially if you left it unattended.

Good luck..

[socal1200r]

Yup, dropped it off and picked it up at closing time the next day (they had it for two days, because of ordering new rear calipers).

I'll do the obvious and check the fluid level, assuming there's a dipstick and the trans isn't a sealed unit. If that looks fine, guess I'll have to jack up the front end and take a look at what you mentioned: trans cooler lines, trans pan, etc. The trans also has an external cooler mounted in front of the radiator, so I'll check those lines for being pinched / loose as well.

I just find it very strange that the trans worked perfectly when I dropped it off, and now it doesn't...

[SVX_MY_BABY]

Here is a possibility. It happened to me years ago when I had new front struts installed.

When the tech did the struts the front axle popped out of place at the differential. There is a cir-clip which holds it in place and it was just far enough out to make contact some of the time but not always. When the axle moved out of contact the engine raced and drive was lost then there would be a "slam" into gear when the axle made contact again. This was exacerbated by turning the steering wheel.

DO NOT DRIVE IT if this is your problem, it will wreck the transmission.

In my case the splines on the end of the axle got chewed up. The piece is the same as a Legacy or Loyal, can't remember which. Got the part from a scrap yard and had it installed. Had to drain the differential twice too get rid of the filings.

[socal1200r]

Originally Posted by SVX_MY_BABY

Here is a possibility. It happened to me years ago when I had new front struts installed.

When the tech did the struts the front axle popped out of place at the differential. There is a cir-clip which holds it in place and it was just far enough out to make contact some of the time but not always. When the axle moved out of contact the engine raced and drive was lost then there would be a "slam" into gear when the axle made contact again. This was exacerbated by turning the steering wheel.

DO NOT DRIVE IT if this is your problem, it will wreck the transmission.

In my case the splines on the end of the axle got chewed up. The piece is the same as a Legacy or Loyal, can't remember which. Got the part from a scrap yard and had it installed. Had to drain the differential twice too get rid of the filings.

I'll have to get the axles checked, that sounds almost exactly like what I'm experiencing...thanks for the suggestion!

[SVX_MY_BABY]

Let us know how you make out.