Shifting/transmission problem

Brian · #1 05-13-2006, 09:41 AM

Yesterday, I started my SVX, and tried putting it in reverse, put it didn't want to catch right away. I had to try several times to get it to engage. The same thing happened when I put it in drive. Throughout the day, this would continue everytime I started out from park. It behaves as if in neutral and eventually engages, after several attempts, without a click or any sort of indication. Giving it gas very slowly seems to help it engage more easily. Starting out on a hill, I have to hold the break in while giving it gas until it eventually engages (kind of like a manual transmission). It only got worse as the day went on. When I was first starting out, I found that it sometimes delayed going into the next gear, but once I got going, it didn't seem to do much of that. A mechanic suggested I try some transmission conditioner, but it didn't do any good. I'm not going to drive it until I can take it to a shop after the weekend.

Is this an indication that my transmission is already shot? Could it just need a long over-due change of tranny fluid (it looks full and smells like it always did to me.) and filter? (Well, filters: I had a cooler and aftermarket filter intalled after I bought the car.) A friend of mine had a problem with his Trans-Am, where the shifter became inopperative because the device that grabs the cable controlling gear-change went bad. (The transmission was fine, but the grasper was bad.) Could that be my problem? Even if the SVX has a similar set-up, I'm guessing that my occassional delay going to the next gear when in motion indicates otherwise.

This is so frustrating, because I only had my car back for a little over a week after it had been in the shop for several weeks...and just 2 days after I'd finally had a very annoying, long-time exhaust leak fixed!

DarknessofDeath · #2 05-13-2006, 12:53 PM

i think your tranny is shot.
i went to test out a SVX and...it was tight like a MF

just to change from P to R. i put it back in park and left telling them that the tranny is dead.

Brian · #3 05-13-2006, 07:06 PM

Maybe, but mine seems more "loose" than "tight". I have no problem disengaging from park, moving the shifter, or putting it back in park. But the car acts like I've put it in neutral instead of drive or reverse (or 1, 2 ,or 3) - at least until it finally engages.

intelisevil · #4 05-14-2006, 09:02 AM

It sort of sounds like a low fluid problem, a fluid change would be a good place to start.

Drain and refill, don't get a transmission power flush. A few members have lost trannies after a power flush due to pieces of crud being dislodged, then blocking some of the smaller passages.

Good Luck,
Dan

Brian · #5 05-15-2006, 07:10 AM

It's good to have an optimistic post! (I really wasn't expecting one.) The shop I called won't get the gasket, etc. in until tomorrow - so it will be at least another day until I find out whether or not it could be as easy as a filter and fluid change.

DarknessofDeath · #6 05-15-2006, 08:36 AM

let us know.
i wasn't saying the tranny is completely shot. just sharing what i've test drove the one time.

besides i am sure my tranny is going downtown beneath the ground as well