Transmission not going to drive

GARY BROOKS

MEMBER
1989 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
2.8L
V6
FWD
AUTOMATIC
86,000 MILES

I had to put a new starter on my mom's Z24, and after getting it installed, I noticed when I went for a drive to take it back to her it did not shift into drive, either when it was cold or hot. I tried manually shifting from first, to second, and then drive, but no drive. It is a three speed automatic and shifts into reverse and drive with no slipping and fluid level it full and the transmission fluid is still red colored. I even tried shifting from drive to second and back to drive with no shift to drive.I hope its something simple to try.

5 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Check to see if any wires have touched block or manifold, then have a transmission professional look at it. The governor may be the problem with a worn out gear on bottom.

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Saturday, March 11th, 2017 AT 6:44 AM

GARY BROOKS

MEMBER
15 POSTS

I actually noticed it not shifting before putting the starter on.

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Saturday, March 11th, 2017 AT 1:43 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Okay then it was not because of the starter. So do what I said to see what the problem is.

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Saturday, March 11th, 2017 AT 3:36 PM

GARY BROOKS

MEMBER
15 POSTS

All the tranny shops were all booked up for awhile, so I did a few checks. Unhooked the tv cable from the top of the engine and checked it and it didn't bind and actually retracted back from full throttle and seemed like it might be working. I then added a bottle of Lucas transmission fix after removing enough trans fluid to pour this in, topped it off to where it should be warmed up, and magic, drive is back and shifts like it should from 2nd to 3rd. I'm guessing that it just might have been some dry seals. I've used this Lucas fix on a transmission that slipped shifting into drive before on a different car it was still shifting fine 3 years later when I sold the car. Crossing my fingers here.

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Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 AT 1:25 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Its not a dry seal but an old one and If the lucas stuff works stick with it. What has happened is the seal has hardened up so it doesn't seal any longer then evidently the lucas softens it up so it will work but normally is only a temp fix. Hell it works for now see how it goes, make sure to adjust throttle cable correctly though. Otherwise it will get low pressure and fail early