What is wrong with my transmission

Tiny
JWGROFF05
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 CADILLAC BROUGHAM
  • 93,500 MILES
I will be driving up and down the road and notice that the engine will rev and sometimes not shift in gear. It will shift into first fine at 10 miles per hour and then around 22-25 the engine will rev and wont go into gear unless you step on the gas more and give it more power. I am wondering if maybe the torque converter is causing problems or if the torque converter clutch solenoid is going wrong or if its ineveitable and the tranny is starting to slip and the clutch band that lets it shift into the 2nd gear cluster is no longer strong enough to engage. Any help would be appreciated.
Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 5:08 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Well you nailed diagnosis yes internal wear of clutches and seals likely cause
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 5:50 PM
Tiny
JWGROFF05
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  • 24 POSTS
Well let me ask you this my car will start then stall start then stall and then I have to start it and give it a little gas to get it running. Sometimes it will start fine. Im wondering if maybe fuel issues will cause the above problem?
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
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Maybe check fuel pressure if good filter been changed lately? Put SeaFoam in tank to clean out system
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 6:30 PM
Tiny
JWGROFF05
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
Ill check the pressure and I havent changed the filter. Seafoam is a good thing and ill try that too. Iwas thinking with maybe the fuel system having problems this could cause the engine to act up and in turn the power transfer across the drive train is not equal transfer all the time. Also I was wondering if it is bad fuel pressure then what would be the issue it would cause wit the transmission?
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 6:41 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Not likely has trans fluid and filter been change in last 60K miles?
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
JWGROFF05
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
Yeah just changed it and new filter put in 1500 miles ago. So that is why I ruled that out.
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
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Was there clutch material and metal flakes in pan?
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-1
Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 7:43 PM
Tiny
JWGROFF05
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
No it was a slightly dark red fluid but there was barely any sediment from any form of metal in it. It was time for a change but I drove it again and it revved hgihg and I stepped on it and it shifted and one it got into third it shifted fine into fourth gear and drove fine but second gear is my only problem and possibly third too
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
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  • 18,828 POSTS
Maybe a valve body problem might be good idea to have trans pressure tested to see if a shift valve it sticking
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 8:36 PM
Tiny
JWGROFF05
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Sounds good I appreciate it. Do you have any other suggestions
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Saturday, June 16th, 2012 AT 9:04 PM
Tiny
JWGROFF05
  • MEMBER
  • 24 POSTS
As it has it it is third gear that it wont shift in to. I put the card in third itself and it does not engage at all so I believe third gear is burned up
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Sunday, June 17th, 2012 AT 1:05 AM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
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  • 18,828 POSTS
If can't manualy select third then not spool valve it is third gear clutch looks like overhaul time
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Sunday, June 17th, 2012 AT 6:36 PM

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