transmission won't engage 1st gear

1993 BUICK CENTURY
173,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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BERNIE PARRISH
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  • 2 POSTS
1993 Buick Century transaxle automatic 4 speed won't shift into 1st gear does shift into reverse and operates fine in reverse, won't engage at all in drive lowest gear
Feb 25, 2011 at 7:53 PM
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FACTORYJACK
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 4,159 POSTS
Is this determined by second gear starts, otherwise considered a lack of power from a stop? With the miles on the vehicle, how has the maintenance been on the transmission? What condition is the transmission fluid in?
Feb 25, 2011 at 8:55 PM
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BERNIE PARRISH
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Changes fluid and filter to try to fix it but didn't work, hardly debris in pan on magnet. installed new filter and fluid. Same problem continues won't engage in first gear.
Feb 26, 2011 at 4:52 AM
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FACTORYJACK
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 4,159 POSTS
So to be more specific, would you say it has second gear starts? Have you determined that it has second, third, and fourth gears? Based on what the symptoms are, it is going to be most likely, an internal transmission concern. A faulty solenoid is going to give you a concern with another gear, in addition to no first gear.
Feb 27, 2011 at 12:05 AM
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