Transmission not shifting properly

ANTHONYPATTON85

MEMBER
1999 DODGE MAGNUM
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
220,000 MILES

Hello, I'm having issues with my transmission. It doesn't go into reverse and when I try to go into drive you have to take off slow and it doesn't wasn't to shift into gears and the RPMs run to high when it happens.
I just changed the transmission filter it's a little better but still no reverse and it still has issues wanting to shift and RPMs are still running high.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

This sounds like a fluid level issue or overall fluid issue. so when you changed the filter what did the fluid look like? Was it red or dark and smell bad?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission

What I would suggest is flushing the unit completely and then retest. However, I had a 1998 Dodge that had this same transmission in it and it would act like this as well. I found that when I put a couple extra quarts of fluid in the transmission it stopped doing it.

If the fluid looks good now, just add a quart and see if it gets better. Don't worry about if it is a little overfull. Clearly we don't want to put 5 extra quarts in it but 1-2 will be just fine.

What was happening with mine is it would suck air and it would eventually bang into gears.

Let's start with this and go from there.