The other day, I hit a pothole while driving in my car. I had no way of knowing at the time, but a gash was placed in my transmission pan. Several dozen miles later, while slowing down for a traffic signal, my car wouldn't move from a stop.
I towed the car to my garage, and diagnosed the problem. I purchased a replacement transmission pan and gasket. I installed the new pan, transferring the magnets from the old one to the new. The fluid was all but empty.
I leveled the car, added new fluids, and the car started fine. I moved it through the various gears to lubricate the transmission as well as I could. The car responded instantly, ready to move forward or reverse as the shifter directed.
Elated, I drove home.
At first, the car drove fine. I started on rural roads, then to highway, and then to urban streets. The first ten or so miles were uneventful.
After that, however, first gear seemed to take longer to shift into second. My car's RPMs would hover around 4000 to 4500, well beyond where second gear would normally take over. When the car would shift into second, it was jerky and sudden.
After about five miles of that, the car returned to normal operation.
The next morning, I took my car to work. I got out onto the Interstate, and reached 40 mph. The car was stuck in first gear, and this time second would not engage. I tried manually putting the shifter into second, but the car remained in first.
I quickly exited the Interstate, and continued on urban streets, taking care not to drive too fast, as first gear was still engaged.
After several blocks, the car shifted into second. After that point, the transmission continued on as normal.
Any ideas what could be causing this issue? Where should I start looking? The fluid levels ended up being slightly higher than needed, but well under half an inch on the dipstick. I intend to drain the slight excess tonight, but I doubt that's my real issue.
Thank you for your advise.
I towed the car to my garage, and diagnosed the problem. I purchased a replacement transmission pan and gasket. I installed the new pan, transferring the magnets from the old one to the new. The fluid was all but empty.
I leveled the car, added new fluids, and the car started fine. I moved it through the various gears to lubricate the transmission as well as I could. The car responded instantly, ready to move forward or reverse as the shifter directed.
Elated, I drove home.
At first, the car drove fine. I started on rural roads, then to highway, and then to urban streets. The first ten or so miles were uneventful.
After that, however, first gear seemed to take longer to shift into second. My car's RPMs would hover around 4000 to 4500, well beyond where second gear would normally take over. When the car would shift into second, it was jerky and sudden.
After about five miles of that, the car returned to normal operation.
The next morning, I took my car to work. I got out onto the Interstate, and reached 40 mph. The car was stuck in first gear, and this time second would not engage. I tried manually putting the shifter into second, but the car remained in first.
I quickly exited the Interstate, and continued on urban streets, taking care not to drive too fast, as first gear was still engaged.
After several blocks, the car shifted into second. After that point, the transmission continued on as normal.
Any ideas what could be causing this issue? Where should I start looking? The fluid levels ended up being slightly higher than needed, but well under half an inch on the dipstick. I intend to drain the slight excess tonight, but I doubt that's my real issue.
Thank you for your advise.
Feb 24, 2010 at 9:59 AM