Will not shift out of second gear

Vickie,

When you shift the gears, does the gear indicator change to the selected gear, or does it not change? Also, you indicated it was staying in second gear. When you place it in park, what happens? For example, does it still feel like it's trying to move but is being held by the park gear?

Also, confirm the shift linkage is moving at the transmission. You will need a helper to shift through the gears. Make sure it is attached to both the mounting bracket and shift lever properly.

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below (shift cable at transmission)

Hello, thanks for your help. When I shifted into park it felt like it was in park. And when I try manually shifting the gears nothing changes. It does go into drive when I'm stopped and shipped into drive you can feel it engage like it's supposed to, but then once you continue it never gets out of first or second gear. When I shift into neutral it goes into neutral. When I shift into park it parks. When I shifted into reverse it goes in reverse but there is a whining noise kind of reminds me of when the power steering fluid gets low that sound, but the fluids don't have a smell like it's burnt it doesn't seem to be gritty it does look a little darker. I will check the linkage in the morning and let you know a friend's supposed to come help me with that.

Hi,

Let me know what you find with the shift linkage, but it sounds like that isn't the issue based on what you just said. Is this the original transmission? Do you have access to a scan tool?

Let me know. If possible, record the sound you hear in reverse and upload it so I can hear it.

Take care and I'll watch for your response.

Joe

Yes, original transmission. No scan tool available. I see what I can do about the noise. Thanks

Changing the fluid and filter and while I'm there I'm going to switch out the solenoid. never was a check engine light, so I know it isn't that but everything else seems to be fine. I can't get it to pick up the sound on my phone. sorry ,best way to describe it is it sounds exactly like my power steering box when it starts to get low on fluid.

Vickie,

Let me know if the fluid takes care of the issue. The idea that it sounds like a low power steering pump may indicate low fluid or a partially plugged transmission filter.

Let me know what you find. I'm interested in knowing.

Joe

Sorry it took so long to get back but couldn't find the link. Anyway, after changing the filter fluid speed sensor and governor sensor it drove perfectly for two days. Now it seems the filter is clogging. While pricing all of a sudden it slips. No check engine light but this time when it stops it won't go into any gear it won't reverse it won't do anything but it will park and you could hear it the parking pin click in now you let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and it's fine but then it's only good for another 5 or 10 minutes and I don't need to trash my transmission any more than it is. so, when I get paid again, I'm going to try a whole another filter and fluid I don't know what else it could be, do you? Everybody's telling me I should be getting codes well my ABS light was coming on and it worked just fine for that that was right before all this happened.

Vickie,

When you had the transmission pan off the vehicle, was there a lot of dirt built up in it? If it was working correctly and now is doing this again, it does sound like something could be plugged. If you check the fluid, is it still clean since the change?

As far as the ABS, that wouldn't be causing this type of issue. You could even have a plugged transmission cooler.

It may be a good idea to perform what is called a line pressure test to confirm if the transmission fluid pressure is within spec. Before that, however, let me know what the new fluid looks like. Also, see if it has a burnt smell to it.

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,

Joe

The fluid is nice and clean, and it doesn't smell except for the smell of transmission fluid, it doesn't smell burnt. Yes the pan was really gunky but before I took it off I cleaned most of that off and I did everything in rubber gloves and anytime it got dirty I switched them out I clean the pan out real well because it was plastic pieces in there from one of the sensors before I even took the sensor out I think it was the governor one the big one LOL is checking the fluid pressure something I can do I mean of course I'm shade tree mechanic so I have to time I'm lucky if I got the tools I need because somebody borrowed them and never brought them back, but maybe I can rent it from one of the parts stores I appreciate all your knowledge because I'm lost.

What did the plastic pieces look like?

As far as line pressure, you need pressure gauges that are able to handle over 300 PSI. Something is telling me that you won't get that high because of issues, but that is a possibility.

I attached the directions below for testing line pressure. Take a look through it and see if you are comfortable doing it.

Also, do the AT cooler lines from the transmission go to the radiator or does it have a remote cooler?

Let me know.

Joe

See pics below.

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to get some help with checking at pressure. My friend says it's has the cooler in front of the radiator not sure which one it is.

If it does, disconnect it and make sure nothing appears clogged. Blow some low-pressure air through it to see if it seems plugged. When I say low pressure, I'm referring to around 10PSI.

Let me know.

Joe