Call(425) 235-0101

Shift Problems

Shifting Problems

 

Trouble Shooting > Shifting Problems

Symptom: Shift Problems

You experience one of several problems while driving your car.

 

Automatic Transmission

Car will not shift into gear
Harsh up-shifts
Harsh downshifts
Slow gear changes
Premature shifts
Delayed up-shifts
Delayed reverse shifts
Car will not up-shift
No gear changes

 

Manual/ Standard Transmission

Can’t depress clutch pedal or shift gears
Clutch pedal loses tension; pedal drop to the floor with no resistance
Clutch pedal works, but gears don’t shift.
Car drops out of gear
Grinding while shifting gears

 

 

 

Car will not shift into gear

Automatic: Transmission does not engage when you move the shift lever. Engine idles normally but car will not drop into gear. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • External shift linkage detached or broken
  • Internal transmission failure

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Harsh up-shifts

Automatic: Car clunks into gear. Shifts feel harder than normal. You feel a banging sensation as the car up-shifts. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Transmission fluid is wrong type
  • Transmission fluid is too low
  • Transmission fluid is burnt or contaminated
  • Internal transmission failure
  • Engine idle speed needs to be adjusted
  • Constant Velocity “CV” Joint is degraded or damaged
  • Universal Joint is degraded or damaged
  • External throttle linkage is lose or damaged
  • Vacuum controls need to be adjusted or replaced

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Harsh down-shifts

Automatic: Car drops into lower gear with a thud when you ease off the throttle pedal. Hard downshift while passing. Downshifting is normal when you suddenly accelerate to pass, but the downshift should not feel harsh. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Throttle linkage loose or damaged.
  • Transmission fluid is wrong type
  • Transmission fluid is too low
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Engine problem
  • Transmission electrical or computer control failure
  • Vacuum controls need to be adjusted or replaced

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Slow gear changes

Automatic: Car takes longer than normal to drop into drive. You move the shift lever to a forward gear but the car hesitates before engaging. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Transmission fluid is wrong type
  • Transmission fluid is too low
  • There is an internal problem in the transmission
  • Engine idle speed needs to be adjusted
  • Clogged transmission fluid oil filter
  • Throttle linkage loose or damaged

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Premature shifts

Automatic: Car feels like it loses power between shifts. The gears change too soon. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Transmission fluid level too high
  • Throttle linkage loose or damaged
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Transmission electrical or computer control failure

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Delayed Up-shifts

Automatic: Shifts occur too late. You feel the power build up and then drop off before the next shift. You hear an extended engine rev before the gears up-shift. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Throttle linkage loose or damaged
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Engine problems
  • Transmission electrical or computer control failure
  • Clogged transmission fluid oil filter
  • Vacuum controls need to be adjusted or replaced

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Delayed Reverse Shifts

Automatic: There is an abnormal delay when you move the shift lever to reverse. Other than the delayed engagement the car operates normally. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Transmission fluid is wrong type
  • Transmission fluid level too low
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Transmission fluid is burnt or contaminated
  • Clogged transmission oil filter

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No up-shift, or delayed up-shifts

Automatic: Car will not up-shift as you accelerate. Problem starts out gradually then begins to get worse. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Shift linkage is restricted
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Throttle cable loose or damaged
  • Vacuum controls need to be adjusted or replaced
  • Transmission electrical or computer control failure

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No gear changes

Automatic: Car will not engage into gear. Moving the shift lever will occasionally drop the transmission into gear. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Transmission fluid wrong type
  • Transmission fluid too low
  • Shift linkage loose or damaged
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Torque converter failure
  • Broken flex plate or bolts
  • Transmission electrical or computer control failure
  • Clogged transmission oil filter
  • Internal transmission components are seized

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Can’t depress clutch pedal or shift gears

Manual/ Standard : You can’t press the clutch pedal down. The pedal feels too hard to depress. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Clutch cable is restricted
  • Clutch linkage is restricted

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Car drops out of gear

Manual/ Standard : Car drops into neutral when you accelerate or ease off the throttle. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Internal transmission problem
  • Shift linkage loose or damaged

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Grinding while shifting gears

Manual/ Standard : The transmission grinds as you shift gears. You feel the gear shifter shudder when the transmission grinds. Call our service manager (425) 235-0101 to get extra trouble shooting help.
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Possible Reasons:

  • Clutch needs adjustment
  • Clutch surface is worn out
  • Internal transmission problem
  • Shift linkage loose or damaged

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