Please Help, '99 AT Mitsu Eclipse won't shift into 3rd

Hi guys,

I could really use some help, I'm not very automotive savvy and am completely at wits end at the moment. My '99 Mitsubishi Eclipse does not want to shift into 3rd. I'll drive down the road and all the sudden it will not want to shift up into 3rd and drives at 5000 rpms at 45 mph or so.

I took it to a transmission shop here in Ft. Wayne and the guy said the diagnostics said that there was no issue with the transmission and that it should be fine, thought that maybe it would be electrical....

Just bought 1st house so I can't afford really to take it to the dealer, does anyone have any advice as to what's wrong? Had this issue with a similar car?

Just not sure what to do right now... Thanks in advance guys.

It could be a few different things. First off, I would start with the cheapest fix to see if it takes care of the problem your having. Considering it's a 10 year old car, it probably has higher mileage on it. First thing you should try doing is changing the transmission fluid and filter. Sometimes that is the culprit to this type of problem. If that doesn't fix the problem then it very well could be an electrical problem. The next step would be to have the TCU (transmission control unit) checked to see if it's going out on you. If it is diagnosed and reads fine then it could be something as major as the transmission going bad. Although I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's more than likely just needing the fluid and filter changed in it. Good luck and let us know the results. :thumbsup:

Will it slip out of the higher gear into the lower gear, or will it just not shift into the higher gear period? What about the lower gears, will it shift from 1st to 2nd without any trouble?

I do have to say though, I'd change the fluid just to see if it helps, like Blackcrow said. Beyond that, it almost sounds like what the work truck did at work to me two summers ago... and if thats so, then kiss your tranny good bye.

Thanks for the input guys, I'll start with that. It doesn't seem to have problems going from 1st to 2nd and back down to 1st, it just doesn't want to get up into 3rd. Also going from drive to neutral at times will result in a loud clunk and a hard shift.

It also doesn't do it all of the time. For instance, this morning and yesterday afternoon I drove it 10 to 15 miles and it didn't have any problems shifting up into 3rd 4th, drove great and while driving the service engine soon light went off.

It has kind of came and went the last two days or so.

Like I said, Summit City transmission said that based on diagnostics, it wasn't a tranny issue but was electrical. For whatever that's worth.

Thanks for all the help, this forum is fantastic.

It won't shift into 3rd because the transmission is designed to protect itself if anything is wrong with it. A number of things can send the transmission into "limp mode." At this point, the transmission won't shift as a precaution.

I just experienced the exact same problem with my 1998 Eclipse...It worked fine until I made a u-turn and started driving. It went to like 3500 rpm, and didn't shift into 3rd. I don't know what to do. It is continuously doing it, and it just happened tonight. I made a few stops and turned the car off, but the problem continued! Please help me out!! Please! Thanks:banghead:

I once had a problem like this and it turned out to be the Throttle valve cable (TV Cable) broke free from the throttle plate and that just about ruined my tranny. Wish I were more helpful but keep us updated.