Stuck in third gear!

I've got a 1991 with an automatic tranny. I was stopped at a light and when I went to accelerate the car was in third gear. I couldn't get it to downshift manually either. After I got home I realized it wouldn't shift into reverse either. All I have is third gear. The fluid looks clean and doen't smell burnt. Is this tranny shot or is there something I should check?

(I've got a 1991 with an automatic tranny. I was stopped at a light and when I went to accelerate the car was in third gear. I couldn't get it to downshift manually either. After I got home I realized it wouldn't shift into reverse either. All I have is third gear. The fluid looks clean and doen't smell burnt. Is this tranny shot or is there something I should check?)


Does it make any sounds with you try to go? does it attempt to move at all? check your auto tranny filter(if i has it) or anything unsual while you're underneath the car.

There is no noise. When you put it in reverse does not engage at all but when you put into the foward gears it engages normally but in third gear. The tranny never drops to 1 or 2 even when you put the shifter in low.

There is no noise. When you put it in reverse does not engage at all but when you put into the foward gears it engages normally but in third gear. The tranny never drops to 1 or 2 even when you put the shifter in low.

try having your modular checked?

The same thing happened to mine except for the reverse part. It was my TCU (transmission control unit). It is located behind the ECU (if you know where that is). When this happened to me I called the dealer and they wanted $550 for it. DO NOT GET ONE FROM A DEALER, YOU WILL GET RIPPED OFF! I got one from a guy in my local DSM club for $120. Check out the TCU and if there is any sight of damage that is your problem, otherwise, I have no idea. Go to http://members.cardomain.com/dsm1g and you will see pics of my old TCU at the bottom of the page.

Since we all appear to be transmission specialists here, I think I will throw in a couple of possibilities too. If it is stuck in one particular gear, most of the time, there is a mechanical malfunction either with the modulator valve or the tranny is shot. The only basic thing the home mechanic can really do is check the sensors and fluid level. Other than that, take it in and have the TCU checked out. You might have to have it rebuilt like I did when mine got stuck in second.

i have an 91 eclipse too and my transmission was stuck in 3rd gear i got it rebuilt by a transmission rebuilder (which was a close freind) and the problem with mine was one of the wires to the shift selonoids was disnoected but while we took it apart we put a banner kit in it if thats any help.


also if u were fooling around with the wire connections there are 2 connections that can be reversed make sure they are connected correctly becuz it would be stuck in a gear if its reversed