Transmission won't engage from standstill
chuckroc98
05-07-2005, 06:22 PM
I have a '94 Lumina 3.1 with a transmission issue. When you put the car in drive and the engine is cold, frequently (although not always)nothing happens. However, if you move the gearshift down to 2nd or 1st position, the car goes right into gear. Once moving, there are no problems with shifting. Also, if you come to a stop or almost to a stop, sometimes it slips into neutral and you have to do the same thing to get it to go into gear. It always goes into gear when you put it in 2nd or 1st, I haven't had any problems with it not going into gear at all if I use this method. Also, it seems to go away once the engine is warm.
I'm stumped...any ideas??
I'm stumped...any ideas??
jeffcoslacker
05-07-2005, 07:37 PM
You got dried out seals or a sticking valve body. Run a can of Trans-X through it and see if it doesn't improve within a couple hundred miles or so.
Stuff works great on issues like that.
Stuff works great on issues like that.
jeffcoslacker
05-07-2005, 07:38 PM
Did that car do a lot of sitting around unused at some point?
chuckroc98
05-07-2005, 10:51 PM
Did that car do a lot of sitting around unused at some point?
Not really sure, I bought the vehicle and it shifted fine the first time I drove it. After letting it cool off overnight, I got in it the next day and had the problem. I dropped the pan and changed the fluid and the filter, and I put a quart of Lucas transmission fix in it, and it seems like it does it less than before, but I still am having the problem. I have driven it over a hundred miles since the fluid change.
Not really sure, I bought the vehicle and it shifted fine the first time I drove it. After letting it cool off overnight, I got in it the next day and had the problem. I dropped the pan and changed the fluid and the filter, and I put a quart of Lucas transmission fix in it, and it seems like it does it less than before, but I still am having the problem. I have driven it over a hundred miles since the fluid change.
jeffcoslacker
05-08-2005, 09:14 AM
Lucas is good fluid conditioner, but it doesn't condition seals, that I know of, and it won't free a sticky valve or check ball.
I'd loosen the pan enough to let a quart out, then retorque it, you shouldn't need a new gasket. Then add the Trans-X.
Did you buy from a dealer, or a private party. Sounds like they knew the problem. Good as I am, I got took on a deal like that when I bought my Impala SS. After I drove it, the salesman insisted that he would back it into the slot on the lot.
The next morning, it did the same thing you described, only in reverse. Wouldn't engage until warm, and if you stomped it in reverse, it would slip.
It had a bad clutch pack, and a crack in a drum that holds pressure. I had to have the tranny rebuilt.
If the lucas helped, it is because it built up the fluid viscosity and shear strength, which can overcome a pressure bleed-off to some degree.
Remember when GM had so many problems with rack and pinion units that wouldn't have any power assist when the engine was cold, and they'd bind up on you when you tried to turn the wheel the first couple of times in the morning? Same deal. In that case, the units had seals that sealed against aluminum surfaces. After time, the aluminum would get scored from dirt in the fluid, and the rubber of the seal couldn't conform to the imperfections when cold, and allowed just enough fluid pressure to bleed off and render the unit inop until the seals warmed slightly and softened, then it would work fine.
Same thing will happen in a tranny sometimes, it's most common on a unit that has sat for sometime without being used, as the constant bathing of fluid and temp cycling is what keeps them pliable. If it sits, the rubber will harden slightly, then not perform right when cold. 2 things will improve it:
Build fluid viscosity (what the Lucas has done)
Condition the seals (what Trans-X can do)
At any rate, any improvement will likely only be temporary, at some point the seals will disintegrate to the point only replacement will help it.
If you bought this from a lot, you need to go lean on them HARD, they knew this car had problems. If an individual, you may be outta luck, but I'd point it out to them anyway. Some people will split the cost of a repair with you, if they are decent.
I'd loosen the pan enough to let a quart out, then retorque it, you shouldn't need a new gasket. Then add the Trans-X.
Did you buy from a dealer, or a private party. Sounds like they knew the problem. Good as I am, I got took on a deal like that when I bought my Impala SS. After I drove it, the salesman insisted that he would back it into the slot on the lot.
The next morning, it did the same thing you described, only in reverse. Wouldn't engage until warm, and if you stomped it in reverse, it would slip.
It had a bad clutch pack, and a crack in a drum that holds pressure. I had to have the tranny rebuilt.
If the lucas helped, it is because it built up the fluid viscosity and shear strength, which can overcome a pressure bleed-off to some degree.
Remember when GM had so many problems with rack and pinion units that wouldn't have any power assist when the engine was cold, and they'd bind up on you when you tried to turn the wheel the first couple of times in the morning? Same deal. In that case, the units had seals that sealed against aluminum surfaces. After time, the aluminum would get scored from dirt in the fluid, and the rubber of the seal couldn't conform to the imperfections when cold, and allowed just enough fluid pressure to bleed off and render the unit inop until the seals warmed slightly and softened, then it would work fine.
Same thing will happen in a tranny sometimes, it's most common on a unit that has sat for sometime without being used, as the constant bathing of fluid and temp cycling is what keeps them pliable. If it sits, the rubber will harden slightly, then not perform right when cold. 2 things will improve it:
Build fluid viscosity (what the Lucas has done)
Condition the seals (what Trans-X can do)
At any rate, any improvement will likely only be temporary, at some point the seals will disintegrate to the point only replacement will help it.
If you bought this from a lot, you need to go lean on them HARD, they knew this car had problems. If an individual, you may be outta luck, but I'd point it out to them anyway. Some people will split the cost of a repair with you, if they are decent.
jeffcoslacker
05-08-2005, 09:19 AM
P.S. Important lesson here. I learned that I will not buy anything unless I get to start it cold. When I go to look, if the motor is anything but stone cold, I tell them I'll be back in the morning, and instruct them NOT to run it before I get there. I want to see how it sounds and acts cold. And see if it has any issues while warming up. Even some things like bad engine bearings might knock hard when started, and not make any more noise all day.
Hell, the Lumina's 3.1 sounds like crap when first fired. If I didn't know that's how they sound, I wouldn't buy it, hearing that.
Hell, the Lumina's 3.1 sounds like crap when first fired. If I didn't know that's how they sound, I wouldn't buy it, hearing that.
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