93 LX Wagon Trans Prob

Just bought a 93 LX Wagon for $50. CND that has 170,000 KM (106,000 Miles) on it. The car is in pretty good shape and the motor runs like a top, but the autotrans stays locked in 1st gear and refuses to shift.

I have tried searching in the forums, but I can only find about slipping problems and nothing on staying in 1st. When I went to get the car, it wouldn't start (minor battery terminal prob) and so I had to get it towed. When I went to put the trans in neutrel I had a really hard time to get it out of park and had to wressel with it. Since I got it started, it shifts better, but it is still hard to shift.

Unfortunately it is winter here and is cold so it makes it abit harder to get things done. I was just wondering if there is something I could look at or whatever to see if that is causing the problem? I blew the trans in my 92 LX wagon three times 1- hit passing and that was it, 2- blew the differential, 3- it down shifted from second to first and locked up. All three the car was not drivable, but this car is even tho it is only in first and that's what makes me wonder if it might be something fixable.

Thanks for any and all help.

Take care

Willy

unfortunately i have no idea why your tranny would be locking in 1st, however there was a 93 escort wagon, w/ auto parked down the street a year ago and i asked him about it. he said he had the same problem that you have right now....just to let you no its happened before...good luck:uhoh:

Hi, willy26, Can you please be more descriptive on the (locked in first) symptom? Do you mean it will not upshift to any other gear while driving? Do you have reverse? I can probably help with some more info,,,See Ya, Clay...

Went out and checked the car today. The fluid is still reddish color, and looks pretty good yet. When you put the car in drive or drive 2 and step on the gas you go. There is no problems spinning the tires on pavement, but it just won't shift out of low. Reverse is the same as it will lay rubber as well so reverse is fine as well and like I say it just won't shift out of low no matter what. I tried seeing where the cable goes to the trans to see if something was wrong, but couldn't find it and will have to dig abit deeeper. The last time I had this kind of a problem it was with a Chevette and it was the modulator valeve, but from what I can see there is no vacuum going to the trans and if there is one it is probably inside. That being the case I will probably just change the trans as I already have one just have to pull it out. Thanks for any and all help.

Take Care

Willy

Did you tow it with the front wheels on the ground? And if so, for how far?
Also, check to see if the kickdown cable is connected right to the throttle body. Mine was broke, and mine would not shift out of low until I let off the gas.
Have you tried driving it in low, then when it gets to the point of where it should shift, shift it up to drive or overdrive?
Sounds more like your tranny is dead, but you might just need a new filter or something.
-Scott

Your auto tranny has electrical shift solenoids instead of a vacuum operated modulator valve. Check on the electrical connections on top of the tranny. One might be corroded, loose or disconnected. Check the shift cable on top. It has an eyelet that fits over the lever. Have someone operate the shifter inside the car while you eyeball the shift lever and cable. It should change position for each driving mode. Low, 2nd, 3rd, Drive etc.