Transmission

I have a 1998 Intrigue 3.5 v8 with 135k miles on it. I have not a single bit of trouble with the car since I got it in 2000. Only recently I started having issues with the shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear (shifts hard) and even more recently, I have not been able to get the car to recognize it's in gear when the car is cold. I had to let the car warm up before it will go into drive from park, and it is starting not to want go into reverse. It also does not want to recognize when you slow down and accelerate that it needs to down shift.

Could this be the seals hardening or a sensor issue? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

That does almost sound like a solenoid issue, but typically with those you would have a Service Engine Soon light, but you dont mention that.

I wish I had more to offer, but I dont at this time.

read your owners manual then check the fluid level. =use their process.

level may be low.

Have you changed the tranny fluid since you got the car? Trans fluid should be changed every few years to keep it from gumming up the solenoids. Check the fluid, if its low top it up and also check the colour of the fluid itself. Usually should be pink, it does get dirty so if it looks like motor oil thats ok as long as it doesnt smell burnt. Check the fluid with the engine warmed up and in park...

I recently had the fluid changed a couple of weeks ago. However, I am guilty of not changing it prior to that. I noticed a change in the way it started to shift, fluid looked dengy, so I then had it serviced. The problems have multiplied since then. If it is the solenoids, can that be fixed versus replacing the transmission?

I will follow your advice. If you have any other thoughts, feel free to share.

you may want to try the LubeGuard stuff and hope for the best. Swapping out those shift solenoids is difficult to the point that swapping the tranny for a reman unit may be a better route.

since it is still driveable, I vote for the Lubeguard route. Then manually shift from 2-3-OD. Will need to take some tranny fluid out to put the lubeguard in.
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/lubegard.htm (buy 2 or 3 and hope for the best)

this is usually the way things happen. People get the impression that its NOT good to do a tranny fluid change as it can cause more problems, wich is true only if you have neglected your transmission for so long that "shocking" the system with fresh fluid causes the transmission to shift harshly, slip and a host of other things. Problem is that these transmissions have adaptive shifting, wich essentially changes the shifting behaviour over the years as the transmission ages and parts begin to wear so that it can continue to shift smoothly well into old age. This also adapts to the old fluid wich has lost alot of its friction modifiers and lubracating abilities from being neglected. So suddently when you change the fluid with fresh fluid that is once again doing what it was originally designed to, the transmission kinda freaks out and things dont work properly. This is why alot of shops sometimes say changing fluid causes more problems then it solves in an older transmission that hasn't been serviced in a long time. "drive it till it dies" they say....they know changing the fluid may very well help and older transmission with its problems, they just dont want to be held responsible for a transmission that has serious problems after they service it, and it happens alot. Its not their fault the tranny screwed up after the fluid change, but its bad for business.... If the fluid was changed regularly throughout its life, then at no point in a vehichles life will it be a bad idea to change the fluid.

In your case, the transmission hasnt failed so the lubeguard idea isnt a bad idea. I have had promising results with that stuff. Try disconnecting the negative battery terminal for 10 minutes to reset the computer so it has to re-learn its shift patterns. This has helped some cars I have worked on. You may find as you drive it more the adaptive shifting will alter your shift patterns and give you a softer shift.

this is usually the way things happen. People get the impression that its NOT good to do a tranny fluid change as it can cause more problems, wich is true only if you have neglected your transmission for so long that "shocking" the system with fresh fluid causes the transmission to shift harshly, slip and a host of other things. Problem is that these transmissions have adaptive shifting, wich essentially changes the shifting behaviour over the years as the transmission ages and parts begin to wear so that it can continue to shift smoothly well into old age. This also adapts to the old fluid wich has lost alot of its friction modifiers and lubracating abilities from being neglected. So suddently when you change the fluid with fresh fluid that is once again doing what it was originally designed to, the transmission kinda freaks out and things dont work properly. This is why alot of shops sometimes say changing fluid causes more problems then it solves in an older transmission that hasn't been serviced in a long time. "drive it till it dies" they say....they know changing the fluid may very well help and older transmission with its problems, they just dont want to be held responsible for a transmission that has serious problems after they service it, and it happens alot. Its not their fault the tranny screwed up after the fluid change, but its bad for business.... If the fluid was changed regularly throughout its life, then at no point in a vehichles life will it be a bad idea to change the fluid.

In your case, the transmission hasnt failed so the lubeguard idea isnt a bad idea. I have had promising results with that stuff. Try disconnecting the negative battery terminal for 10 minutes to reset the computer so it has to re-learn its shift patterns. This has helped some cars I have worked on. You may find as you drive it more the adaptive shifting will alter your shift patterns and give you a softer shift.

Very good post on the subject!!