Transmission shifts out of gear and acts like its in neutral

[hotrodsd51]

I have a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue. Put it in drive and drive a block and a half and it is like you put it into neutral. There be no forward or reverse gears. Shut the car off and let it sit for 2 minutes and restart it and put it in gear agian and drive a block and a half and it is like its back into neutral again. Would the shift preasure switchs be the problem?

[Smitty's Buick]

Hotrod -
I had the same problem in my Buick PA. Had to replace the trans. I was told it died and the trash inside plugged up the inner valves, causing it to "freewheel". When you shut it off and let it sit, the fluid pressure decreases and the trash in the valves fall out enough to move again. Unfortunately, this sounds fatal. You should have it checked out and be prepared for the worst.
Smitty's Buick

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by Smitty's Buick

Hotrod -
I had the same problem in my Buick PA. Had to replace the trans. I was told it died and the trash inside plugged up the inner valves, causing it to "freewheel". When you shut it off and let it sit, the fluid pressure decreases and the trash in the valves fall out enough to move again. Unfortunately, this sounds fatal. You should have it checked out and be prepared for the worst.
Smitty's Buick

I agree somewhat. But often its just the filter that is plugged, the valves may still be okay.

First, drop the transmission pan, and clean it out. Change the filter, reinstall a clean pan and new gasket. Refill with new fluid, and see how it runs. If you are lucky, you are good to go.

This has helped me in similar situations about half the time. It may not work, but the $50 for parts is much cheaper than a new trans and is worth the risk.

BTW do not get talked into a transmission "flush". It wont address this problem properly.

[Smitty's Buick]

My PA had other signs that the trans was done for - namely a slapping sound coming from the front left when you took off from a stop.
Smitty's Buick

[hotrodsd51]

So far I have drained the trans fluid and changed filter. Have not put fluid back in the tranny yet. Ran the computer codes and one of the codes for the tranny came up that the convertor sensor is bad. So I purchased the convertor and shift sensor for the tranny. I was talking to my local tranny guy and he said them sensors are located on the valve body. And I need to take the side cover off the tranny to access them sensors. Looks like no fun getting the cover removed. With a 158,000 miles on the car and the fluid dropped for the first time since new. It was pretty mucky in the pan and a few metal shavings on the magnet no metal pieces just shavings about a table spoon worth of shavings. There are no noises heard or whining when I started it and drove it when it would move forward or reverse.