problem with my transmission... any ideas?

[gizm0duck]

Alright... here it goes

my car was having problems shifting it seemed while on a long drive across most of the country. I would have to let off the gas just a little tiny bit in order for it to shift, but other than that it was fine.

The other day I was attempting to parallel park and reversed into the spot just fine, when I put the car in drive to pull forward, it just did not want to go anywhere. I would have to rev it up to about 2000 RPM in order for it to even creep forward. It acted like the parking brake was engaged, but it wasn't and I checked several times.

The next morning I went out there and it ran just fine, but just to be safe I went to the repair shop and they checked it out and couldnt see anything that seemed wrong besides old transmission fluid, so I had that flushed and replaced.

Today it did the exact same thing, was running fine, then just stopped, but I noticed some other strange tidbits as well. If you put it into reverse it will roll backwards just like it should... but if you put it in neutral it will also roll backwards just as if it was in reverse. gears 1, 2, 3, and D all do the same thing, rev it up real high just to get it to creep forward and doesnt sound good at all.

So in summary

- Revs to 2000 RPM just to get the thing to creep forward and acts as if the parking brake is engaged

- Reverse is working, neutral acts like reverse, 1, 2, 3 and D suck

[CraigFL]

You could just have a sticky valve. Try a can of Lube-Gard in the transmission -- make sure you get the right type...

[MagicRat]

Seriously, post the make, model and year....please. Otherwise, this thread is not useful.

[gizm0duck]

sorry about that guys, I was pretty upset at the situation.

It's a 2000 chevy impala

[MagicRat]

I suspect its something in the valve body, that is, a valve that directs hydraulic pressure to the forward gear clutch packs is not colsing and holding pressure. Likely there is some foreign debris, dirt or a piece of metal is holding it open.
This can be varified by a fluid pressure check - a transmission shop can do this.
Then, the appropriate hydraulic valve ( or the entire valve body) can be removed and cleaned.

For a good transmission shop, this is no big deal to fix, the trick is diagnosis, since it might also be an electronic shift control problem.

Good luck.