oh no! auto trans issue this morning to work!

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Cutehumor

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My 96 Pontiac Sunfire, 3 speed auto, is sticking in 2nd gear into 3rd gear. I can't exceed past 30 mph unless I floor the gas pedal. I knew something was wrong when I tried to accelerate with traffic, I was at 30mph and the engine RPMS were at 4000! I even shut the engine off in traffic and restarted. Same issue. Transmission fluid and filter was changed in 2006 and 15k miles ago, and the trans level is correct as of last saturday.

Current issue: I have one leaky fuel injector that I have not taken care of. Could this cause the trans not shift correctly? say if the engine isn't getting enough gasoline? it's a stretch I know..

Here's what I plan on doing: unplug the negative battery terminal to reset the computer. change transmission fluid and filter. anything else I can do to save this car? Before I have to buy a new one.
frown.gif


good news: I was going to fix the leaky fuel injector, buy a whole new set of tires next weekend, and brake pads. So I technically saved money if my trans is failing.

bad news: I just passed 5000 incentives on a GM car last month! because my wife and I are saving for a house. Doh!
 
It's hard to understand, does the car work fine up until the 2-3 shift, or is there a loss of power or other unusual~ness even in the first two gears? Or... does it seem like the car is in "2" and not "d" or does it feel like something is wrong even before 30mph.
 
Try adjusting the TV cable. There is practically no computer control of the 3T40 trans. Only the torque converter clutch. Give me an hour or so and I will takes pics or vid to show how it is done. I dont know if it will work, but its worth a shot. You can try an ARx of the trans if you have any. It helped on my old 3T40 equipped Cavi.
Something you could try would be to pop it in 2nd on the gear shift and find out what happens. If it stays in 2nd try going back to D. It might hit that valve again and get it into 3rd..
 
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Hanging up at 30 sounds more like a stuck in first gear problem.

From under the hood work the throttle, you should see your throttle cable disappear into the firewall, a cruise control cable if you have it, and a last cable that goes down to the transmission. Make sure this, the TV cable, isn't hung up in what would be the WOT position.

If it were an issue of stretching calibration, it would happen gradually and on this trans cause early upshifts.

If it's not this I suspect a governor problem in the trans, which should be fixable for less than a transmission rebuild.
 
I may be way off base, but I drove a 1987 Camaro and the car was behaving badly as if the transmission was out. Wouldn't go past 20mph.

Turned out to be a plugged catalytic converter and there was no warning. It was fine one day, and bad the next.
 
Just take a drive to your local transmission shop. Get them to test drive and quote. Ask friends in your area and ask who's a reputable transmission shop.

Grenading sunfire transmission is no new news to anyone in the automotive industry. Cracking drums and other failures is common.

From leaking injectors, failing fuel pumps and transmission failures theres creaking ujoint on the steering column, failing front wheel bearings etc etc.

Sometimes shifting problems may be linked to a failing TPS sensor. Get the vehicle scanned and it may even be a stuck solenoid in the transmission.

Speculation on the net is just a poke in the dark. Just drive to a transmission shop. They'll tell you your problems in seconds.
 
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Also consider the TV cable does not know how much power the engine is putting out, only how much acellerator you're giving it. So if it's running real bad b/c of that fuel injector and you're mashing the pedal more than you realize for the same amount of power... you've got problems.

I ran into this with a 1982 cadillac cimarron with the same trans! Lost a vacuum hose, carb was not happy, had the pedal 3/4 floored on the highway just to keep 55 MPH, then it dropped into 2nd.
mad.gif
 
If it's an engine problem, then the transmission shop is not the place to go. I went to a reputable transmission shop (is there such a thing) and they drove it and said it is not a transmission problem. I can't remember what the problem was, but appreciated their honesty.
 
Do you own a sunfire??????

Simple solution is find a reputable transmission shop. Transmission issues are way too common for those cars. The transmission guy cannot hide if he scans the computer and shows you the codes present.

If its not the TPS it'll be the trans. Failing cables are not too common for those cars
 
^ There are very few codes for a 96 sunfire with 3 speed all mechanical (electronic lockup) trans.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Also consider the TV cable does not know how much power the engine is putting out, only how much acellerator you're giving it. So if it's running real bad b/c of that fuel injector and you're mashing the pedal more than you realize for the same amount of power... you've got problems.

I ran into this with a 1982 cadillac cimarron with the same trans! Lost a vacuum hose, carb was not happy, had the pedal 3/4 floored on the highway just to keep 55 MPH, then it dropped into 2nd.
mad.gif



Good call - I drove a 1985 Reliant for a while, and was always 'stomping' the gas to get it to go, as I was young and it was gutless. Snapped the cable right in two.
 
I checked the transmission fluid at work on my lunch break. The transmission fluid is light pink to the eye. I wiped with a paper napkin, there was some dirt in the fluid. The transmission fluid didn't have a burnt smell. I'll take pics tonight and do a blotter! driving at lunch, same trans shifting. couldn't get out of second gear.
 
Originally Posted By: digitalSniperX1
I may be way off base, but I drove a 1987 Camaro and the car was behaving badly as if the transmission was out. Wouldn't go past 20mph.

Turned out to be a plugged catalytic converter and there was no warning. It was fine one day, and bad the next.


how did you find out it was a plugged catalytic converter?
 
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
last time the fuel filter was changed....


it's been a few years that's for sure, I'll have to check my records. I drive 7-8k/miles a year, so it's been awhile.
 
I found this off on AAMCO's site.

Automatic transmission does not up-shift

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Description:
The engine is running fast, but if you try to accelerate, you will hear an excessive amount of noise from the engine. You will not be able to accelerate or get to an up-shift quickly. The problem appears gradually with up-shifting occurring later and later. The car can be driven very slowly, but the problem requires immediate attention and repair.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Possible reasons:
The gear shift linkage is binding
There is an internal problem in the transmission
The throttle cable is broken or disconnected
The vacuum modulator on the transmission is faulty or the vacuum line is damaged
The electronic transmission control circuit may be faulty
 
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