No Movement

Your engine seems to be operating correctly, but when you step on the gas pedal or try to shift into gear your transmission does not move the vehicle in either reverse or forward.

Possible Cause:

Automatic: Check transmission fluid levels. Excessive transmission leaks or loose fluid lines can quickly empty your transmission of critical fluids. Without fluid, your transmission will become seriously damaged.

If your fluid level is appropriate, you may have a internal hard part damage, a fault with the physical shift linkage, or electrical control signal fault to the transmission.

Manual: As long as the clutch pedal does not have sloppy movement, you may need a minor adjustment. However, your clutch may have been damaged requiring replacement. Low transmission fluid level, input shaft broken, axel broken or loose. Call our service manager (408) 286-5350 to get extra trouble shooting help.

Leale's Transmission & Auto Repair

405 Keyes Street

San Jose, CA 95112

Office (408) 286-5350

Fax    (408)286 5711

email  info@LealesAutoRV.com

Troubleshooting Transmissions

Transmission is Slipping

Automatic: The engine revs up during shifts as the throttle is depressed, however the car does not accelerate. The further you press on the gas pedal, the more noticeable the problem is.

Possible Cause: Clutch Packs, throttle cable out of adjustment, pressure control or shift solenoid faulty, faulty speed sensor, plugged catalytic converter, faulty engine controls sensors such as mass air flow & map sensors

Manual: As you step on the gas with the transmission in gear and the clutch peddle released, the engine revs, but the car moves very little or not at all. The clutch feels like it is slipping. This malfunction gets worse with time and should be corrected immediately to avoid additional damage to the clutch system.

Possible Cause: Clutch kit, Clutch Adjustment, Clutch Master/Slave Cylinder needs Service or Repair

Transmission Rattles and Clunks

Automatic: Transmission vibrates during gear changes, hard shift or thuds when put into gear, clunk noise when placed in four wheel drive. Start by checking your transmission fluid. Make sure it is filled to the level specified in your vehicle manual. If transmission fluid color is brownish and not clear red, service the transmission asap. Plugged transmission filter, worn u-joints, excessive differential backlash, worn transfer case unit, worn leaf springs, broken catalytic converter, worn syncros, broken motor or transmission mounts, CV joints, U-Joints.

Manual: Transmission makes a thudding noise when you change gears. Or, you hear a metallic grinding noise as you shift gears even though you fully press down the clutch pedal and the clutch is completely free.

Possible Cause: Worn syncros, broken Motor or Transmission Mounts, CV joints, U-Joints, Transfer Case Unit,  Clutch Kit, Clutch Adjustment, Clutch Master/Slave Cylinder needs Service or Repair

Transmission leaks fluid

You may see red or brown fluid underneath your car. Transmission fluid leaks may develop in several areas of the transmission.

Leaks may lead to additional damage if left to continue. It is normal for a leak to develop under various conditions. Metal contractions due to temperature changes can create a leak. Brittle gaskets may properly seal once it is warmed by operation and coated with fluid. Remember to check the fluid level and quality before long trips. Normal transmission fluid is pink and does not have a sulfurous, or burnt, smell. Call our service manager at (408) 286-5350 for further information.

Possible Cause:

gaskets, cracked cases, loose or detached fluid lines, damaged pan gasket, cracked torque converter hub, or aged seals and gaskets. It is possible that leaks may only occur under specific circumstances such as temperature variations or driving conditions.

Inconsistent transmission operation

You may notice that your transmission works, but is inconsistent. For example, it may only work when warm, or only for a few miles before acting-up. Heat changes can cause metal and rubber parts to allow fluid to leak or may lack the correct pressure at the wrong time.

Possible Cause:

Electrical sensors such as TCP, speed sensors and solenoids. In addition, a transmission filter can become clogged after minimal driving and cause the transmission to stop working correctly. Re-flash computer w/dealer updates.

Slow Gear Changes

Automatic: Car takes longer than normal to shift into drive. You can move the shift lever into gear but the car delays before engagement.

Possible Reasons:

    Low transmission fluid

    Internal hard part problem

    Engine idle needs adjustment

    Clogged fluid filter

Torque converter drain back

Re-flash computer w/dealer updates

Premature Shifts

Automatic: Automobile loses power between shift changes. The gears change too quickly.

Possible Reasons:

    Throttle linkage needs adjustment

    Internal hard part problem

    Electrical, solenoid or computer control malfunction

Re-flash computer w/dealer updates

Delayed Up-shifts

Automatic: Shifts happen too late. You feel the engine rev and the power increase, but it decreases just before the next shift. You feel an extended engine revving before the gears shift into the next gear. Call our service manager (408) 286-5350.

Possible Reasons:

Plugged catalytic converter

Engine timing

Plugged fuel filters

Throttle linkage needs adjustment

Internal hard part problem

Engine electrical sensors

Electrical or computer malfunction

Clogged transmission fluid filter

Vacuum controls need adjustment

Re-flash computer w/dealer updates

Delayed Reverse Shifts

Automatic: There is an long delay when you shift the lever to reverse. Other than delayed engagement, the car operates fine.

Possible Reasons:

Band adjustments (specific units)

Fluid level too low

Internal damage to transmission

Transmission fluid has gone bad (color brown) or is contaminated,

and/or there is a clogged filter

No Up-Shift

Automatic: Car is moving forward, speeding up and will not shift into the next gear as you press the gas pedal. Malfunction starts out gradually then begins to degrade.

Possible Reasons:

    Shift linkage out of adjustment

Plugged catalytic converter

Shift solenoid stuck or broken

Line pressure too low

Speed sensor failure

Throttle cable stuck or out of adjustment

    Internal hard part problem

    Throttle cable needs adjustment or replacement

    Vacuum controls need adjustment or replacement

    Electrical or computer control failure

Re-flash computer w/dealer updates

Clutch Pedal Loses Tension; Drops to Floor with no Resistance

Manual/ Standard : Clutch pedal is loose. Pedal presses to the floor without resistance. Gears won’t change even when clutch pedal is pressed down.

Possible Reasons:

    Detached clutch cable

Worn Pressure Plate/disk

Fractured clutch disk

    Fracture clutch cable

    Hydraulic problems

Clutch Master/Slave Cylinder Needs Service or Repair

Clutch Pedal works, but Gears don’t Shift

Manual/ Standard : The gear shifter will not move even when clutch is pressed down.

Possible Reasons:

   Shift linkage is bound

Shifter garments broken

    Internal hard part problem

    Clutch will not release

Car drops out of gear

Manual/ Standard: Car shifts into neutral when you accelerate or decelerate. Call our service manager (408) 286-5350.

Possible Reasons:

    Internal hard part problem

    Shift linkage out of adjustment

Low fluid level

Broken or out of adjustment Bands

Governor pressure sensors faulty

Speed sensor faulty

Shift solenoid faulty

Harsh Up-Shifts

Automatic: Car thuds into gear. Shifts feel firmer than normal. You feel a bang as the car shifts to next gear.

Possible Reasons:

Wrong transmission fluid type

Fluid is too low

  Fluid is burnt or contaminated

Internal failure

Engine idle needs adjustment

Constant velocity “CV” Joint damaged

Universal joint is damaged

Broken motor & transmission mounts

Transmission in fail-safe causing high line pressure

Throttle linkage is lose or damaged

    Vacuum controls incorrect

Adaptive strategy cleared w/battery replacement

Re-flash computer w/dealer updates

Harsh Down-shifts

Automatic: Car shifts down into gear with a clunk when you release pressure off the throttle pedal. Firm downshift while passing. Down shifting is fine when you suddenly accelerate to pass, but the down shift should not feel overly abrupt.

Possible Reasons:

    Throttle linkage damaged

    Wrong type of transmission fluid

    Low transmission fluid

    Internal hard part problem

    Engine malfunction

    Electrical or computer damage

    Vacuum controls need correction

Mass and speed sensor

TPS adjustments

High line pressure

Adaptive strategy cleared w/battery replacement

Re-flash computer w/dealer updates

Lack of Power

Feels sluggish

Accelerator to the floor to move vehicle

Possible Reasons:

Engine control issues

Torque converter failure

Wrong gear starts from faulty shift solenoid

Transmission Winning Sound

Possible Reasons:

Torque converter

Restricted transmission filter

Vacuum leaks

High line pressure

Valve body issues with factor updates not installed

Grinding While Shifting Gears

Manual/ Standard: The transmission makes a metallic sound and is difficult to shift into gear. The gear lever shudders and the transmission grinds.

Possible Reasons:

    Worn clutch surface

    Internal hard part problem

    Needs clutch adjustment

    Shift linkage fractured or damaged

Transmission Light Flashing

No Movement

Transmission is Slipping 

Transmission Rattles and Clunks

Transmission Leaks Fluid

Inconsistent Transmission Operation 

Slow Gear Changes

Premature Shifts

Delayed Up-Shifts

Delayed Reverse Shifts

No Up-Shift, or Delayed Up-Shifts

Clutch Pedal Loses Tension; Drops to Floor with no Resistance

Clutch Pedal works, but Gears Don’t Shift

Car Drops Out of Gear

Harsh Up-Shifts

Harsh Down-Shifts

Lack of Power

Transmission Winning Sound

Grinding While Shifting Gears

Transmission Light Flashing

A check engine or check transmission light is flashing.

Possible Cause:

A transmission fault has occurred requiring a qualified technician to read the vehicle computer codes for troubleshooting. Problems may range from external control devices such as speed sensors, electronic linkage, torque converter, clutches and solenoids.

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