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ATX Rough/Unstable Shifting

A

Antiramie

CEG'er
Joined
Aug 26, 2002
Messages
234
Location
Memphis, TN
ATX problems started up soon after the weather turned cold. The problems are more frequent and harsh when the ATX is cold/cool compared to warmed up. 75k on the clock. Fluid changed ever 30k miles. Symptoms include:

1. Skipping 2nd gear (1st directly to 3rd) during medium acceleration from a stop.

2. Jerky upshifting right after feather-light acceleration (but not medium acceleration) from a low RPM...pretty violent. Sometimes it happens during WOT, but not as often.

3. Wandering between gears, especially during light acceleration. Back and forth, back and forth.

I've never had problems before the start of this winter. All of a sudden I'm getting everything at once.

Help!
 
I've had 2 (relativly consistantly) and 3 (only once or twice)

So far all I've been able to do is try and drive around it. (avoid WoT-> light throttle, before 3rd, for instance)

However since your car has slightly more than half the miles mine does, You could try changing the fluid or even purging it. Good Luck though.
 
"ATX problems started up soon after the weather turned cold. The problems are more frequent and harsh when the ATX is cold/cool compared to warmed up. 75k on the clock. Fluid changed ever 30k miles."
Try the 3X ATFluid drain and refill.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/s...92476&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

"1. Skipping 2nd gear (1st directly to 3rd) during medium acceleration from a stop.

2. Jerky upshifting right after feather-light acceleration (but not medium acceleration) from a low RPM...pretty violent. Sometimes it happens during WOT, but not as often.

3. Wandering between gears, especially during light acceleration. Back and forth, back and forth."
Then try changing the Manual Lever Position MLPS sensor.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/s...mber=1040336&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
 
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In addition to the previous problems, the car now bucks when I drive over 80 mph. It only bucks once, but it's always around 85 mph that it does it (never under 80).

I've also noticed that the tach does spasm when the transmission can't find a gear. The car just will not stay in one gear for very long anymore. Under almost all driving circumstances, the tranny tries its best to upshift (even under med to high acceleration).

Any help before I take it to a shop, PLEASE!
 
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Antiramie said:
...Any help before I take it to a shop,...!
Click to expand...
If you can't or don't have the capablility to do those previous posted suggestions, then yes, do send it to the shop for them to diagnose it. Probably 1 to 2 hour diagnostic fee.
 
The fluid looks fine and isn't old. Plus, the chaotic tach negates the MLPS sensor...at least that's what other CEGers have stated.

Hence why I'm asking for other possible problems...

EDIT: Oops, misread speedo as tach in other threads. Is there any way to tell for sure that the MLPS is the culprit without having to buy/test a new one?
 
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Can a dying or dead IMRC cause these symptoms? I just came across a thread that mentioned the possibility, but I really don't understand how the IMRC can affect transmission shifting or bucking at high speeds...

My IMRC has been in need of replacement for a little while. Opinions?
 
Antiramie said:
Can a dying or dead IMRC cause these symptoms? I just came across a thread that mentioned the possibility, but I really don't understand how the IMRC can affect transmission shifting or bucking at high speeds...

My IMRC has been in need of replacement for a little while. Opinions?
Click to expand...
The IMRC could be in addition to your tranny issues.

Let me quote Big Jim.
"One of the first rules of troubleshooting is that you fix what you know is wrong and then re-evaluate."
 
Ant, I would do the fluid change like Tony suggested. Easiest & cheapest first. Then, if the problem doesn't change, your looking at...

1) MLPS
2) Valve Body
3) Shift Solenoid Block

1) Common. Well, not common like that, but common enough that most of us here know that it can go out and what the basic effects are.

2) Runaway line pressure on the CD4E is a "very" common issue. If you tranny is stock (never rebuilt) then this is a very likely cause. The cheapest route here would be to get yourself a rebuilt valve body from somewhere that uses Sonnax parts. As a matter of fact, I have talked to a dealer there in Memphis that sells these for a little over $200. Great people, just can't remember their name. I will look in the old forums and find them for you. Probably tonight though. If you are really feeling froggy, then you can get the TransGo shift kit for around $40. If you have a drillpress, you should be able to pull the valve body and do the repairs yourself. The kit comes with instructions... I will post a link tonight to the PDF's someone posted over on the old boards.

3) If these solenoids start randomly firing... all hell can break loose! Now, it's not that common for this assy to go out and show the same signs that you have described, but... in theroy it's possible. Not likely, but possible.

Oh! Your tach is going haywire because the tranny is slipping. :eek:
 
Antiramie said:
...... Is there any way to tell for sure that the MLPS is the culprit without having to buy/test a new one?
Click to expand...


If you have a scan tool that displays real time data, you can monitor which gear the PCM has commanded along with the commanded output state of the shift solenoids. You can also monitor the output of the MLPS to see if any glitches are occurring (provided the scan tool can catch any).

The MLPS has been know to cause your types of symptoms very frequently. It's only a $25-30 part (if ordered) and is not dificult to replace if you feel like taking a flyer.

Additionally, there is a ground wire that conncts to the top of the transmission case that, if corroded, can cause some strange electrically-induced symptoms.


Steve
 
Hey Ant, here's the stuff I promised ya. Ok, well it's a little late, but...

http://www.axiom.com/atc/site/index.aspx - This is the distributor I mentioned in my post above. They actually have a location in Memphis on Lamar Ave. When the time comes, you should really check'em out.

The CD4E TransGo kit instructions have been removed. Actually, I thought they were on the old site, but Mercman scanned them and sent them to Roadrunner, who then posted them on a MSN account he had. That site is now down, so... I might still have them lying around, but before I go posting them on the site here, I might want to check into copyright violations and such. If anyone really wants to know more about this kit and installing it themselves, do a search on the old forums for it. There's tons and tons of info there. Not to mention on the cougar site. :cool:
 
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