I'm changing the tranny fluid and filter within the next couple days. As of right now, it will not shift into gear unless I let the car idle for like a half hour. If I just start the car and put it in drive, it will jerk into 2nd gear after about 5-10 minutes then does nothing else. If I drive it around like that for a few minutes, shut the car off and start it again it will go into gear.

I dont know the last time it was changed, or even what fluid it had in it.. maybe somebody put in the wrong fluid, etc., I dont know.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips to help the tranny shift a little smoother while I have it all apart.

Nope, the fluid/filter change is all you need.

There isn't a drain plug on the pan, so it can get messy. What I did when I had an auto tranny was unbolted the front or rear of the pan and then let all the old fluid drain into a tub of some sort. Then drop the rest of the pan. You'll see where the filter plugs into. Replace it, bolt it back up and fill it up with some ATF+4 that you can get from the dealer. I forgot how much it takes to fill it up though...it's been so long. Someone should know, or you should be able to ring up an answer with the search.


http://www.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=1185

believe it's about 9 quarts or more. It's a shit ton of fluid.

If you really wanna be tedious and thorough, i'd flush the trans first (do a search for the poormans way of doing it) then change the filter/fluid. That'd end up costing you a little more but it may be worth it with your problem. Sounds to me like you just didn't have enough fluid to begin with and the pump is having to build up quite a bit of pressure to apply the gear.

God, I don't miss having an ATX. :)

Good luck,

joseph

only use 5 qrts considering the fluid in the TC will not drain.



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