I have a pretty hard shift from first to second gear. It doesnt stick or rev high then shift, it just shifts hard. Has fresh BG Synthetic tranny fluid and flushed used the BG machine. It gets alittle better once the car has been driven for while and gets good and warm. Anybody got an idea what this could be? Car is a 97 Max GLE with 208,000.

 

I get the same thing from my 96. From what I got in my post it's common amongst these cars after a while.

 

ya I had heard it was common but does anybody know what actually causes this to happen? Bad shift solenoid, worn valve body?

 

just age, especially if it hasn't been rebuilt

 

i get the same problem.my shifter is also cut really low and i sometimes just gotta leave it in the path to go to second while lightly putting a little force and it slips in. However there is no grinding or anything. I would love if this gets fixed, thats the only gear it happens to me in.

 

^sounds like 5spd not an auto

 

Shieeet.!!!....sorry guys.

 

i got the same except mine is a rebuild. guess im kind of exempt from the thread, but i was told that it cant be fixed. its just the way its gonna be.. although, before the rebuild it did it also.. might not be a good sign, but i did get into a front end collision a few weeks before the trans crapped out.

 

Mine with 200k (sold) has always done it. Sort of jerky and annoying, but it never got better or worse. It is quite common with older 4th gen autos with higher miles.

 

yeah, ive got around 222,000 and she shifts a bit hard when shes cold. but after the fluid warmed up a bit she shifts right. My fluid has never been changed either still cherry red since day one. i will admit i do drive my car a bit harder than i should, but then again im a teenager.

 

Did you have the problem before the tranny flush and fill?

 

Yup its done this since I bought the car acouple months ago. I havent even gone full throttle from a stop yet because I was scared to make the issue worse. I just picked up a Stillen bullnose muffler and budget Y pipe though so I may be getting on her very soon.

 

Its normal for a little hard shifting from 1-2 when its cold.Especially I just read the miles you have. As long as it doesn't start sliping you should be fine.

 

check all your engine mounts.. when there bad the shifting is terrible... get in there and take a look... if your a bit harder on your car you should try to use poly mounts... there able to withstand more abuse...

 

ya this is more of a daily so I probabley wont go with poly mounts because I hear you can feel engine vibration quite a bit more. I was actually thinking a possible engine mount myself, just gotta get a chance to look at them.

 

My hard 1-2 shift got a lot better where i didn't even notice it, even in cold mornings when I put in Amsoil. I had ~140K on it at the time. Im at 175K and its still going great and the harsh shift never came back. I don't know what caused it but im happy... might wanna give amsoil a shot?