2k2 SE, autotragic.

Symptoms:

- When coming to a stop at a light, sometimes car does not shift down into 1st gear? When I accelerate from light car bogs very badly (barely creeps forward even with 1/2 throttle!) then bangs/lurches into 1st gear and begins to accelerate normally - easiest comparison for me would be trying to take off from a light in 3rd gear on a 5spd mt.

- When cruising down the highway if I punch it wide open for a passing maneuver etc sometimes the car will not downshift at all for 5-6 seconds. Then the car will suddenly downshift 2(?) gears and accelerate like a bat outta hell.

I'm thinking torque conv. or a solenoid but need some backup as there are no DTCs stored in the ECU or TCM and the dealer has failed to duplicate the problem twice in a row. If I can give the trans tech somewhere to start out at it would be really helpful.

The real b***h is, this problem happens very randomly. Strangely enough, after installing my new Optima battery it went away for a week or two but now it's happened 2x in the last 2 days. I'm concerned the trans. is gonna puke while I'm on my way to work or something.

 

I'm no trans. "guru", but the same exact things happened to me like a week before my trans. died. Around a week or so after, the SES light came on and my car wouldn't go in reverse. I dropped my car off at the dealer a month ago (4/28) and my car still isn't fixed They claim the parts are backordered :| If the resale value of the Max wasn't so bad, I'd dump the car the min I got it back..

 

How many miles does your car have? Have you changed the tranny oil religiously?

Try refreshing your ECU. Maybe it needs to relearn your driving.

 

Trans was serviced at 42k, car has 48k now. Fluid is not discolored, or burnt, and is full.

Tried ECU reset with battery disconnect, it seemed to work for a few days and then problem returned.

 

you guys gotta take it to the dealer and tell them you need a trannsmission diagnosis. If its still under warrenty, they'll find something wrong for sure and fix it for free and wont charge you anything. Ask about it at your dealership

 

Taken it in twice, both times was told problem could not be duplicated!