Hey Guys,

Wanted to get your advice/input before I wasted my time with the dealer... Just in the past few days I have noticed a minor problem with my automatic tranny... Two symptoms include:

---Unusually hard shifts from 1st to 2nd when driving slowly (aka bumper to bumper traffic or parking lots...)

---And then in highway speed situations (70-80 mph), at random it will downshift to 3rd when the gated shifter is in the drive position and it has not been 'pushed' (the pedal is in the same position, but the rpms suddenly shoot from 2500-3700 and it downshifts as if I had just floored it)...

...Both of these issues come and go, and the downshifting at highway speeds issue will last a matter of seconds before it drops back into the 4th gear position and hums along like nothing happened. What is likely to cause this?

Background: Car is 3 months old, just had its first oil change a week ago, and has roughly 4500 miles on it. Anyone else having this? Any quick fixes? Any knowlegable input will be greatly appreciated...

 

the max is known for bone jarring downshifts from 3 or 2 to 1, not so worried about that. Usually it is caused by slowing down but not stopping... when you re-apply alittle gas, it drops HARD to first.

Are you sure you werent on an incline on the highway?

 

...Nope. I was very sure to gauge when it happened on several occasions... I took a trip to San Antonio from Arlington (4.25 hours) and back this weekend, had to visit the in-laws for Mother's Day... Over the course of the trip back to Arlington, the downshift to 3rd occured 5-6 times for 10-15 seconds at a time, always when I was in drive, always going about 70-80 and I was crusing, not pushing the pedal or going up inclines. Then after about 15-20 secs it would shift back down up to drive (or fourth) and just coast along smoothly... But thanks for your help. I am not TOO worried about it, I am just trying to be proactive, in case it gets progressively worse or more frequent. Anyone else have input?

 

With your first issue, i only noticed a similar thing when the engine/tranny is still cold (first few minutes in the morning).

Never experienced the second issue though.

 

check the fluid level. Its not entirely impossible to not have enough from the factory, or a tiny leak you havent noticed yet

 

...Good call. I know I don't have a leak because I check that kinda' stuff a lot (I am paranoid) but I think the dealer might have actually sold me the car low on tranny fluid. I know where to check the levels, but the owner's manual for the 2002 doesn't allocate the reservoir for filling the automatic transmission fluid... Anyone know where that is??? I guess I could poke around until I found it but I figure you guys might save me some trouble... Thanks.

 

the fluid should be sweet smelling and clear.. and hopefully no glitter, bitter, burnt and glittery would be bad I think...

 

...I knew where the stick was... So the only place to fill it is that same small tube the tranny dipstick protrudes from??? I better get a funnel... Now how much does the reservoir hold if it is running low so I don't over fill... Thanks for all your help.

 

I would be a little worried about it, and get it checked out

 

Not to spook you but with my 1st car I had a problem where the car would shift in and out of overdrive (4th). Turned out to be one of the planetaries went (at least that is what the service guys said). It started happening a few times and then after about the 3rd week it failed big time (would not go into 4th, then 3rd, until I had to drive it to the dealer in 2nd). This was on a GM car so it may not apply.

 

Get it checked, my 2k2 automagic has none of these problems.

Good luck,
G