Symptoms: transmission was jerky before - kick in the back between 1 and 2. Reverse kicked in with delay of, like, a second. Then, once, the thing seemed to slip to neutral when "gas" pedal was pressed fast at medium speed. But then the car began to behave normally again. After a few days, while parking, the reverse wasn't picking up speed. Then almost went to neutral. The forward gears also gave up within seconds and now the engine starts alright but the transmission doesn't respond. Fluid had been way higher than even the upper of the two lines while parked idle. What might have gone wrong? Time to junk it? It's a '82 car. thanks.
300SD transmission - gone?
Apr 17, 2004
3 Replies
Does reverse work at all ? What color is the trans fluid? If it's overfull drain some fluid out. Overfull is overfull. Full is full.
Sounds like the filter is clogged. Will not let the trans fluid circulate. Don't ask me how I know this.
Larry In the back yard, under the oak.
Overfilling a transmission is nearly as bad as under filling it. That's because the moving parts hit the too high fluid level and aerate the fluid. The transmission's pump picks up this bubble laden fluid and tries to pump it up to the specified pressure to clamp the clutches etc but the air in the fluid compresses so the hydraulic force is reduced allowing the clutches etc. to slip.
If you want to try first aid drain off the excess fluid so the level is BETWEEN the dipstick's marks when checked hot at engine idle. Better, change the fluid and filter and it may just work for another 20K miles.
But if that's too much work then just junk the car.
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