shifts into 2nd gear hard at full throttle [Archive]

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VR-4 Wanna-b

27-01-2008, 01:53 AM

Kieran

27-01-2008, 02:32 AM

Hmmm.... Normally that would suggest fluid (which you've had changed) or that the gearbox needs to 'Learn' the shifting patterns again - Which is accomplished by resetting the transmission ECU - Disconnect the battery for 5 minutes to do this - be warned that this will make the engine and gearbox behave oddly untill you've put a few extra miles on them.

Other than that I'm not sure. I'm not sure what gearbox the USDM Galants have... I think it's different to the F4A42 or W5A51 that the Euro/JDM galants have.

What fluid was used when you had it changed - was it the right spec?

bradc

27-01-2008, 02:32 AM

what was the fluid that you used? that can have a big impact on the quality of the changes.

Wodjno

27-01-2008, 02:36 AM

hi,

My '97 Galant ES has 118,950k on it and the automatic transmission was rebuilt 2 years ago.

does anyone know why the gearbox would shift roughly from 1st gear into 2nd gear when flooring it, but then shift smoothly into all the other gears?
it shifts smoothly into 2nd whenever i'm not flooring it.

I just got this car, and the previous owner says it's done it ever since he had the gearbox rebuilt.

btw - gearbox fluid was just changed

thanks!

Thats how my Gearbox changes.. But it didn't do that straight from re-build. I think might have something to do with the way that has been driven by the previous owner..

You can try doing an ECU reset on it and see if it resolves it ? But if you can live with it then i would leave it as it is now.. If there is anything wrong then a n ECU reset can make thins worse..

I like mine the way it is /yes..

You can also ensure that the Gearbox oil has been changed recently. look for it discoloring from it's usual bright red color. Wipe the dipstick on some white cloth to get best idea of color. Make sure the level is correct as well. This should be done with the oil hot and the engine running..

Also a possibility that the wrong grade of oil has been used. If your unsure of the type of oil or the last time it was changed ? Then i would change it as soon as.

And put nothing else in it but "AMSOIL"

Hope this helps !!

Cheers

WODJ

Edit !!!

Sorry !! Jsut seen that oil has just been changed.. But i would still try and find out what oil was used.. And as Kieran will back me up with ! When an oil change has been completed, normally garages only drop the oil out of the sump.. So half the crap oil is left in and topped up with the new..

Ryan

27-01-2008, 05:16 AM

I've just had my AT rebuilt about 4 weeks ago - mine does not shift in the manner you described. When I was driving it away from the AT specialist mine was very unhappy - in fact it stalled at the robots (traffic lights) but afterwards run fine. What exactly do you mean by "shifts hard"? Is there a klunk or something?

Not sure if you're driving hard in tip mode or auto mode but if you're pulling away from a stationary start and you want max power delivered to the road as quickly as possible then having it in D is the best - the AT selects the best shift points...

Subaru ETA

28-01-2008, 05:18 AM

does it do it just when its cold all all the time? could be low or incorrect oil or a pressure problem in the trans

VR-4 Wanna-b

06-02-2008, 04:07 AM

just in guys -

i kept wondering why the gearbox dipstick wasn't registering anything -

drained all the fluid out today and measured it -> 1.1 liters. that's it. it SHOULD have had 6. http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/images/smilies/duh.gif
/duh
I just got this car about 3 weeks ago and installed a new transmission cooler and radiator b/c the old ones were totaled in an accident. the hoses leaked for awhile - turns out there was a tiny cut in one of the cooler lines.
luckily, it's only been driven around 5 miles since i got it.

- valvoline max life ATF (this is what's in there now)