Thread: Strange Transmissin Symptoms?

I have a 1998 GTP with 149K miles and i have been having some weird problems with the tranny. i had a tcc solonoid stuck open/closed code, dont really remember what the number was. anyway, replaced that and my transmission was just fine. before i had the problems i had a tune on my car but when we noticed the problem we set the transmission back to a less harsh setup than even stock. after fixing the solenoid i had the stock trans mapping put back, now my car won't shift up from 2-3 and will shift from 2-4 around 45mph. coming from hwy speeds, i can manually shift the car down into third and then once i get to about 40mph it goes right back to second again. the last strange symptom is when i manually shift the car down through the gears, of course the gear catches and slows down, until i get to first gear. when i shift down manually into first gear the gear will only catch when i get on the throttle, otherwise i just freewheel. i have no ses lights, no codes, no nothing. i have heard if the 2-3 solenoid goes out that after 3 or so failed 2-3 shifts a code will be thrown. i have definitely had more than 3 failed 2-3 shifts and still no codes. also, my fluid is still a very healthy red color from when i dropped the pan when i did the solenoid, and it does not smell burnt.

anyone ever experience these symptoms? any help is appreciated!

You'll only throw a code if something the pcm monitors fails. Like a soleniod sticks etc. If say a 3rd gear sprag fails..you won't set a code typically. If the 4th clutch hub fails..you stay in 3rd and don't get any codes.

You really shouldn't be trying to manually shift into first at any speed.

haha yes i know i shouldn't but it was the only way for me to make sure of some symptoms i have been reading about from others. i keep finding people with this same problem, yet still haven't found an answer to it. i haven't found anything concerning my first gear freewheel problem.

kind of an idiot question probably, but i see this everywhere, what exactly is sprag?

A third gear sprag is a one way bearing essentially. It sits in the input/3rd carrier and makes things work


As for first. Our transmissions are electronically controlled and programmed to keep you from doing certain things. First gear won't engage until a certain rpm/speed. The programming should select second and hold it there if you are in 2nd or 1st on the selector.

yeah i understand the first gear and range selector stuff. when i say my car free wheels, i am saying that when it should shift into first, which is at about 33-35 mph in my car IF i have the range selector on 1, instead of catching and slowing my car down, it just goes to first and rolls as if i put it into neutral. but, when i roll back onto the throttle, it is still in first gear and it catches and pulls, then i let off and it just feels like its neutral again. i'm not sure if i didn't explain that well enough before or if thats one of the things concerning what you said in the last few sentences.
but hey i'm learning things, that's always good. haha

At 35ish..you should be catching second gear most likely. Even if it's hitting 1st, it might be shifting to second and causing what you believe to be a free wheel situation.

It all sounds tune related to me. Put stock tune back in and see if the problems replicate.

it is stock tuned already.. well the transmission is.
and Bill, i thought that at first too but then tried the same thing in my brothers gtp and the first gear does catch around 35 and decelerates hard. and with my car, once i get to first, like i said, manually, it is as if it's in neutral. and then when i get back on it, it revs up to around 2500rpms before it pulls.....

You said:

before i had the problems i had a tune on my car but when we noticed the problem we set the transmission back to a less harsh setup than even stock.

So the tune is not stock. Someone has gone in and messed with stuff to try and "fix" it. Just saying that is sounds tune related to me and putting in a known stock file may help.

yeah i have been thinking about buying a pcm or something to just start over fresh. because i don't have the funds for hptuners right now haha...

oh, and yes, it was a less harsh setup but then i got it fixed. as it sits right now it has the stock transmission mapping on it. i haven't had it hooked up too hptuners since the problems have started.

Originally Posted by 98blowntwotone

oh, and yes, it was a less harsh setup but then i got it fixed. as it sits right now it has the stock transmission mapping on it. i haven't had it hooked up too hptuners since the problems have started.

Stock transmission mapping? Or completely stock bin? I would just write a completely stock bin.

i talked to Dave from triple edge.... it looks like a rebuild for me..