transmission wont grab any gears

KevinJ

KevinJ

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hi all
I drive a 2000 ls v8 with an automatic transmission.
I was getting on freeway and at about 30 mph the car hesitated like something wasnt grabbing between engine and tranny.
once i get it up to speed theres not a major problem ( 70 mph) but if i throttle it real hard i dont get any acceleration like I used to.

This is a new problem that seemed to happen fast without warning, I mean I couldn't tell it was happening or notice anything different at all until it did.

it was very hard comming home, it would slip in every gear unless i hit a sweet spot with the rpm. basically engine revving car doing nothing and when it did grab it was very very jerky.

i decided i should turn around and go home. called aamco and they have free "trans scan"

thats about all the info i have on it, any suggestions as to where i should take it ( repairs ) or any possible ideas of what it might be?

ive got 130k miles on it and the oil level for tranny should be spot on.
 
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My statement about the fluid was kinda a presumption because I can't check that in parking lot of apt without pullin the plug. It is a standard select shift, no sst. It will show all gear options on dash ( 1 thru 5) and I can't remember seeing the "e" on the dash. Just that the message said check transmission. Just kinda wondering if this is gonna cost me 5grand.
 
KevinJ said:
It is a standard select shift, no sst.
Click to expand...

Select Shift Transmission = SST ... I'm confused.

I think you should check your fluid level. Even just getting under the car might reveal where its leaking from, checking the lines that go to the Radiator and such.
 
i thought sst was sport shift, with the plus and minus. i have just standard automatic. theres no fuild leaks under the car anywhere. this may sound odd as heck because i dont know automatic transmissions, but if the car wont engage any gears then it might be the junction between the tranny and engine ?( pressure plate or clutch or somethin)?
i do not know much about automatic transmissions....
 
Silver_LS said:
Select Shift Transmission = SST ... I'm confused.

I think you should check your fluid level. Even just getting under the car might reveal where its leaking from, checking the lines that go to the Radiator and such.
Click to expand...

I agree.. Cheapest check and it is one of the 'checks' to check..

There is the Selc-Shift were you have it like so
P
R
N
D5-D4
.....3
.....2
.....1

KevinJ said:
i thought sst was sport shift, with the plus and minus. i have just standard automatic. theres no fuild leaks under the car anywhere. this may sound odd as heck because i dont know automatic transmissions, but if the car wont engage any gears then it might be the junction between the tranny and engine ?( pressure plate or clutch or somethin)?
i do not know much about automatic transmissions....
Click to expand...

You would have a torque converter that 'converts' the power from the engine to the trans.. I still say low fluid..
 
then it is select shift. how hard is it to replace the tranny selonoid pack, and are there any walk throughs?
 
I can't imagine it would be that.. Usually, one will loose pressure.. Causing like 3-4 to come as an E.. The likelihood of the whole unit to fail is very slim
 
i understand. so its pointing more to valve bodies or possible torque converter? could be anything, i know. gonna go get a decent scanner. i really dont want to drop 3 grand right now.
 
have not checked fluid because i have no lift and manager would beech and complain. hoping thats the problem, but it would not seem very likely to me to be the fluid because this problem did not slowly get worse and worse, just pretty much broke outright with no prior warning. but there are no leaks under my car, i park in the same spot every day at home and work. no leaks.
 
Gotcha. Gettin towed to tranny shop tomarrow ill make sure that's the first thing I ask em to do. Would do it myself it it was more accessable. Was just kinda wondering if it sounds similar to somone elses problem and what the fix was. I do mechanic work, just can't work on it in apts, parents house I can tho. Plus I'm not very breifed in automatic transmissions.
 
towed to tranny shop today. oil level was fine. the bottom of the pan had thin layer of fine metal shavings through about half of it and the magnet pretty much looked like a birthday cake with fine shavings. he suggested the torque converter went out pushing metal back through the tranny ruining the pump. rebuild 3200. ouch, but i want my car. gonna be rebuilt in house with all updates available ( torque converter). he suggested i had a 5r55s tranny based on his book ( the one with the S in the back).

question 1. is the price reasonable
2. are the symptoms i described and saw myself signs of needing a new tranny?
3. are the parts of a S and N tranny exchangeable within the tranny since im using a master rebuild kit.
4. 2000 lincoln ls v8 use a type N tranny i believe. no way i could have an S?... ( drain plug is at the bottom of the drain pan, to the right hand side i believe, kinda in the middle)

sorry for all my questions, i just wanna make sure the cars going to get done right, i love my LS !!!
 
1. I would defiantly add the TCI streetfighter as the TC..
2. Could be
3. I think some of the things are different
4. 2000 has the N
 
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i gotcha. would it be a performance upgrade? i dont understand all the stalls or anything, i did a forum search. might as well throw a TCI streetfighter transmission in there as well, but thats gonna be 5 grand plus.
any opionions? i have a couple hours before he orders parts i think, so i have just a little bit of time. would it be a worthwhile upgrade with the stock transmission?
 
The trans might not bolt up and if it does, the electronics will be a nightmare..

I would defiantly do the TCI converter.. It's only 500 and I bet that will be close to what the stock will be.. Plus it will allow you to foot brake until 3k RPM and get a good launch
 
and if i didnt want to footbreak it would be normal?
do i have to specify i want a 3k rpm stall?
i hope they can ship it fast because he's supposed to be done in 3 days or less.
and while i was searching forums someone said putting a tranny cooler would be the way to go.
 
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Summit Racing has it also.. You can overnight it and it will be there in the morning for the right price..

Yep.. It will be normal.. And just look, it should say on the site..

You just won't have full power until 3k.. But that's around were the power band is anyways
 
sorry to hear about this.

Anyone one know what would cause this? Is it due to failure to change the tranny fluid regularly?
 
lseguy said:
sorry to hear about this.

Anyone one know what would cause this? Is it due to failure to change the tranny fluid regularly?
Click to expand...

Problems with the solenoid valves are common. Failure to replace a marginal solenoid valve could lead to transmission failure. Or, maybe you were just unlucky.
 
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