Trans dosnt want to shift out of 1st?!?

95MkViii

95MkViii

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So last night I took the 95 out to strech her legs. On my way home when ever I came to a compleat stop, then started going again the car wouldn't shift out of first. It was like it was locked in first.

Now if I lock the trans in 1st then shift it to second manually, it shifts fine. And idea whats going on?
 
Did you ever fix your issue you had after you installed your control arm?
 
Yes remeber when I posted up saying that my dad broke my CC cable? Well turns out the idiot used a screw driver and bent the TB. But yes it's fixed now a week latter I'm having this issue....
 
I second the MLPS (aka Neutral Safety Switch). It may be misaligned or faulty. The original design was not weather proof as well as it should have been. The updated design is much better. I do not recall which is which, but the newer design might have an orange gasket that is visible. Or the older. But there is a way to tell by looking.
 
I am not sure how to test. But what it does it tell the transmission what you have selected via the shift lever. If its bad it can send false data. Though typically when they fail they cause the car to drop in and out of neutral.

I am stealing this pic. It shows you the location of the sensor. Driver side.

MLPS.jpg
 
Well it eventually shifts but it dosnt shift for a good 5 seconds after it should. I'll get a video of it. Also if I put the car in second it dosnt catch for a little.
 
95MkViii said:
Yes remeber when I posted up saying that my dad broke my CC cable? Well turns out the idiot used a screw driver and bent the TB. But yes it's fixed now a week latter I'm having this issue....
Click to expand...

Where is the post? I never saw that you guys fixed it.
 
95MkViii said:
Fluid is good. A little dark but looks good to me. And fluid level is up to par. But the front seal is leaking. Not a big one a couple drops aday.
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'dark' fluid is not good-it should be bright red, so if you haven't done it, change it (including the torque converter via drain bolt). About 12 quarts, and a filter. It will cost you around $125-150 to do this (use Mercon 5), but it will save your trans. IF you have an issue with the MLPS (manual lever position sensor, aka neutral safety switch), it is easy to replace -it needs to be aligned properly though-if I remember correctly, you set the shifter and the MLPS in neutral. There are alignment marks on the switch (http://www.supermotors.net/registry/media/81709).
 
heres what my fluid looks like.

b91bc92a.jpg


ok so this is whats going on.

i come to a complete stop
as i accelerate and the car over revs.
then it shifts weird into second. i think its transmission lag.

car has 67,XXX miles on it. and i think its the fluid. never been changed i think its that time.

so fluid and filter, anything els i should do/look for while im in there. 12qts right?
 
Two possible scenarios from what I've seen over the years:

(Less likely) 1-2 accumulator is hanging up in the bore causing delayed shift. Easy fix.

(More likely) the OWC sprag failed and you lost 2nd gear.
It will cause a stuck in 1st condition, until you rev it high enough, where it actually shifts into 3rd gear.
If you manually shift it, the OD band comes on in 2nd, and that's why feels like a 2nd gear. New trans time.
 
philly0420 said:
Pre 98 trannys kinda suck.
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bull :q:q:q:q.
175,000 miles on the original, would spin into 2nd til the day it died.
10,000 on the rebuild. burnout into 2nd, chirps 3rd.

they are more than enough for a stock or slightly modded car.
 
chris did you re-build your trans yourself??

Any idea how much a trans RB is going to cost if i do it myself?

or should i just find a new trans?





hahahaha, the joys of owning a MK... Da*m is it just me or are they always broke?!?!
 
95MkViii said:
chris did you re-build your trans yourself??

Any idea how much a trans RB is going to cost if i do it myself?

or should i just find a new trans?





hahahaha, the joys of owning a MK... Da*m is it just me or are they always broke?!?!
Click to expand...

no. i have tried on other stuff and failed.
i need more practice, but i didn't have the time for this one.
shop did it. i pulled it and took it to the shop. $600 or so.

you might be able to do it, the 4r isn't overly complex, but its a huge undertaking and will require a decent investment for parts and tools.
 
Its a fact that they upgraded the design in 98 and pre 98 versions were prone to failures. How many miles were on the car when you bought it? Mine went out at 70,xxx miles. Definately not enough clutches in third.
 
philly0420 said:
Its a fact that they upgraded the design in 98 and pre 98 versions were prone to failures. How many miles were on the car when you bought it? Mine went out at 70,xxx miles. Definately not enough clutches in third.
Click to expand...


how ironic im just at 67,XXX and mine went :mad:
 
philly0420 said:
Its a fact that they upgraded the design in 98 and pre 98 versions were prone to failures. How many miles were on the car when you bought it? Mine went out at 70,xxx miles. Definately not enough clutches in third.
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don't know. parents bought after a little old lady traded it in.
mom drove it a long time, i got it at 140k.
 
I would find a good used transmission over a rebuilt one I've seen so many expensive rebuilt transmission have a short life. If you can handle the modifications to install a 1998 or newer that would be the best scenario
 
Did you try a new MLPS yet. For cheap money its a good try. Plus the old ones had bad gaskets in them and let water leak in. Plus If you get rebuilt or JY trans you can put the new MLPS on there to not worry. I put a new one on mine just in case.
 
no haven't tried a new MLPS yet.

im taking it up and putting her on a lift monday. going to do a 100% check on the trans.
 
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