Automatic Transmission/Transaxle: Testing and Inspection

Slow Initial Engagement

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Damaged or incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Contaminated fluid.
4. Incorrect clutch and band application.

Rough Initial Engagement In Drive Or Reverse

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. High engine idle.
3. Loose driveshaft, U-joints or engine mounts.
4. Incorrect clutch or band application.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.

Harsh Engagement

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Faulty vacuum modulator.
3. High engine idle.
4. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.

No/Delayed Forward Engagement (Reverse OK)

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Low main control pressure.
4. Damaged forward clutch assembly.
5. Leaking forward clutch cylinder check ball.
6. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
7. Restricted transmission filter.
8. Damaged pump assembly.

No/Delayed Reverse Engagement (Forward OK)

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Low main control pressure.
4. Worn reverse/high clutch assembly.
5. Leaking reverse/high clutch piston check ball.
6. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
7. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
8. Restricted transmission filter.
9. Damaged oil pump.
10. Leaking intermediate servo piston seal.

Forward Engagement Slipping

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Low main control pressure.
4. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
6. Leaking forward clutch piston ball.
7. Worn forward clutch piston seal.
8. Damaged one-way clutch.

Reverse Engagement Slipping

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Low main control pressure in reverse.
3. Leaking low/reverse servo.
4. Damaged reverse clutch drum bushing.
5. Worn reverse/high clutch piston seal.
6. Incorrectly adjusted or damaged low/reverse band.
7. Loose driveshaft, U-joints or engine mounts.

No Drive, Slips Or Chatters In 1st

Damaged and/or worn planetary one-way clutch.

No Drive, Slips Or Chatters In 2nd

1. Incorrectly adjusted intermediate band.
2. Incorrect band or clutch application.
3. Low main control pressure.
4. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
5. Polished, glazed or damaged intermediate band or drum.

Incorrect Shift Points

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Vacuum modulator line damaged, restricted or leaking.
3. Incorrect EGR operation.
4. Faulty vacuum modulator.
5. Incorrectly installed speedometer gear.
6. Incorrect clutch or band operation.
7. Damaged or worn governor.

All Upshifts Harsh/Delayed Or No Upshifts

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Governor sticking.
4. Main control pressure too high.
5. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
6. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
7. Vacuum leak to vacuum modulator.
8. Vacuum modulator diaphragm bent, sticking or leaking.

No 1-2 Upshift

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Sticking governor valve.
4. Incorrectly adjusted intermediate band.
5. Vacuum leak to vacuum modulator.
6. Vacuum modulator diaphragm bent, sticking or leaking.
7. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
8. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
9. Burnt intermediate clutch band and/or servo assembly.

Rough, Harsh Or Delayed 1-2 Upshift

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Poor engine performance.
3. Incorrectly adjusted intermediate band.
4. Main control pressure too high.
5. Sticking governor valve.
6. Damaged intermediate servo.
7. Engine vacuum leak.
8. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
9. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
10. Vacuum leak to vacuum modulator.
11. Vacuum modulator diaphragm bent, sticking or leaking.

No 2-3 Upshift

1. Low fluid level.
2. Low main control pressure to direct clutch.
3. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
4. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
5. Dirty clutch or reverse/high clutch assembly damaged.

Harsh/Delayed 2-3 Upshift

1. Poor engine performance.
2. Engine vacuum leak.
3. Damaged or worn intermediate servo release and high clutch piston check ball.
4. Excessively loose or tight valve body bolts.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
6. Vacuum diaphragm or rod bent, sticking or leaking.

Erratic Shifts

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Governor valve stuck.
3. Damaged oil collector body seal rings.

Shifts 1-3 In Drive

1. Incorrectly adjusted intermediate band.
2. Damaged intermediate servo and/or internal leakage.
3. Incorrect band or clutch application.
4. Polished, glazed or damaged drum.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.
6. Stuck governor valve.

Engine Overspeeds On 2-3 Shift

1. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
2. Incorrect band or clutch application.
3. Damaged or worn high clutch and/or intermediate servo.
4. Intermediate servo piston seals leaking.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.

No Forced Downshifts

1. Incorrectly adjusted kickdown cable.
2. Damaged internal kickdown linkage.
3. Incorrect clutch or band application.
4. Dirty or sticking governor.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.

Engine Overspeeds On 3-2 Downshift

1. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
2. Incorrectly adjusted intermediate band.
3. Damaged or worn intermediate servo.
4. Polished, glazed or damaged drum.
5. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.

High Shift Effort

1. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
2. Loose inner manual lever nut.
3. Damaged manual lever retainer pin.

Transmission Overheats

1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrect engine idle or performance.
3. Incorrect clutch or band application.
4. Restricted oil cooler lines.
5. Seized converter.
6. Dirty valve body/sticking valves.

Poor Vehicle Performance

1. Poor engine performance.
2. Locked-up torque converter.

Transmission Noise/Valve Resonance

Gauges may aggravate any hydraulic resonance. Remove test gauges (if installed) and check resonance level.
1. Incorrect fluid level.
2. Incorrectly adjusted linkage.
3. Incorrect band or clutch application.
4. Grounding cooler lines.
5. Dirty or sticking valve body.
6. Internal leakage or pump cavitation.