Hard Gear Changes or Slipping

FAULT SYMPTOM
- Poor gearshifting performance, for example hard gear changes or a tendency to slip.

ACTION

NOTE: Fill in the test form. When returning items, the test form should be included.

1. Checking the kick-down cable.
- Check and, if necessary, adjust the kick-down cable setting.
- Then check if gear shifting performance is OK.
- If gear shifting performance is OK:
The fault has been corrected.
- If gear shifting performance is not OK:
Proceed to point 2.
2. Adjust brake band C', refer to Adjusting Brake Band C'.
- Drive the car and check gearshifting performance.
- If gear shifting performance is OK:
The fault has been corrected.
- If gear shifting performance is not OK:
Proceed to point 3.
3. On models with turbocharger, checking turbo pressure hose.
- Check if the turbo pressure hose to the transmission is leaking.
- If necessary, change the hose.
- Drive the car and check gearshifting performance.
- If gearshifting performance is OK:
The fault has been corrected.
- If gearshifting performance is not OK:
Proceed to point 4.
4. On all models, checking fluid level.
- Place the car on level ground and, with the engine running, check transmission fluid level using the dipstick.

NOTE: There are two scales on the dipstick, one for 40° C and one for 80° C. Use a lint-free cloth to wipe the dipstick..

- If fluid level is OK:
Proceed to point 6.
- If fluid level is too low:
Top up with automatic transmission fluid until the level is correct on the dipstick.
Then proceed to Point 5.
- If the fluid level is too high:
Switch off the engine.
Drain fluid until the level is correct on the dipstick.
Then proceed to point 5.
- After fault diagnosis, remember to correct any fluid leakage.
5. Checking gear changing performance.
Test drive the car and check gear changing performance.
- If gearshifting performance is OK:
The fault has been corrected.
- If gearshifting performance is not OK:
Proceed to point 6.
6. Checking fluid quality.
- Drain the fluid into a clean receptacle and remove the transmission fluid strainer.
- Visually check the quality of the fluid and check the fluid strainer.
- Note that the fluid always becomes darker with use and is most dark just before the planned service change.
- If fluid strainer and fluid are OK:
Proceed to point 7.
- If the fluid is highly contaminated, extremely dark, burnt or if the fluid strainer contains excessive particles.
Change or repair the transmission.
7. Selecting fault symptom.
Select fault symptom as below.
- Delayed engagement and shifting between N-D or 4-3:
Change the spring in accumulator A in the valve body.
- Engine surges when shifting 30: Proceed to point 8.
- Gear changing hard in all positions:
Proceed to point 11.
- Kick-down not working:
Cars with Anti-Spin System (ASR), proceed to point 14
Cars without ASR, proceed to point 13.
8. Check car engine type:
- Four cylinder 2.0L and 2.3L engine with turbocharger:
Proceed to point 9.
- Four cylinder 2.3 L engine without turbocharger:
Proceed to point 10.
- Four cylinder 2.0 L engine without turbocharger and V6 3.0L engine:
Change the valve body.
9. Changing valve springs.
- If engine surge was weak, replace 3-4 valve springs in the valve body with spring part No. 75 58 141, or equivalent.
- If the engine surge was powerful, replace spring 3-4 in the valve body with spring part No. 75 75 251, or equivalent.
- If surging remains:
Change the valve body.
- If surging is gone:
The fault has been corrected:
10. Changing valve springs.
- If the engine surge was powerful, replace spring 3-4 in the valve body with spring part No. 75 75 251.
- If surging remains:
Change the valve body.
- Surging is gone:
The fault has been corrected.
11. Check car engine type.
- Necessary action depends on engine type.
- On models with turbocharger:
Proceed to point 12.
- On models without turbocharger:
Change the valve body.
12. On models with turbocharger, checking charge pressure.
- Check charge pressure.
If necessary, set correct charge pressure.
Check shifting again.
- If shifting is hard:
Change valve body.
- If shifting is OK:
The fault has been corrected.
13. Models without ASR.
- Checking accelerator pedal clearance
- Remove the carpet from under the accelerator pedal and check pedal clearance.
- If the kick-down feature is not OK:
Proceed to point 14.
- If the kick-down feature is OK:
Install the carpet.
14. On all models, checking kick-down cable attachment to transmission.
- Check that the kick-down cable is in the cam groove.
- If necessary, locate the cable correctly.
- Check kick-down again.
- If the kick-down feature is not OK:
Change valve body.
- If the kick-down feature is OK:
The fault has been corrected.