bad transmission???

[Anonymous]

:x

Lately when I put my car in reverse, it wont kick in! It's driving me nuts! I have an AT, and every other gear works fine, drive, park, nuetral. But when I put it in reverse, at first it only took a few seconds, but now it will take forever. Sometimes it seems like it helps if I slowly rev the engine up and it will kick in but it sounds really bad and is really jerky. I've checked the AT fluid and its full. It's the same transmission since 1967.

Could it just be the transmission is finally going out? And if so wouldn't it be likely that none of the gears would work? Someone told me its just because of the cold weather but that sounds unlikely as well. If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jaryd

 

[woodbutcher]

Start with changing the fluid and filter.Then go from there.
Leo

 

[mustang6]

In a C4 I'm afraid that the first sign that the internal seals are leaking is losing reverse. You can for a time sometimes crutch this by adding some of that "seal softener" additive from about any auto parts store. It does two things to increase internal pressures, softens the seals slightly and thickens the fluid. One time I got two extra years of fairly regular driving out of a trans with that stuff. Cold weather does make the problem worse as the seals are harder when cold.

 

[Anonymous]

Well gee, I'm really starting to get annoyed at life right now...

I went to the store tonight. I got back in the car to drive home, I pulled on the light handle, and it only would pull out to the parking light setting. So of course being an idiot I tried to pull it out harder, and it broke and pulled the whole damned rod out and I had to drive home with no headlights, which I might add was VERY dangerous. Is this easy to fix, at least? I had to tear the dash apart to put in a RPM gauge, I hope it's much simpler. *sigh*

 

[addo]

Light switches are easy to swap in. Just disconnect the battery before you do it.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, it turns out Mustang6 was right. I put some addatives in there to soften the seals and after a bit of driving the sucker kicks right into reverse. Thanks, I suppose now I should start looking for a new tranny...

As far as the light switch, I have my dash pulled apart and I can't seem to figure out how to the clip the light handle back in. It's dark now and I don't have a shop light, so I will have to wait until the morning.

Thanks for your help guys.

 

[addo]

Switch shaft is triangular in cross-section; just push it home until it clicks. To release it, feel up underneath your switch for the spring button and depress fully while pulling the knob outwards.