Need help fast!!!

[castle_Rock]

I replaced the transmission filter and gasket, put everything back on, added trans oil 1 bottle and 1/2. and the vehicle wont shift into drive nor reverse, if your on a slant, it'll roll in whatever direction its facing on the slant. What caused this, I didn't mess with anything else.

[ghostrider1061]

sound like you need to add more fluid. what does it register on the dipstick. when i done mine i added about 6 quarts. check and see if the fluid is on the dipstick. you must do this when the engine is hot and you are on a level surface.

[rev_les]

You need more than 1 1/2 qts. of fluid for a filter change.Also make sure you got the correct filter, there are 2 pans on these transmissions, a shallow and a deep one,and mixing them up will cause problems.

[castle_Rock]

Yeah, i found out it was the low trans fluid - i only had 1 quart and 1/2 - so it wasn't enough, so i bought 1 gal, and its running fine now.

Thanks.

[astro355]

Did you get the fluid level? Running too much transmission fluid is just as bad as running too little.

[castle_Rock]

Van seems to be running fine now, I figured I'd wait a couple days before checking the stick, since its brand new fluid, I wont be able to get a good reading since it leaves a streak on the stick - I then checked today after I drove 15 miles home, and I do not see anything on the stick, I even wiped it off clean and stuck it back in while the engine was running. Nothing.

When driving around 50-55 miles an hour, after about 5 minutes, the van seems to "surge" it acts like its not getting enough gas to the engine, almost like to delivers gas, then cuts it off, delivers, cuts it off. I usually drive with the cruise control on and you can both hear the engine rev up for a split second and the vehicle speeds up then slows back down, this just occurred after changing the filter and gasket, fuel lines are fine except need to be replaced. Any ideas? It also only does this while in regular Drive mode, if you shift into the [D] it does not occur.

[GaryZ]

To check the transmission fluid level;

Warm up engine and transmission with a short drive.
Do not shut off engine when you get home and check fluid level (on a level spot and in Park!)

If the engine is warm and has been sitting a few minutes, start the engine and idle a bit in Park. Shift into drive and idle a bit. Shift into Reverse and idle a bit. Put it back in Park, leave the engine running and check fluid level.

[astro355]

Van seems to be running fine now, I figured I'd wait a couple days before checking the stick, since its brand new fluid, I wont be able to get a good reading since it leaves a streak on the stick - I then checked today after I drove 15 miles home, and I do not see anything on the stick, I even wiped it off clean and stuck it back in while the engine was running. Nothing.

When driving around 50-55 miles an hour, after about 5 minutes, the van seems to "surge" it acts like its not getting enough gas to the engine, almost like to delivers gas, then cuts it off, delivers, cuts it off. I usually drive with the cruise control on and you can both hear the engine rev up for a split second and the vehicle speeds up then slows back down, this just occurred after changing the filter and gasket, fuel lines are fine except need to be replaced. Any ideas? It also only does this while in regular Drive mode, if you shift into the [D] it does not occur.

There is no reason to wait to check any fluid level. Driving a van around with low trans fluid can permanently damage the transmission.

Recheck/add more trans fluid and see if it still does that on the highway. That's probably related to the trans being low on fluid and can even be the TCC lockup. Are you running the A/C while this is happening?

[rev_les]

sounds like the transmission pump sucking air, causing pressure loss to the clutches and/or TCC. Transmission fluid doesn't expand or contract over time,(it does with heat), but NEVER run one low, you'll kill it extremely fast. It only takes a few minutes for any residual fluid to travel down the fill tube when you add it,clean the dipstick, and re-check,until it's where it needs to be.

[castle_Rock]

Thanks, i added some more trans fluid, the surging stopped completely, i also replaced the cap and rotor, the spark plugs were replaced last year, checking the sparks now since they were replaced 7 years ago as noted. Still have the extremely slow acceleration though.

[astro355]

Glad you got one thing solved. I'd start another thread about the slow acceleration (if you already haven't). The only reason I say that is it makes it easier to find topics when they are properly labeled.

[castle_Rock]

Ok, I'll do that thanks!

PS - the reason why i labeled this thread "Need help fast", was because this is the only vehicle i have at the moment, and it was unfortunate that i was going to be late for work, well after being told it was the trans fluid - i had to dump the old in, go to auto zone, re-flush, add new, then by the time it was all done, i was 3 hours late, then hustled to get to work. It pays to work on the vehicle on the same day you have to work. LOL.

[astro355]

I understand. Its just that if you put the name of the problem in the thread in the title, you'll notice that other threads of similar interest pop up at the bottom of the page.