A/T problems - moves in Neutral, shakes in D4, R

[jszuba]

Let me first say that I have searched, but I cannot seem to find any relevant information on this, here or on the web generally. Nobody seems to have the same symptoms. Perhaps I'm asking the wrong questions or something...

Anyway here is my problem:
I was backing out of a parking spot one day, and as soon as I put the shifter into reverse and started pulling out, the whole front started shaking as if the engine was going to bog down and die.
But it didn't.
Though it didn't shake in P.
So I pulled back in and left the car overnight.
The next day I tried again, and this time the shaking wasn't as bad, but also happened at very low/idling speed in D4. With a nudge of the gas pedal and at higher speeds everything was fine; city and highway.
I thought I needed a complete tune up. It was overdue anyway, so I had my mechanic do it. He said the engine was fine but said something about knocking sounds coming from the transmission - something about a pump.
Then I also noticed that when parked, and in Neutral, the car pulls away/creeps as if in D4, just not as fast. No gas, nothing. It idles fine, only I have to keep my foot on the brake to keep it from moving. It never did that before.
Also, when shifting from P to R, there is some kind of intermittent crunching/cracking noise coming from the shifter? Selector? Something up front anyway.

Since none of the mechanics around here are generally familiar with automatics (this being Europe), they are clueless as to the symptoms. That is including dealership.
Some say converter, some say the whole gearbox, but they don't even know how to diagnose it to point a finger - it seems to be all guess work.

So, can anyone tell me what I'm looking at in terms of what's failing? Torque converter or the whole transmission? What do I do with this? Where do I begin?

[illinois_erik]

off the top of my head torque converter, but first before assuming things, is the fluid fresh? is it black or dark? if so, drain and refill, disconnect the hoses from the trans cooler built into the radiator, and use the transmission to pump out the old into a bucket while supplying the new, the capacity is something like 7.6 quarts.

the next thing would be to pop off the shift solenoid packs and check their screen gaskets for debris, if youre careful you can reuse the gasket, or replace if feel inclined. If theres no debris, then youd want to bench test the solenoids themselves, with +12v to a pin and ground to the whole assembly, you should hear a nice sharp click, cycle them a few times if they sound kind of dull, then I would next position them so you can let them sit level filled with brake cleaner or some other solvent to break up any varnish that might be in there gumming up things. the solenoid when activated will have a nice sharp click as it retracts the spool valve.

another thing might be shifter cable misalignment down on the transmission, old cables stretch, things could possibly loosen..highly unlikely though, also taking apart the shifter cover and cleaning and lubing things wont hurt. theres a circuit board of sorts on the side with a few wires, that tells the tcu what the physical position of the shifter is in, would hurt to brighten the contacts with something if you can.


after all that then its possible that the tcu might have some problems, but it doesnt sound like failing tcu symptoms..........

trans and torque converter isnt that expensive and you can use a wide range of years and other chassis' for a replacement source. a shop will be expensive but its a job that can be done with hand tools yourself.

[GTRON]

Let me first say that I have searched, but I cannot seem to find any relevant information on this, here or on the web generally. Nobody seems to have the same symptoms. Perhaps I'm asking the wrong questions or something...

Anyway here is my problem:
I was backing out of a parking spot one day, and as soon as I put the shifter into reverse and started pulling out, the whole front started shaking as if the engine was going to bog down and die.
But it didn't.
Though it didn't shake in P.
So I pulled back in and left the car overnight.
The next day I tried again, and this time the shaking wasn't as bad, but also happened at very low/idling speed in D4. With a nudge of the gas pedal and at higher speeds everything was fine; city and highway.
I thought I needed a complete tune up. It was overdue anyway, so I had my mechanic do it. He said the engine was fine but said something about knocking sounds coming from the transmission - something about a pump.
Then I also noticed that when parked, and in Neutral, the car pulls away/creeps as if in D4, just not as fast. No gas, nothing. It idles fine, only I have to keep my foot on the brake to keep it from moving. It never did that before.
Also, when shifting from P to R, there is some kind of intermittent crunching/cracking noise coming from the shifter? Selector? Something up front anyway.

Since none of the mechanics around here are generally familiar with automatics (this being Europe), they are clueless as to the symptoms. That is including dealership.
Some say converter, some say the whole gearbox, but they don't even know how to diagnose it to point a finger - it seems to be all guess work.

So, can anyone tell me what I'm looking at in terms of what's failing? Torque converter or the whole transmission? What do I do with this? Where do I begin?

The shaking while going in reverse may be worn motor mounts, that's what my mechanic said anyways.