Transmission Problem

[LookBehindYou]

Hello Everyone,

I'll start by saying I know zero about cars. My wife just called me and her car, a 2003 Suzuki Aerio w/ 66,000 miles, is having a weird issue with the transmission (I think).

From the way she explained it, when she puts the car in drive and presses the gas the engine will rev but there is a delay of about 5 seconds until the car will move. She said this happens both in drive and reverse. She called me later after she got gas and said it wasn't doing it anymore (not sure if that is related or coincidence or what).

Any ideas on what might be going on and what I should expect if I take it to a shop? Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sdifox]

Was the transmission ever flushed? check manual for maintainance schedule.

 

[LookBehindYou]

No it hasn't, I'll have to check the manual when she gets home this evening.

 

[sdifox]

No it hasn't, I'll have to check the manual when she gets home this evening.

Pretty sure tranny has to be flushed before 66k mi...

 

[jimmybgood9]

I'm not saying that the transmission fluid shouldn't be changed, but the immediate issue might just be that the car is low on tranny fluid.

 

[phucheneh]

Check the fluid level. Smell the fluid. Taste the fluid.

Well, okay, just the first two.

How much is the engine revving? Did it start moving when it hit a certain RPM range, or was it just a 'time' factor?

If it's intermittent, I would rule out bad clutches. First and reverse may or may not have one of the same clutch packs engaged...would have to know the power flow of that trans.

Not sure about the torque converter. Seems unlikely but possible.

But mostly I would think 'sticking valve.' This is one of those cases where a flush could actually help. As opposed to when people recommend a flush to fix a problem that is obviously from burnt up clutches...that makes it worse.

If its from a gunked up valve body, though, flushing may help free things up. Could also be a solenoid, but even an intermittent electrical problem would probably throw a trans code. That _should_ illuminate the MIL. If you use a generic scan tool to check the ECM, though, all you'll get is a P-code for 'the trans computer told me to turn the MIL on.'

First thing I would do is try and identify which solenoids (and therefore valves, and therefore clutches) are engaged in which gears. Even if there's nothing in common between first and reverse, though, it could still be a line pressure issue, which would also be valve-body related (...but much more damaging). If the pressure gets low enough to allow excessive slippage, though, it should through an 'incorrect gear ratio' code.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

+1, get a flush. I would not want her driving it until this is done.

 

[LookBehindYou]

So it ended up being about 2 quarts low on transmission fluid from what the shop said. He said he couldnt find a leak anywhere and had no explanation on why it was two quarts low but that was definitely the problem. Drives as good as new now.

 

[sdifox]

So it ended up being about 2 quarts low on transmission fluid from what the shop said. He said he couldnt find a leak anywhere and had no explanation on why it was two quarts low but that was definitely the problem. Drives as good as new now.

2003 to 2012 is a long time...

 

[satyajitmenon]

2003 to 2012 is a long time...

Yeah. But where does it go? Not like it evaporates - does it?

 

[LookBehindYou]

Yeah. But where does it go? Not like it evaporates - does it?

The same bastards that steal my left socks from the dryer are stealing my transmission fluid!

 

[power_hour]

The same bastards that steal my left socks from the dryer are stealing my transmission fluid!

Keep an eye on the freezer, they are going to want some meat soon ;p

Congrats on the easy fix. You dodge a bad bill. Hopefully the maintenance will be top of mind now. Make sure the HVAC is properly serviced or your next post might be Engine overheated, need new car

 

[LookBehindYou]

Keep an eye on the freezer, they are going to want some meat soon ;p

Congrats on the easy fix. You dodge a bad bill. Hopefully the maintenance will be top of mind now. Make sure the HVAC is properly serviced or your next post might be Engine overheated, need new car

Yeah I was definitely happy to find that out. Actually had to replace the radiator two weeks ago because it had developed a crack and the car started to overheat. Haven't had an issue with her car in 9 years, but as soon as we decide she can get a new car (she wants a camaro) in about 4 months, her car started having issues. I swear she's trying to sabatoge it.

 

[Mermaidman]

. . . Make sure the HVAC is properly serviced or your next post might be Engine overheated, need new car . . .

Haven't had an issue with her car in 9 years, but as soon as we decide she can get a new car (she wants a camaro) in about 4 months, her car started having issues. I swear she's trying to sabatoge it.

Ha! If my wife wanted a Camaro, I'd gladly get her a new car.