Well I finally got my brakes fixed and my dad and I took the car for a spin for the first time. However, we experienced problems with it shifting. For what its worth, I have a FMX transmission, behind a rebuild 351w. Here's the problem:

When in drive, first gear is fine, but second gear slips and won't fully engage. It won't shift into 3rd at all. When I shift it manually, first gear is fine, second is fine, and when I put it into drive it will maintain 2nd gear, but won't shift into 3rd. What could be the problem???

Mechanically speaking the tranny itself should be fine. As far as we know it was shifting and operating fine before we got the car, and we havn't done anything to it since then. It all looks new underneath the pan, and the bellhousing was nice and shinny implying a semi-fresh rebuild or it being well maintained.

Here's some options I see as being the problem... Fluid level too high or too low, vacuum issues, or possibly the linkage is worn/dirty and drive does not engage properly. However the fluid level SHOULD be fine, and the linkage theory is simply my own.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

Sounds like it's time for a rebuild if you checked the stuff you mentioned and those are fine.

I had a C4 that lost second gear. First and third were great and it shifted automatically, but second wouldn't engage. I drove the car like that for a year while I saved up for a new tranny. And there wasn't anything I did that brought the problem on and no warning. Just one day, I went to drive her and she skipped second gear whether she was shifting or I was.

I'd start with the easy stuff: fluid, vacuum modulator, linkage and go from there.

 

Don't have a clue what is going on with your tranny, but if you need a rebuild, talk to Joe at Westminster Transmission. They're not the cheapest shop, but you'll come away with a better tranny than left the factory. A buddy in the aftermarket auto parts business referred me there when my Jeep tranny started acting up. The tranny works better than new andhas some beefed up parts where they're needed.

Another freind who had his Jeep there got his fixed without any major work or rebuild and it was practically free. You don't have to be worried about taking it there unlike if you just head over to Aamco. BTDT. [:@]

Good luck!

 

band adjustment

 

Nah, it needs to be rebuilt.

 

Before spending any money, check to see if the shift linkage is in the right place. With someone under the car and someone going form park all the way through the shifts, make sure your in gear. What we do is shift into "'R" than take linkage off, see if your in gear, then put back on and go to next gear "N" and take linkage off and check, next gear and repeat.....hopes this helps, I've seen C4 do the same thing when not adjusted properly...

 

how can I make sure the vacuum on the tranny is working properly? Thanks for the tips on linkage LCC, I'll have my dad try that out with me. Right now I'll go and warm up the car and double check the fluid level, and then check my vacuum lines.

and thanks gothand for the tip on a tranny shop! I'll definitely look into them if it needs to be rebuild, which I hope to god it doesn't. Thats just one more thing that we did not expect, and will be a big chunk of money out of the pocket.

I thought FMX tranny's were bullet-proof

 

Yes, the FMX is a bullet proof tranny, but with a kazillion miles on it, it will either have to be rebuilt now, or later. Stop gap repairs will only delay the eventual. Nothing lasts forever. My suggestion is that you take your car to a real transmission repair shop and get a professional opinion. Do you really think we old guys on here can analyze your transmission and make suggestions for repair if we are not able to experience driving it and putting it on the diagnosticequipment. If you do, then you are a fool.

 

Of course I don't expect you all to perfectly analyze my transmission, but I would sure like to see if there is an easier fix that I can do myself than finding and driving to a transmission shop. Just an evaluation by a pro alone will cost me $$$, let alone the rebuild.

I may be 16 but I ain't no fool

and BTW I just checked the fluid level, and it is fine, in between the arrows.

 

As a 16 year old, you have done all that can be expected by making sure the fluid level is correct. Now, it is time for a pro to analyze your tranny's problems. Either take it to a tranny shop, or park it.