wuman

my 85 auto is not shifting correctly, it would shift into 2nd gear and stayed in 2nd gear, the problem would go away after i shut off the car and let her sit for a couple of minutes, anyone has idea what the cause might be.

Mike LaBranche

Low transmission fluid.

Car parked. Idling in Neutral. Resevoir is underneath in back, middle, passenger side. White plastic square, red cap. The fluid level should be between the two lines scribed on the side with the fluid warm/hot. You'll need a good flashlight to see them. Drive it around a bit before you check it.

You'll find various approaches to adding fluid in the archives via the Search link at the top.

Good luck.

wuman

thank you mike, will try to locate the resovior tomorrow morning.

Barry Johnson

Thats the same problem I've had a few times. Also, if you nail the gas and it goes into first, it will stay there until you shift to neutral and then back to drive, but then that only gets you back into 2nd gear. And yes, low ATF is the culprit. Now just find where its leaking!

Steve Cattaneo

Wuman,
Are you saying this shifting problem only happens once and when you restart the car, the transmission shifts?

wuman

i found out that i was low on trans fluid, i added some to the lowest mark with the engine off than drove around for about 8 miles and with the car running and in neutral added more fluid so it's between the min and max marks, however when i shut off the car and waited about 10 minutes the fluid was full, i think it might overflow if i remove the cap, did i do something wrong?

Mike LaBranche

No, not as long as you did the filling/checking with the engine running and warm, tranny in nuetral. The fluid level will rise slightly at shutoff.

Did your shifting improve?

wuman

mike,
the car now shifts a lot smoother and it does not have power surge at the stop light anymore, i found that i did add too much fluid and removed some.