so i noticed today when i came to a red light i could let off the brake and the car wouldn't move forward a bit....not a big deal heavy car etc..but then when i went to take off it was almost as if the brakes were being applied..no the ebrake isnt up or anything like that..

so after two red lights i started getting nervous..i went a head and manually put it in first gear..let off the brake the car idled forward like it should..went to take off perfect no issues?..

so im assuming the car isn't down shifting to first gear when i hit a red light..

what would cause this?..
honestly its my first automatic car in probably 5yrs or so and never had any issues with my last one(98 honda accord fwd) so im a little lost when it comes to this..any help or insight would be appreciated..
my tranny mechanic friend said sounds like a solenoid but id like some more advice from the sc community..

also no CEL's etc.

 

Your O/D Off light doesn't flash?

Sounds like my car. My trans valve solenoids are bad, so it doesn't downshift when I come to a stop... I have to manually shift it. Your trans might be experiencing the same thing.

 

as a matter of fact it was flashing earlier when i was driving then it stopped..usually it doesn't but that is the 2nd time the OD has flashed on me.

 

Do you know how to put your car into diagnosis mode by shorting out T1 and E1?

Well, if you do, do that and turn the key to the start position. Your O/D Off light should flash a few times have a short pause, then flash a few times again... then a longer pause, then the flashing will start over.

Count how many times it flashes (the first time), wait for the short pause, then count how many times it flashes (the second time).

If you're having a solenoid issue, it should flash 6 the first time and 2 or 3 the second time. 2 if it's valve solenoid one, 3 if it's valve solenoid two.

Hope this helps, PM me if you I'm not being clear...

 

awesome man i really appreciate that thank you

 

No problem, let us know what you find.

 

well it seems to being going bad but not quite yet..this happened twice total so far but today drove it a few different times and it down shifted and took off fine..no flashing O/D off or anything..and it only did this on the way to my friends house the night posted..on the way back i didnt catch a single light to know if it was occurring on the way home(the way there the O/D off light flashed for a bit of the drive but went off and never came back on, on the way home) so i guess ill just let it be for now but know what to look for if/when it comes back

 

Yeah, I'm just living with mine for now, and just shifting manually. I have another trans I can install, but I'm hoping to collect all my 5speed parts soon.

 

what do you mean when you say your shifting manually im new to all of this car lingo, cuz my o/d light flashes and takes off slow also

 

He is dropping the shifter down to the 1, then shifting it up to the 2 which is second gear like you were driving a manual car.

 

exact same thing is happening to my car, it feels like i'm starting out in 3rd gear so i have to manualy shift, does anyone know how to replace your solenoids?

 

I've never done it... but it's pretty straight forward if you're somewhat mechanically inclined.

The hardest part is probably dropping the fluid pan for the trans. After that, the solenoids are in view. But I've heard someone mention that the white plastic mounts the solenoids are in can break if you are not careful taking them out.

 

well im 17, so i might include my father on this project