Blame it on the cold? Transmission Problems

[BC69]

During these long dull and freezing winter months, every once in a while I will fire up the Camaro just to run the engine for a while, usually let it warm up in the garage for 15 minutes, then just back it out into the driveway to sit for a while.
Anyway, today I had some problems. My Th350 did not like to get into gear. When I put the car in reverse it would just stay idle and not budge, I thought I was just out of gear and would fiddle with the shifter but it wasnt clicking. Id sit there for about 30 seconds or a bit more and it would lurch into gear for me and I would be off. It also did this when I would shift into Drive 3. Luckily I never had problems with P but that does concern me. The shifter is a little loose and whobbly, but it has never done this before. Could it just be the cold? Or what could be the problem?

This just bugs me because I always seem to spend the fun money on these little gremlins. My exhaust is terminally ill, everytime I look at it its worse, and now this!! Well, better now then during the cruising season.

Any info would help?
Thanks
Tim

[TravisB]

During these long dull and freezing winter months, every once in a while I will fire up the Camaro just to run the engine for a while, usually let it warm up in the garage for 15 minutes, then just back it out into the driveway to sit for a while.
Anyway, today I had some problems. My Th350 did not like to get into gear. When I put the car in reverse it would just stay idle and not budge, I thought I was just out of gear and would fiddle with the shifter but it wasnt clicking. Id sit there for about 30 seconds or a bit more and it would lurch into gear for me and I would be off. It also did this when I would shift into Drive 3. Luckily I never had problems with P but that does concern me. The shifter is a little loose and whobbly, but it has never done this before. Could it just be the cold? Or what could be the problem?

This just bugs me because I always seem to spend the fun money on these little gremlins. My exhaust is terminally ill, everytime I look at it its worse, and now this!! Well, better now then during the cruising season.

Any info would help?
Thanks
Tim


is the linkage tight on the side of the trans? What about the fluid level? Full?

[BC69]

I dont know about the linkage, that was one of my first thoughts, just because of the way the shifter felt. The fluid may be a bit low, I checked it after the engine cooled, and it had a leak in the past but that was taken care off, the garage floor under the car seemed clean.
The only reason I questioned the linkage was because I could feel the shifter when it was in the right place, and then the transmission would literally take 30-60 seconds to shift. I wasnt touching the shifter during that time, just waiting for it!

Tim

[TravisB]

I dont know about the linkage, that was one of my first thoughts, just because of the way the shifter felt. The fluid may be a bit low, I checked it after the engine cooled, and it had a leak in the past but that was taken care off, the garage floor under the car seemed clean.
The only reason I questioned the linkage was because I could feel the shifter when it was in the right place, and then the transmission would literally take 30-60 seconds to shift. I wasnt touching the shifter during that time, just waiting for it!

Tim


to shift manually or automatically? You mean while you where driving it or putting it into Drive.......or is it a manual valve body TH350

[BC69]

Automatically. When I was shifting from P to R is when it was the worst. From P to 3 was also slow, but P to 1 seemed fine.

[Payton King]

Low fluid level or you need a new filter. When was the last time the fluid and filter was changed?

The fluid needs to be checked at operating temp while the car is running. If it has been more than 30,000 miles I would change the filter.

[BC69]

I will add fluid, I don't think it's the filter..car has just crossed 1,500 mile mark, transmission was rebuilt during resto.

Thanks Guys!

Tim

[promax/vennom#16]

Tim, I had the same thing happen to me with my 62 ford. It had a C6 in it and when I started the car and let it run (roughly 15 min.) it did not want to move.I checked the fluid level,there were no signs of leaks,linkage was tight,I figured it was due to the consistant cold temps.And like yours it seemed to have the most trouble in reverse .As soon as the temps were warmer and consistant, everything worked fine.I thought I was the only one that had that problem.Thats living in the northeast I guess?
Dave

[BC69]

Tim, I had the same thing happen to me with my 62 ford. It had a C6 in it and when I started the car and let it run (roughly 15 min.) it did not want to move.I checked the fluid level,there were no signs of leaks,linkage was tight,I figured it was due to the consistant cold temps.And like yours it seemed to have the most trouble in reverse .As soon as the temps were warmer and consistant, everything worked fine.I thought I was the only one that had that problem.Thats living in the northeast I guess?
Dave

Dave,
Thanks, that makes me feel better! I am not crazy! I will still top it off, and check everything out, but I guess the NE has an effect like that.

Tim

[DAWG]

i live in connecticut aswell but never had that problem I pull the car out weekly to turn it over etc.
1 thing i will tell ya though.
the loose linkage or cable will eventually ruin an otherwise good tranny.
if your in between gears etc.
also will cause premature pump failure .
I know this cuz it happened to me before .
also if you dont have the kick down cable (detent cable ) properly installed or its missing altogether expect trans pump failure in your future.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Low fluid level or you need a new filter. When was the last time the fluid and filter was changed?

The fluid needs to be checked at operating temp while the car is running. If it has been more than 30,000 miles I would change the filter.
Thats exactly what I was going to say. Its very common for the rear seal to even leak in the winter because of the cold. I just went thru this with my truck. Put it in gear, nothing. Checked the fluid. It was low and it fixed the problem. :thumbsup:
Probably not the filter.