J30 with ONLY 3rd gear????

[NismoDan]

Ok, so recently my J30 decided that it only wanted to use third gear.

But only sometimes.

I'll start the car and be driving just perfectly for a while, but seemingly randomly after stopping at a light/sign, the car decides it doesnt want to shift into or out of anything BUT third gear.

Which means REALLY slow starts from stops (which is a pain when you're trying to make a left turn in front of someone) and REALLY high revs at any speed over 60, which is a lot of the time that I drive, being in LA and all.

Anyone know how to fix this?

I'm guessing it's not a problem with the transmission itself, as it works sometimes...I'm thinking a fluid/transmission ecu/torque convertor problem.

HELP PLEASE!Thanks.

[elwesso]

If it is failsafe, it will do this... Check your transmission codes, if u need help doing that LMK

[elwesso]

found this thread

zerothread?id=141499

[NismoDan]

I went through that other thread, but don't know what to subsitute for the overdrive button on a J30.

Anything would help at this point.

Again, it just recently started doing this.

[NismoDan]

Hey Wes, this is the thread I was talking about.

I read through that 240 thread, but didnt know what to do about an OD button (I have a '94, and they put in OD buttons in '95, I believe).

[NismoDan]

I hate to keep bugging you, but I could really use that code-getting procedure.

[elwesso]

here you go dude... Check the codes and let me know if anything comes up.

If this doesnt work, then id try checking the ECU codes.

[NismoDan]

HOORAY! I GOT MY CODES!

Now I just need to know what they mean and fix the problems!

I got what appeared to be a 13 and a 17.

The "1" of the 13 was real long, but the "1" of the 17 wasnt as long.I'm guessing its because the first one is longer to tell you that something is wrong...but it might also be a "3" and a "17".

[elwesso]

Heres how you read your codes

for instance, code 3 would have the longest flash ta the third flash... So it would look like -- -- ------- -- -- ......

[NismoDan]

Hrmm....I got 1 looooong one then 3 real quick ones, then a pause, a sort-of-long one (longer than the quick ones) and 7 more quick ones...then repeat

sort of like this:

---------------------- -- -- -- pause ---------- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- pause repeat

[NismoDan]

Wow, I'm retarded.You actually gave me the FSM a long time ago through gmail, and even though im on a different computer now, I was able to retrieve the mail and re-download the manual.

YAY!

After going through this part in the manual, I guess my problem is a Shift Solenoid Valve A circuit...whatever that means.

[NismoDan]

Ok, I MUST be getting on everyones nerves by now...

So I pulled a code 4 from the self-diagnostic....Shift solenoid Valve A circuit problem.

Now, it shifts just fine for about a mile or two if the car hasnt been driven for a while, so I doubt that the solenoid itself is busted.

But Ive gone under the car a few times now and cleaned the solenoid harness and that hasnt helped.Just now I tried measuring the resistance of the harness, but my test leads dont fit inside the tiny harness plugs.

Any advice?

Every shop I've talked to wants to do the $80-$90 CONSULT diagnostic, and one wants to replace the solenoid itself (which means replacing all 3 as they only come together in packs).

This is killing me!Out of the blue too!!

[elwesso]

Im thinking maybe theres a bad connection somewhere... I supose its posible for the solenoid to go bad...