transmission malfunction 94 Q45

[joeyrad]

transmission will not shift out of 2nd or 3rd gear not sure which.changed fluid and filter,also did the self diagnosis and got a 4 code 1 time and the rest of the time i got a all ok. does this about half the day and most of the time i can turn the car off for an couple of minutes and turn on and all is good for a while.dont really want to buy a transmission so any help would be appreciated.1994 Q45 148000 miles

[96Qowner]

The AT section of the manual says 4 means "shift solenoid valve A circuit is short circuited or disconnected". Pages AT-43 and AT-47.

Auto Transmission Section of Q45 FSM

Corroded connector? Looks like the resistance can be easily checked with a multimeter.

[Q45tech]

dont really want to buy a transmission

Unforunately the car gods have a mind of their own, punishing owners who don't take care of lubricated mechanical things.

Once the hiccups start, it may be late to start being good!

A total fluid exchange, filter replacement and pan and pan magnet clean can sometimes buy you some time to get mentally ready.

[maxnix]

A transmission maintenance history would be most helpful.

[Jeff Williams]

Most of the connectors on the transmission (there are about 8) are right in the direct line of oil, ps fluid, coolant, and brake fluid that leaks out of the engine. Rocks and debris take their toll on these too. Be sure that they are all clean and making good contact.

It's only about $2,500 for a transmission rebuild. That is not too much for a $50,000 car, is it?

[qsiguy]

I had to sort out my own "Transmission malfunction" yesterday. There is so many electronic circuits on these cars there are quite a few connectors and areas where you can get issues like Jeff said.

I've been doing some tuning of the ECU lately and have swapped out ECU's quite a few times lately. Yesterday I just swapped the ECU and immediately got a transmission malfunction indicator on the dash. Mine happened to be the throttle position sensor so I followed the procedures for that and traced it back the the ECU connector. One of the pins wasn't making good contact and I could move the harness around and cause the throttle position voltage at the A/T control unit to drop out or come back to normal. I just unplugged the ECU and made sure all the pins were pushed in completely and reconnected it. All is well now.

Have you recently had your ECU out, washed the engine bay (which I did too and thought it might be that), or any other work done to the car that might have unseated a connector or something.

The symptoms I had (aside from the malfuction indicator) was that it wouldn't shift until I hit about 3k RPM which made for some stiff shifts. Did this in all gears. If I let off the gas for a sec it would shift up and I could keep going. Must be a default shift point if it doesn't have the throttle position signal.

Anyway, when starting my troubleshooting I read a few posts regarding similar transmission issues and there was a few people who immediately said that the transmission needed a rebuild. DO NOT immediately assume the transmission is trashed. It could easily be a simple electrical issue and you will waste a lot of money if you don' t do some simple troubleshooting. These cars have some great diagnostics features built in, use them.

[jamesmost]

the solenoid pack can be bought for $200

[Q45tech]

Only once in 12 years of transmission failures has it been the connectors/sockets along with 3 solenoid packs in hundreds of transmission replacements.

[ILuvNkdChx]

Perhaps that means it is time for number two?

[sheadee240]

Is it possible that some of those bad transmissions would have come back to life for a while a new solenoid pack?

[maxnix]

Is it possible that some of those bad transmissions would have come back to life for a while a new solenoid pack?

Anything is possible. Q45techs' post remarks on the likelyhood of that occurring.

I think a more enlightening question to ask is "Under what operating and maintenance conditions did the solenoids fail?" Sometimes it is just easier and cheaper to start from new and maintain and operate the new device as it was designed rather than to resurrect an abused device with unknown defects. Many younger members do not calculate the true value of time because they have an abundance of it presently.
Modified by maxnix at 7:03 AM 12/3/2007

[Lakeshow24]

The only thing I can really contribute here is that my 1991 Q45 would occasionally display the "transmission malfunction" light. The trans shifted well though, occasionally seemed to go into default shifts. But I don't believe there was anything mechanically wrong, either improper fluid level (it was ever so slightly overfilled) or a sensor malfunction. All gears worked properly, they all shifted crisply, no issues really. Just an occasional light. Every fourth or fifth time I started the car would I see the light.

[Haitian_King]

You know what? I did unscrew my ECU harness right after I put my TCU in. Maybe my cause of all my trouble is the pins. I haven't been getting any Error Messages though.

[JohnPa]

Well, I hope I'm not too late to fix my 90 Q transmission problem. I am experiencing a slow 2-3 shift which is worse in colder weather, but almost unnoticeable in warmer weather. The car has 107,000 miles on it and I have had it since 92,000 miles. I flushed the system and installed an extra trans cooler. The problem showed up last winter and again this fall.

I searched the forums but couldn't find anything specific, however I seem to remember reading something about a line pressure solenoid - couldn't find the thread again, so I chimed in on this related forum. I hope noblody minds too much. I have always gotten excellent help from NICO members!

I was thinking the shift module might need replacing and thought about putting in an after-market item...............but, I get ahead of myself. First, diagnose the problem!

Any ideas or thread references would be greatly appreciated. I seem to be lousy about guessing the correct title when I'm looking for something.

[Haitian_King]

If I'm going fast, the 2-3 shift is more prolonged. But 1-2 is very smooth in cold weather. Your problem sounds similar to mine. If you find a solution, maybe it'll work for me eh?

[96Qowner]

Well, I hope I'm not too late to fix my 90 Q transmission problem. I am experiencing a slow 2-3 shift which is worse in colder weather, but almost unnoticeable in warmer weather. The car has 107,000 miles on it and I have had it since 92,000 miles. I flushed the system and installed an extra trans cooler. The problem showed up last winter and again this fall.

I searched the forums but couldn't find anything specific, however I seem to remember reading something about a line pressure solenoid - couldn't find the thread again, so I chimed in on this related forum. I hope noblody minds too much. I have always gotten excellent help from NICO members!

I was thinking the shift module might need replacing and thought about putting in an after-market item...............but, I get ahead of myself. First, diagnose the problem!

Any ideas or thread references would be greatly appreciated. I seem to be lousy about guessing the correct title when I'm looking for something.

I think these'll help. I had forgotten about Robert's great posting history. Everyone should read RobertsnewQ posts.

Y33 dropping resistor for AT operation!

'01 Q45 slow 2-3 shift

re4r03a vs. re4r01a valve body

[Haitian_King]

But aren't those posts more for Y33's? What about the G50?
Modified by Haitian_King at 9:45 PM 12/3/2007

[elwesso]

y33 and G50 transmission are basically identical. Just because its a different car doesnt mean its a different IDEA!

[Haitian_King]

I know they changed the engines. I thought the transmissions were different.

[JohnPa]

I think these'll help. I had forgotten about Robert's great posting history. Everyone should read RobertsnewQ posts.

Thanks much, 96Q

Y33 dropping resistor for AT operation!

I think Hait_ian King is right. This post deals exclusively with the Y33.

'01 Q45 slow 2-3 shift

I followed this one to the end, but no one ever gave a final solution. I am really interested in the Subaru SVX Kit since the company is less than 20 miles from where I live. Has anyone ever put one in a Q?

re4r03a vs. re4r01a valve body

This thread had great information, but it stopped in mid-'05 with no final solution by the three great NICO members: 3Q Jay, elwesso, and RobertsnewQ. Did anyone ever solve the dreaded 2-3 slow upshift?

Anything will help at this point.