What Are the Items on an Automatic Transmission Repair Checklist?
3 Answers
Automatic transmission repair checklist includes the following: 1. Automatic transmission noise: If the automatic transmission makes noise, the main causes are bearing damage, torque converter plate damage, differential damage, planetary gear set scorching, intermediate gear multi-gear shaft damage, or copper sleeve wear. 2. Automatic transmission failure to move: The main reasons for the automatic transmission not moving are torque converter shaft seizure causing the fuel injection pump to stop working, blocked oil passages leading to insufficient lubrication resulting in planetary gear set burnout, differential oil starvation and burnout, or oil pump shaft breakage causing the oil pump to stop working. 3. Automatic transmission slipping and jerking: The primary causes of automatic transmission slipping and jerking are clutch plate scorching or valve body sticking. 4. Automatic transmission lack of power: The main reason for automatic transmission lack of power is sprocket damage. 5. Automatic transmission reverse gear jerking: There are two main reasons for automatic transmission reverse gear jerking—valve body damage or excessive reverse gear friction plate clearance. 6. Automatic transmission shift jerking: The main causes of automatic transmission shift jerking are solenoid valve damage or torque converter damage. 7. Automatic transmission no reverse gear: The main reason for automatic transmission no reverse gear is torque converter damage or computer board damage. 8. Automatic transmission no forward gear: The main reasons for automatic transmission no forward gear are rear drum plate burnout, diaphragm detachment, or oil filter clogging.
Last time my transmission failed, the repair list was very detailed. First, they had to open it up to check the fluid condition—if it was black or had metal shavings, the fluid and filter had to be replaced, which is pretty much standard. They also had to inspect the oil pan gasket for aging; if it was leaking, a new one was a must. The worst fear was the valve body acting up—it’s the key component controlling hydraulic pressure, so it either needed cleaning and repair or a full replacement. If the torque converter was damaged, that had to be fixed too, along with those solenoids and sensors—any one malfunction could mess up the shifting. All the seals had to be checked, as leaks could fry other parts. Finally, after reassembly, it needed reprogramming and calibration, followed by a road test to wrap it up. That time, replacing the fluid and filter plus fixing a solenoid cost me over 3,000 bucks—proper maintenance earlier could’ve saved a lot of money.
Repairing an automatic transmission is quite complex, and I've memorized the checklist items. The first step is always a full vehicle diagnostic to check for trouble codes, then removing the oil pan to drain the old fluid and replace the filter. If metal debris is found in the fluid, it likely requires an overhaul of the torque converter or planetary gear set. Clogged solenoids are common and need to be removed for ultrasonic cleaning or replacement. Sticking valve body spools require professional equipment for repair, and aged seals must be replaced as a complete set. After reassembly, specialized transmission fluid must be added, and the shift logic needs to be matched using a computer. Finally, test driving is essential to check for jerking in every gear. It's recommended to change the fluid every 60,000 kilometers to avoid major repairs, as labor costs nowadays are much higher than parts.
