[UmmScott]

Hi everyone, been awhile since I've posted on here.

My intrepid has been doing awesome for the 3 years I've owned it.
However the transmission has developed a weird shifting issue that has me concerned
I have the 3.2L and currently have about 150k miles on it

Here's the issue: When coasting or braking to a stop the trans starts downshifting back to 1st like all cars do. But most noticeably at less than 10mph when it goes from 2nd to 1st it kinda jerks the car. Now its starting to do it from 3rd to 2nd as well...

Upshifting is normal, but if I give it some gas to make it go from 3rd to 2nd so i can speed up quicker, when it goes back up to 3rd it slams and really jerks the car.

Hope i clearly explained that. I've checked fluid level and color. Its normal and bright red. However after driving awhile if I pull the dipstick I do notice bubbles. Not really fine but decent sized bubbles. Could all I need is fluid change?
Thanks for your help
Scott

[MrBigE]

Sounds like the ole' "bump shift". Happened to me after my 180K trans fluid/filter change. Went away after several days of normal driving with the new fluid.

Any idea if the fluid has ever been changed? I'd definitely change the fluid & filter (and the differential oil as well), give it another week of normal driving and see if it persists.

The pre-02 transmissions seem to be pretty resilient; unless you're seeing a check-engine light with the 'bing' sound, it probably just needs some maintenance.

[UmmScott]

Ok awesome...is changing the transmission fluid pretty straight forward? Differential fluid seems just the same as any other differential fluid changeout.

I'd plan to use ATF+4 is that correct?

[gardidien]

Always use ATF+4! Differential fluid change is a piece of cake!

[paintballdude05]

The only thing with the tranny fluid change is the part where it's really easy to make a mess since there's no train plug. Either way you put it make sure to put a new filter. If you see the fluid was never changed and your problem still persists, do another fluid and filter change. I did this on my '03 300M at the 180k mile mark and it really helped with how the transmission shifted.

[MrBigE]

You may already know this - but it's worth mentioning that the diff uses gear oil, not ATF+4.

I prefer to siphon warm (not hot) trans fluid out through the dipstick opening, using one of those cheapie Harbor Freight siphons. Then when the pan breaks loose below, theres not much of a mess at all.

[cdmccul]

X2 there... although I've never been on the ball enough to do that before dropping the pan.

[UmmScott]

I really really like that idea....where can i get this siphon tool at?

[paintballdude05]

I used one of these to do the job, it saved me quite the mess. Costs around $15 and it's called a fluid transfer pump.

[MrBigE]

Harbor Freight has that one frequenly on sale for $5.99 or so, I've found. I buy a couple when I see that price come up, whether I need one or not.

[UmmScott]

Awesome thanks for the info guys...I'll prolly buy that siphon and do a fluid and filter change first.
Wish the weather here in Omaha would cooperate, we just got a foot of snow this past weekend...ugh. haha

[bh1992]

The thought of the bubbles on the dipstick makes me wonder if the tranny fluid is at the correct level. Maybe low or possibly even over-filled?

[UmmScott]

See thats what i thought...I checked the level and it's within range

[piperdog]

When you check the transmission fluid level make sure that the engine is running and that it has been running for at least a minute. It makes a big difference to the reading. The dipstick scale assumes that the engine is running (and therefore that the torque converter is filled with ATF).

[paintballdude05]

I believe that it's also recommended to have the engine in gear while you do this.