Transmission Shifting Hard From 1st to 2nd & How to Fix Hard Shifting Automatic Transmission

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Last updated on November 2nd, 2021 at 06:30 am

Are you having trouble with your car transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2nd, in this article we will look at causes and how to fix hard to shift automatic transmission problems? So whether it is just transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2^nd

Or transmission shifting hard from 2nd to 3rd^, we will discuss both cases.

Transmission shifting hard is one heal of a serious and highly expensive car problem to experience.

Normally repairing a transmission shifting hard problem can cost as high as thousands of dollars. And it, not something is neglected irrespective of the high repairs cost, else it could render your car totally useless. Related: Automatic Transmission Problems &How To Fix/Solutions

If you begin to notice symptoms of a bad and hard to shift transmission, you should consider taking your car to the experience transmission expert for check and repair or servicing were necessary.

Doing this as quickly as possible can save you from further damage to your car from more serious transmission failure.

So what precisely causes transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2^nd, let’s find out.

Read also: Do Nissan Pathfinders Have Transmission Problems?

Causes of Transmission Shifting Hard From 1st to 2^nd and Transmission  Shifting Hard From 2nd to 3^rd

A hard to shift transmission problem is usually due to the car transmission declining to move gears. It could either be to change from 1^st to 2^nd gear or to change from 2^nd to 3^rd gear.

Whichever one you encounter is usually very annoying and can make your driving experience highly unpleasant and can even result in an accident. So you don’t want to ignore this problem else it could lead to future costly repair expense.

There are a couple of reasons why your car transmission might be shifting hard. This could be due to a lot of malfunctioning of so many transmission components of the car listed below:

What Causes an Automatic Transmission to Shift Hard

These are some of the transmission components that may have issues which you should check yourself before hiring a mechanic to run a complete diagnosis and repair, if none of these where then cause fo your car transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2nd:

• Dirty or Low Transmission Fluid

When car transmission Fluid is low or dirty is could lead to transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2^nd and even from 2nd to 3^rd.

So when you have a gear shifting issues, one of the things to check is your transmission fluid. You have to check if the fluid is enough to lubricate the transmission properly or not. If it is not enough then you have to add more to meet the required amount need for proper lubrication.

You also have to check for dirty oil /fluid. If your transmission fluid is dirty, you want to change it.

This is one very simple DIY step to take yourself before contacting a mechanic.

How to Identify a Clean Transmission Fluid?

Clean transmission fluid is usually translucent and reddish in colour, though there some brands that are green, yellow and blue translucent. It all desponds on the brand.

If you are still not sure when to change your transmission fluid, then you should consider changing your fluid every 160,934 kilometres. Mind you, lack of adequate lubrication on transmission could cause rough shifting too.

• Leakage of Fluid

Fluid leakage is the next possible cause of transmission shifting hard from 2nd to 3^rd

The transmission is a sealed system which needs to retain is fluid in it in other to function properly.

So if there is a fluid leak, then this could make you experience a transmission shifting hard from 2nd to 3^rd and even from 1^st to 2^nd. A fluid leak is really a serious problem and needs to be checked.

So if you suspect a leak, you have to check your pan gasket and other parts to see if there is a crack or hole anywhere. When you notice a puddle underneath your vehicle, please take your car immediately to a mechanic. And also want to examine the gearbox since you are experiencing a hard to shift transmission from 1st to 2^nd

• Sensors Problem

On some case, you might experience hard to shift transmission due to a bad sensor. Resent cars are designed with and high tech which comprises of lots of connecting sensor that brings about the functionality of the car. The automatic shifter has numerous sensors that regulator when and how the transmission changes gears. When anyone of this sensors is bad it hard to shift gear.

So if the sensors fail to receive and send the right signal readings, shifting problems can occur due to the wrong signal transmission.

• Trouble in the Vacuum Lines

Transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2^nd could be as a result of an issue in the vehicle vacuum lines. When your car vacuum line is clotted, disconnected, or twisted; this could cause extra pressure to vehicle transmission which makes the gear hard to shift.

• Bad Shifter Cable

Next possible reason for transmission shifting hard from 2nd to 3^rd is bad shifter cable. Not only hard shifting, see more many transmission problems you may have in the future and know how to fix them. Some automatic car models use cable to connect the shifter handle to the transmission and this can stretch or break with time, when this cable breaks, it can result in hard to shift transmission.  In this scenario, you have to take your car to an auto shop or invite a mechanic to fix it.

I have included the video tutorial below to assist you in fixing you hard to shift transmission issue to an extent. Especially for those minor transmission issues.

For more complicated issues and solution to your car transmission problems, you will need to consult an experienced mechanic.

How to fix hard shifting automatic transmission

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