Q: Won't go into overdrive

asked by on February 13, 2017

I'm driving, come to a light, hit the brakes and come to a stop. Engine is still revved, pulling on the brakes. I put it in neutral and engine reeves then after 4 or 5 seconds, finally idles down to normal. Put back into overdrive and go when the light is green. Sometimes it does it a lot, sometimes not for a while.

My car has 85000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Car is hard to shift Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi there. In most cases, this issue is caused by an obstruction of transmission fluid inside the hydraulic lines of the transmission. It can be resolved typically by flushing the transmission fluid and replacing the filter and transmission pan gasket. If you complete this and the problem is not resolved, have a professional mechanic complete a car is hard to shift inspection.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Leaking gas tank and power steering hose
It sounds like you have a couple of serious issues going on. A fuel leak can be dangerous so that must be repaired first. Many times this car can develop a leak at the fuel pump connection and look like...
Rear brakes squeak in new 2016 car, but dealership can't hear it
Sure, we'll be happy to help you. I would probably check the brake hardware kit. The hardware kit consist of slide pins and the little shims that the brake pads fit in. There could be some corrosion build up either of those systems...
15 Amp back fuse
Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Suzuki Esteem. The primary systems on that fuse are the back-up light switch and the transmission range sensor. As far as what's causing it to blow, it could be an intermittently...
maybe a wheel bearing worn out, how dangerous is it?
Thanks for your question. If it's a wheel bearing, the noise generally doesn't go away with speed although it might appear that way because the noise gets masked by other noises such as road noise, wind and exhaust. It is...
Squeaking noise coming from under the hood upon cold start.
Hey there, thanks for writing in. The noise can be the serpentine belt tensioner not putting enough tension on the belt. In this case, you would most likely need to replace the tensioner (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/drive-belt-tensioner-replacement) along with the belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement) to...
On a good day car starts very easily in the morning or if rested for about 30 mins. However, it does not start when warm
Hey there. This is a common sign of a faulty ignition coil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-coil-replacement). Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted as the copper beneath them expands and contracts faster...
Power steering problems
It is possible that the low voltage condition was causing the steering faults. However if the steering was damaged during the tire blowout then you may have an intermittent problem that was present when the dealer looked at it and...
What is the name of the belt that control the water pump
Hi There, What you are referring to is what is called a serpentine belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement). This is a belt that powers the majority of the major engine components. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location...
My car will start up and run fine until reaches normal temperature and be hearing clicking from kick pannel and car shuts off
The relay that is clicking is the main computer PCM/Fuel pump relay. The relay may be bad or may be getting overheated from a fuel pump drawing too many amps. I suggest you replace the relay first and then see...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy That Can Be Towed Behind an RV
Summer Summer is a great time for a road trip, but often travelers like bringing all the conveniences of home along, in the form of an RV. Then they tow their car behind it – sometimes this practice is called...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Gardener or Landscape Architect
Gardeners Gardeners and landscape architects need to haul around quite a bit of gear. As a gardener, chances are you will need to transport a variety of mowing equipment, along with smaller implements. You may also need to move shrubs,...
How to Use the Ford Active Park Assist Feature
There There are few driving maneuvers as universally disliked as the parallel park (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-park-your-car). Most people still remember that terrifying sequence of movements in their driving test. Even people who live in metropolitan areas, people who must regularly parallel park,...