weird shifting sometimes

[Acamori]

for a while now, my car's tranny has been acting kinda weird. after driving it for a while, or after a hard acceleration, my hold light starts blinking (yes i know there are lots of things about that). whenever the light is blinking, my car seems to skip 2nd gear, and won't go into the overdrive/4th gear (whichever it is). i'm not entirely sure that's what it's doing, but when it shifts out of first, the acceleration drops really low, a lot lower than it should be in second. and the rpm's are right for how fast i'm usually going in third too. any ideas what this might be about, i'm gonna take it into the dealership sometime soon, but i was wondering if anyone else has had this sort of problem.

[Sonicxtacy02]

you have officially overheated your clutchpacks. The hold light comes on when the tranny computer is attempting to correct the shift point but its ultimately failing. Your prize... a $2400 tranny rebuild

[Len-Dogg]

Holy crap you could buy another MX-3 for that. LOL

[cap4004]

If the hold light is flashing continuosly, the computer has stored a diagnostic code. (Maybe it stores the code after the light stops blinking - I'm not sure.) Anyway, you should check that code. It isn't hard - if you need instructions I will post them. Shaun is right, usually this means its time for a rebuild - but not always. The code may reveal something external that can be fixed/replaced without much trouble. (By the way, I'm not sure but I don't think it is good to drive the car much while it is in "safe-mode.")<p>Also, there was a TSB released recently that covered similar symptoms. (The TSB is newer than the ones on this site.) I will try to post it here, but if you don't see it soon email me and I will send it. Basically, it says that there is a set of wires inside the tranny under a metal clip. Eventaully the metal clip can rub through the insulation, causing the wires to short. When they short, the tranny starts acting much as you described. (Bad shifting, hold light flashing, etc.)

[cap4004]

I think it would be best if I email it to you - just let me know...

[Acamori]

well i've had it looked at, and apparently whatever code this problem produces isn't stored when the motor shuts off. it's nothing mechanical i'm sure. the guys at the shop aren't sure what it is but they all think it's an electrical problem, maybe the computer itself. we'll see, but i don't think the rebuild is necessary just yet.

[pcperez83]

i agree with acamori, I had the exact same problem and it turned out it wasnt the tranny at all it was the tranny wiring/sensors. 400 bucks it cost me and tranny was back to normal, i highly reccommend to go to a tranmission specialist.