Transmission Clunk When Stopping And Trouble With 5th

[aganthorp]

Looking for some advice here as I have a problem I haven't been able to find anyone else having in the last couple weeks of looking. I have had my car to the shop for this problem and they reattached a loose transmission ground and thought that might have solved my problems, but they are back. I am about to execute on a rebuild/replacement if I don't get any other ideas here. Occasionally my 1999 will not shift into 5th gear. When this happens the car will keep accelerating normally up to sometimes 5000 rpms before it finally drops into 5th gear. If I flip the level over to 4 while this as happening there is no change in rpms, but as soon as I switch it back to D it will shift up into 5th gear immediately. Additionally after the first time this happens in the day I develop a clunk when I am coming to a stop. It always happens at right around 12mph and is sometimes hardly noticeable (just a click like a solenoid firing) and sometimes quite jarring and actually able to be felt through the whole vehicle. It seems to be generated right underneath the shifter focused more toward the passenger side of the car. This clunking sensation will not occur if I place the car in 4 while stopping. If in 4 downshifts are as smooth as glass. The only acceleration problem I notice is the problem with 5th and the occasional "slipping sensation" many people experience with this car when accelerating from a near complete stop. If I am starting from a dead stop I never have an issue unless the car decides it doesn't want to find 5th. No slipping, jerking, hard shifts or otherwise. I am coming to my wits end but would rather not spend 3000 dollars if it is being done unnecessarily! Please Help!

[2JayZ]

The clunk you describe would certainly have me worried. Is your "shop" Lexus? If not maybe you should take your car in to the experts & put an end to the guesswork.

[aganthorp]

The clunk you describe would certainly have me worried. Is your "shop" Lexus? If not maybe you should take your car in to the experts & put an end to the guesswork.

No it is not a dealership it is a local transmission shop. The dealership said they wouldn't do any work on any internal parts that they would just replace the thing and the cost is much higher than having it done elsewhere.

[2JayZ]

The clunk you describe would certainly have me worried. Is your "shop" Lexus? If not maybe you should take your car in to the experts & put an end to the guesswork.

No it is not a dealership it is a local transmission shop. The dealership said they wouldn't do any work on any internal parts that they would just replace the thing and the cost is much higher than having it done elsewhere.

I see. Best of luck using the local tranny shop. No offense, but I would never do this -- in 30 years of dealing with cars of all types I've never met an honest transmission shop proprietor. I'm sure there must be some out there but I have no idea where.

Last time I was in one of those places (Cottman, I think) they tried to sell me a $2,300 rebuilt transmission for a '96 Windstar when all I needed was an electronic switch worth $30 that takes a mere 10 minutes to change.

Just one man's experience.