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1992 buick lesabre,V-6 100k miles on a cool morning the auto transmissiom won't go into gear until several tries then it is fine the rest of the day. It started this about 2 weeks ago. Thanks very much Melvin P S The fluid checks O K Was changed about 20k ago
Answer -
Melvin
let me ask just a couple of things first, so I can do a bit of research. If you start it and put it into Reverse on a cool morning...does it hesitate for a bit and then go into reverse or just not at all? Does this happen to reverse, drive or both? when you say it works fine the rest of the day, does that mean even if it sat all day?
Just let me know and I'll get right back to you. IT does not go into either gear and if you let it set 3 or 4 hours, it does the same thing. another thing, when you first get in the car and turn the key on and dont start it for a few seconds, then when it starts it will go into gear just fine. another thing,when all of this happens, if the radio is on,there is aloud noise out of the speakers even if the volume is turned down. then as the car warms up the noise gets a little less intense, and finally the noise goes away.
AnswerMelvin, thank you very much for the additional information, it really helps.
From the sounds of it, I'd say there is a definite ground problem with the transmission. There is a valve in 3.1V6 that will allow the transmission to run and shift smoothly even when the engine and transmission are cold. This valve is supposed to open and close depending on whether the engine is warm or not.
In your case, it sounds like that valve is not grounded properly. Therefore, when you first start the engine or when you first turn on the key...the valve is not opening like it should. Then when it's warmed up, or after the key has been on for a minute, the valve (which should have been closed again by now) is still closed because it never opened anyway, and the car will shift and run fine. This valve is sometimes mistaken as the torque converter switch, but it's actually referred to as the cold sensor switch on the L4TE Automatic Transaxle for a '92 3.1V6. You'll simply need to repair the ground wire on the switch. This will allow your vehicle to shift and run like it should.
An experienced mechanic could find it, or, you can also find it if you crawl underneath, You'll see 4 wires travelling to a wiring harness just behind the transmission. These wires are for ignition, shift, reverse and cold valve. Just follow the black wire to the subframe and make sure it's still secure.
