I own a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, 3.1 Multiport 4 Speed auto for around 3 years now. I notice when the car is cold and i put it in "drive" it will stay on 1st gear, but once the car warms up it shifts perfectly. Again it ony happens when cold, let's say the car is worm up i got to a store for 10 minutes and i go back to car, since is still warm it will shift normaly. By the way the old owner did tell me he has removed the thermostat, can that may be the reason? Or simply i need to think that the trans may be slowing getting damaged?
Really late update:
YEP YOU GUYS WERE ABSOLUTLY RIGHT! change the trans fluid and filter and now it doesn't stay in 1st when cold. The thermostat was also installed as an "just in case" but over all the car runs better now and i feel that it shifts even smoother now. Thanks all of you for fixing my issue!
Thank you for the update and we’re only glad to help!
Install the correct thermostat for the engine. Change the transmission fluid and filter. The transmission cooler lines run through the radiator. If the the radiator isn't warming up properly for lack of a thermostat, neither is your transmission warming up properly.
Imma' do that then! Thanks for the replay 👏🏾👏🏾
It is a bad idea to run your engine without a thermostat but must admit I'm puzzled as to why you'd think that would have anything to do with the transmission.
Is there sufficient fluid in the transmission? What is its condition? When is the last time your transmission fluid and filter were changed?
Tbh i thought of mentioning the thermostat cause asking around where i live, one mechanic mention it. I admit i got confused asking myself "is it possible?" lol. So' answering the 3 question:
1. Yes, there's enough fluid cause the car overall never had problem leaking trans fluid.
2. It shifts normaly but again when the car warms up, it only stays in 1st let's say if i start the car, wait 40 seconds and put it in drive. I had to drive to it atleast 15mph and patiently wait until i feel the 2nd shift to know that the car has warmed up and will shift all gears.
3. No i'll admit i have not.
Given that the car is well over 30 years old and the fluid and filter may have not been changed for a very long time it is probable that the transmission is starting to fail. You should have it diagnosed by a transmission specialist. (Avoid dealers and chain shops.)
Checking now the of receipt of all the maintance he did to the car, the old onwer he did in fact do on oil change for the trans around 101k miles, although i do not see the filter included in the recepit. The car now has around 146k miles. I do admit in the almost 3 years of owning it i haven't driving it that much since i own other cars.
Well that transmission does have a filter, may be worth doing a fluid and filter change to see if that helps. Other than that if the transmission isn't just flat wearing out it may be something like a hinky shift solenoid, but still it would need to be diagnosed by a transmission specialist. Anything goes on a car that old.
I'll do that then! Thanks for the replays 👏🏾