Stalled, Studdering First Gear, Automatic mode

ifishcat · 08-24-2008, 06:58 PM

A symtom that has occured from time to time (not often) happens when I first start the car. Recently, I encountered the same symtom, and then the car stalled about a mile down the road, while slowing for a stop light.

The car seems to not engage in first gear (forward and/or reverse) fully while in automatic mode. (I've also encounted the symtom where the car just wont engage in first gear at all, and the engine just revs as if it was in neutral) And gives a studdering hopping symtom until the car reaches a higher rev and second gear kicks in. I don't have the Tach option, so I can not isolate the symtom to an upper rev range when it stops/goes away.

Anyways, it happens infrequently, and once the car gets underway, the symtom doesn't appear to return.

Then just recently, after encounter the start up studder, and reaching the point where the studder appeared to have gone away, the car stalled as I was pulling up to a stop light (slightly under a mile from the starting point studder). There was a bucking action as I slowed for the light, and then stalled.

I put the car in park, turned off and then on to restart the car, and nothing. All the lights were on but no clicking, no starting.

I called smart service number, and requested a tow. I was told that I'd get a call back, once the tow truck was contacted, and ready to head out my way to pick me up. During this time, I attempted to restart the car, turning the key from off, to on with no results. It might have been as much as a ten minute wait, for the smart service to call me back, to let me know the tow truck was on its way. During that time, I gave up trying to start perhaps a good five minutes. When the smart service called to let me know that the truck was on the way, I gave the key one more try and volia, the car started!

I thanked the service person over the phone, canceled the tow truck, and drove home with no other issues.

There were no engine check lights on, and no codes to read. Its been about five days past, and no sign that anything ever happened.

Anyone else encounter a similar symtom yet?

**jwight** · 08-24-2008, 07:11 PM

Here are a couple:

towed....

Stalling Problem

**Dunerunner** · 08-24-2008, 07:12 PM

Get thee to a dealery!! Much haste should be given to this as it sounds as if the trans or trans command system isn't functioning properly. You could try to retrain the transmission to see if that resolves the problem.

donnyonee · 08-24-2008, 07:14 PM

sound like the clutch actuator adjustment and lubrication, i had the same problem. get it towed or take it in preferably. now.

no codes were shown

Karl Roth · 08-25-2008, 08:00 AM

ifishcat don't think you being too fat is the problem. LOL I would take it to the dealer sounds like there is a problem with the clutch actuator or the software that controls it. Sorry to hear the car is giving you trouble, did this happen soon after you disconnected the battery to install the radio or have you gotten to that yet. good luck
karl

ifishcat · 08-27-2008, 04:32 PM

though I was urged to take the car to the dealer (from within this thread), I was set against it. The car still ran, the issue was a rare occurance, and I could not cause the failure predictably.

As timing would have it, I was called by the dealer yesterday. Seems the replacement sunshade that was on order, had arrived and was ready to be installed. Since I did call road service on the stalling thing, the service rep asked about that issue also. bottom line, i brought the car down that night to be worked on today.

Sunshade was installed, and works like new

as to the other issue, they inspected the alignment and operation of the clutch and found no problem. they were waiting to hear something further from HQ on the issue and by the end of the day, no further info was avalible.

So... since the car still does run, I told them to button it up, I'd take it back, and if/when they hear further on the clutch actuator issue, we would set up another appointment.

btw, these codes didn't show up on the scangage. (and again, there were no check lights on the dash) :shrug:

oh, and thanks for those that posted on the thread

Karl Roth · 09-12-2008, 06:34 PM

Hello ifishcat is the car still running well? is the actuator still actuating?
hope all is well karl

ifishcat · 09-13-2008, 05:36 AM

Hey Karl, nothing new further to report. the dealership hasnt called back with additional information/fix. And the car is behaving thus far. thx for checking in

(btw, its my turn to buy lunch, when is the next rally?)

ifishcat · 12-23-2008, 08:46 AM

What happened next (back then), and to close out this adventure...

about a week later on the ride into work, the car was in the processes of shifting from first to second gear (automatic mode) when the symptom occured again. Had to come to a complete stop and waited for 'things' to work again. Called dealer after arriving to work and they sent out a tow truck out to pick up the car.

Took two days to replace the clutch actuator (one day to order the parts, one day to install/replace), and now 3 months later, i can say there has been no further problems or issues in that area since.