1993 Topaz, 4 cylinder, Automatic. Will not shift into third gear. Transmission was fine until the water pump went out and took it to a shop. After the water pump was replaced, white smoke came out exhaust and the car was overheating. The head ended up needing to be replaced due to overheating. The head was replaced twice by the mechanic before the overheating problem was fixed. On my test drive, the car idles and runs fine, but will not shift into third gear. Could the mechanic have put something back incorrectly. He had the engine pretty well disassembled for the head repair. Of course, he says the tranny must have been bad before I brought it in. It was not, the car only has 67,000 miles on it and was running perfect before the water pump went out.

Here is what the service manual says about the EPC solenoid, the processor looks at allot of different inputs to command the solenoids, such as Throttle Position Sensor, Vehicle Speed Sensors, Transmission Range Sensor and RPM signal, The PCM controls the shift patterns for the transmission. Electronic Pressure Control (EPC) Solenoid
The electronic pressure control (EPC) solenoid is located on the main control valve body and is controlled by the PCM. The EPC controls line pressure used to apply and release clutches and bands in the transmission.
The 2-3 shift solenoid is located on the main control valve body and is switched on and off by electrical signals from the PCM. The 2-3 shift solenoid activates the 2-3 shift valve which controls the automatic shifting between second and third gear. Second gear is established when the 2-3 shift solenoid is switched on. The 2-3 shift solenoid is switched off when vehicle speed increases and requires a second to third gear upshift.
The 3-4 shift solenoid is located on the main control valve body and is switched on and off by electrical signals from the PCM. The 3-4 shift solenoid activates the 3-4 shift valve which controls the automatic shifting between third and fourth gear. Third gear is established when the 3-4 solenoid is switched off. The 3-4 shift solenoid is switched on when vehicle speed increases and requires a third to fourth gear upshift.

There is a point that a machine works and a point that it stops, you need a transmission rebuild.

torque converter not in correctly

Check Engine Light Codes and Meanings
Long blinks Short blinks Problem
1 1 Camshaft position sensor
1 2 Mass air flow sensor
1 3 Engine coolant temperature sensor
1 4 Speed sensor
1 11 EVAP control system (flow)
1 14 Fuel injection system right bank (too rich)
1 15 Fuel injection system right bank (too lean)
2 1 Ignition circuit
2 3 Closed throttle position switch
2 5 Idle speed control
2 9 Fuel Injection system left bank (too rich)
2 10 Fuel Injection system left bank (too lean)
3 1 ECU
3 2 Exhaust gas recirculation system flow problem
3 3 Front left O2 sensor
3 4 Knock sensor
3 5 Exhaust gas recirculation temperature sensor
3 6 EGRC-BPT valve
3 7 Closed loop control
3 8 Closed loop control
4 1 Air intake temperature sensor
4 2 Fuel tank temperature sensor
4 3 Throttle position sensor
4 7 Crankshaft position sensor
5 3 Front right O2 sensor
5 4 Automatic transmission control unit
6 3 Cylinder #6 misfire
6 4 Cylinder #5 misfire
6 5 Cylinder #4 misfire
6 6 Cylinder #3 misfire
6 7 Cylinder #2 misfire
6 8 Cylinder #1 misfire
7 1 Multiple cylinder misfire
7 2 Three way catalytic converter (right side)
7 3 Three way catalytic converter (left side)
7 4 Evaporative emission control system pressure sensor
7 5 Evaporative emission control system
7 7 Rear O2 sensor
8 1 Vacuum cut valve bypass valve
8 2 Crank position sensor
8 3 Absolute pressure sensor
8 4 Automatic transmission control unit
8 6 Evaporative emission canister purge control solenoid valve
8 7 Evaporative emission Canister purge control solenoid valve circuit
9 1 Front Right O2 sensor
9 3 Evaporative emission Canister vent control valve
9 5 Crankshaft position sensor
9 8 Engine coolant temperature sensor
10 1 Front left O2 sensor
10 3 Park and Neutral position switch
10 5 EGRC solenoid valve
10 8 Evaporative emission canister purge volume control valve
11 1 Inhibitor switch
11 2 Revolution sensor
11 3 Improper shifting to first gear (Automatic transmission)
11 4 Improper shifting to second gear (Automatic transmission)
11 5 Improper shifting to third gear (Automatic transmission)
11 6 Improper shifting to fourth gear (Automatic transmission)
11 7 Solenoid valve lock up function
12 1 Shift solenoid B (Automatic transmission)
12 3 Overrun clutch solenoid valve (Automatic transmission)
12 4 Torque converter clutch solenoid valve (Automatic transmission)
12 5 Line pressure solenoid valve (Automatic transmission)
12 6 Throttle position sensor (Automatic transmission)
12 7 Engine speed signal
12 8 Fluid temperature sensor
13 2 MAP/BARO Switch Solenoid Valve
13 5 Fuel pump control module
13 8 Cooling fan

make sure all the electrical connectors to the trans are properly connected. One of these plugs is for the shift control solenoids- not properly connected = no shifting. This happened during the repair operation which is why the car worked fine before the water pump was replaced.

you most likely need a new transmisson

Hi,

Could I have the model and size of the engine please.

Thanks

Jason

need to check the transmission fluid and you may have a bad torque converter give these websites a try www.alldatadiy.com and www.autozone.com if all fails stop by your local library and get your hands on a Haynes auto repair manual for your car wish you the best of luck Michigan Man.

Hello. As you know, the transmission is one of the more sophisticated components in any auto. It takes the most transmission pressure to engage reverse, third, and fourth gear in an auto tranny. In an auto tranny, the shifter is connected to a linkage that manually shifts between the different gears in the transmission. When you shift into reverse, all transmission pressure is concentrated to engage reverse. When you shift to drive the transmission will operate normally, building pressure until it can shift into the next gear. With third, second, or first gear selected it will lock out all higher gears (Unless the TCU detects overrevving of the engine, in which case it will override gear selection and upshift to avoid engine damage). All the TCU does in a modern auto tranny is control shift points. Years and years ago, shifting was controlled by a spring attached to the gas pedal. When the gas pedal was depressed, the spring would expand. As tranny pressure grew, the spring would become compressed until it was fully compressed, engaging the next gear. The harder you stepped on the gas, the longer you went until the tranny shifted. In modern transmissions the TCU dictates shift points, and not much else. The TCU will also control when the torque converter will lock, but that's where it's duties end. The problem with engaging reverse is either a linkage issue, or a problem with the pump not building enough pressure to fully engage reverse.

Try putting the shifter in reverse, holding the brakes firmly, and giving the car gas. If the car reaches a higher RPM and suddenly slams into reverse it is the pump. The pump will only build enough pressure to engage reverse with higher RPM's. If the pump is severly damaged it won't engage at all, but if this is the case it probably won't engage third or fourth gear either at that point. If the problem is with the linkage, reverse just won't engage whatsoever, despite RPM's. I'd say start with the shift linkage. If it's bent or misadjusted it could cause reverse to not be fully engaged. The TCU doesn't control reverse at all, since there are no shift points and no need for the torque converter to lock.

Did you make sure that the tork converter was all the way forward first if not then you will need to take the transmission back out and make sure that the converter has either automatic trany fluid in it or 184/85 gear oil depending on whether or not you have automatic trasmission or manual fill it up until you can put your finger in it and then rotate converter clock wise and it should slip into place before putting trasmission back into car and if after doing that and you still are having trouble take it to a transmission shop to have them do it for you.