My 87 Cutlass Ciera with 194500km's on it, is being fidgity shifting!!
When we first bought it in May of 06, I noticed that it didn't go into the final gear untill the car was warm, or after it was driven a distance. We put the car in storage, it got a little spin every 2 weeks, and finally after 5 months of being in storage, we had to bring it out to replace our dead VW. Gas mileage is poor, and I notice that the tansmission is barely ever shifting into the final drive gear. It goes into 2nd, and then 3rd fine, and then there is supposed to be one more, if you're driving with the gas pedal lightly at 70km/h it should shift into 4th, but it doesn't. And I find when it does, it comes back out really quickly. Trans fluid is fine and full, doesn't smell burnt nor look it. I'm pretty sure there was work done to the tranny before we bought the car, but I haven't contacted the guy who did the work. Any ideas (besides contacting the guy who did the work)

Thanks!

CRC

The transmission for this car should be the 3 speed 125c automatic transaxle. To be 100% sure, look under the trunk mat at the spare tire lid and there should a a white sticker with codes on it. Look for one "MX1" or "MX0" and let us know what you find.

Hey thanks for stopping by, I was in Boston for the past 5 days on a band trip, so I didn't get to check. But I just looked at the lid and it says MX1.

Thanks again!

CRC

The reason your car isnt going into 4th gear, there isnt one. MX1 is a 3 speed transaxle (125c Turbo Hydramatic) which came standard on the Cutlass Ciera.