OK, I'm not much of a car expert here, so bear with me.

I've got a 2002 Camaro SS, stock, just over 40k kms. It used to be a daily driver and I'm now looking to drive it only occaisonally (1-2 times a week/weekends) and little to not at all in the winter. All regular maintenance is up to date.

I just got back from a vacation and after not driving my car for maybe a month, it seems like it won't shift into what I think is fourth gear. Overdrive works fine, but when I use normal drive, the car will hit 4-5k rpms around 150 kph (80 mph? I think) and not shift up... Does anyone have a clue as to what this might be? I don't work the car too hard or race it, but its never run that loud at that high rpms. I've had the car over 200 and its been smooth as silk.

 

i'm not sure as to what your problem is...When the car is in "OD" (one click back from "N", and you accelerate normally, the car should shift 3 times. and then the converter should "lock".


and that right there might cause you not to get an answer


EDIT: I just realized that you were talking about KPH. sorry

 

Why is that? I don't street race, or drive that speed regularly, I just wanted to see how fast I could get it. Was a one time only kind of deal. I've never redlined the car or done burnouts or anything.

 

^yeah i thought you were referring to 200 MPH. that is why i said that.

 

Whoops, sorry, I meant 200 kph.

 

are you holding the gear selecter in "D" (3rd). The car will not shift into overdrive if the shifter is not on "OD" (D with a rounded off circle around it)

 

Sorry if I'm not being clear, here is what's happening:

when in OD the car seems to shift just fine. While in Drive (not overdrive) I'm not making the shift to 4th gear.

Just talked to a friend, he said that its an electronic shift from 3rd to 4th and proably isn't the transmission, he recomennded getting it checked out. Was just wondering if anyone has had the same problems.

 

OK..."D" Drive = up to 3rd gear, "OD" Over Drive = up to 4th gear AKA over drive.

 

OK, now I'm really confused...

So Drive only goes up to 3rd gear? It shifts once more though doesn't it?

 

No, that "shift" is the torque converter locking.

 

Yeah, I'm lost.

I have a 4 gear transmission. Yet while in drive I only get 3 gears, and then the torque conveter locks?

However, if I'm in overdive I have 4 actual gears? Does this make sense?

I'm just trying to figure out if this is going to be a massive repair bill

 

If you drive in 1, you'll have a one gear transmission.

 

Think of it like this:
OD = 4th .......this is where you should have it for normal driving
D= 3rd .............use this to quickly downshift to pass or something only, or going uphill
2= 2nd
1 = 1st.


Just don't drive in D on a regular basis. Forget convertor lock-up, that is making it more confusing for you.....just if you have it in D, you will not go past 3rd gear. To get to 4th it must be in OD

 

OK this makes more sense.

I took the car in and had it checked, and there were no error codes. The guy went for a drive around with me and mentioned that if anything it sounds like something is going in the rear end. When I asked what he meant, he mentioned possibly some bearings. I thought he meant wheel bearings, but he said it sounds like something near the centre, not the wheels.

He mentioned that it isn't noticeable in fourth, but it is present in 3rd. Now I could hear something very slight, but at this point I swear my minds is playing tricks on me.

He was a pretty nice guy, so I'm not sure he was jerking me around or not.

Does anyone know what RPMs at what speed I should have both in 3rd and 4th gears? Is there a chart or something? Maybe just the fact that I haven't been over 50-60 mph in a couple months is throwing me off.

Thanks.

 

od, 70mph, steady cruise should be 2k rpm.