# Auto transmission jerks when gear changes

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-jerks-when-gear-changes/60615>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, transmissions, impala\
**Created:** [January 29, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-jerks-when-gear-changes/60615 "2011-01-29T18:36:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dry\_as\_bone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@dry\_as\_bone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dry_as_bone)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-jerks-when-gear-changes/60615/1 "2011-01-29T18:36:46Z")

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On my 2003 Chevy Impala with 127,000 miles the car jerks like someone has hit you in the rear end, it usually happens from first to second and is becoming more frequent. A recent transmission service had no effect

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-jerks-when-gear-changes/60615/2 "2011-01-29T18:44:30Z")

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You’re going to need to take it to your best local, independent (i.e. non-corporate chain) transmission shop. Someone will need to put it on a scanner to check for error codes and watch what the transmission is up to. If you come up with codes and other info you can post them here for comment/advice.

What was done in the recent transmission service? Was the pan dropped and filter changed? Was the transmission ever serviced before this?

Be prepared for bad news.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-jerks-when-gear-changes/60615/3 "2011-01-29T23:30:41Z")

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A recent transmission service had no effect

What was the prior history of transmission service. Was that recent transmission service the first one? I hear a lot of complaints about transmissions that were never serviced until the problems of poorly maintained transmission became apparent. Waiting until you have a problem is too late to prevent it.

Sorry