# Auto-transmission wont downshift

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 30, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548 "2009-03-30T22:29:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![billy\_iv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@billy\_iv](https://community.cartalk.com/u/billy_iv)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548/1 "2009-03-30T22:29:52Z")

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I have a 1995 Mercury Tracer. Small, but good gas mileage and gets me to and from work. Lately, it will not downshift when I slow down. When I stop and then start moving again, it is stuck in a higher gear and I dont move very well. If I mash the gas down, it will sometimes downshift.  
  
  
  
 Also, if I stop the car and put it into low gear, and then step on the gas, the car wont move. It is like it is in neutral. Then, if I press the gas it will eventually shift into gear and give my whiplash as I launch forward. Also, sometimes it will do the same thing when shifting to reverse.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548/2 "2009-03-30T23:46:34Z")

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Have you checked the transmission fluid level?

How many miles on this car, and has the transmission fluid ever been replaced?

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**Author:** ![billy\_iv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@billy\_iv](https://community.cartalk.com/u/billy_iv)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548/3 "2009-03-31T14:30:45Z")

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Fluid level is good. I was going to have the tranny flushed as well. To my knowledge, the transmission has never been replaced. It has 185000 miles on it.

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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:** [March 31, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548/4 "2009-03-31T16:51:11Z")

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I would change the fluid and have the filter cleaned at that time. This should be better than a flush for you.

I am not at all sure that will fix the problem, but it needs to be done anyway. In fact it should have been done several times already.

Good Luck

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**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-transmission-wont-downshift/28548/5 "2009-04-01T05:16:03Z")

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Check your fluid level first, it sounds like you might be getting some air in the system.

transman