# Automatic Transmission not shifting to third

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-not-shifting-to-third/30082>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** transmissions\
**Created:** [May 5, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-not-shifting-to-third/30082 "2009-05-05T20:46:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![shanefer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@shanefer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanefer)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-not-shifting-to-third/30082/1 "2009-05-05T20:46:14Z")

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I have a '96 3.1L Monte Carlo with an automatic transmission. I’ve had it since 2001, and it’s been great. The other day on my way home, about 2 or 3 miles away from home I noticed that it was revving at around 5k instead of shifting somewhere between 3 or 4 (I had it in overdrive). I was going up a hill at the time, but for the rest of the drive (up and downhill) the car would shift fine to first, and second, but wouldn’t go into third. I didn’t try pushing it too far into the red, although I tried drive and overdrive, but it was really strange because that’s never happened before. I’ve driven it a few times since, and it’s been fine. For the record, I’m quite sure I’ve never flushed the transmission fluid, but it may have been done before I got the car, or shortly afterward when I wasn’t paying as much attention to maintenance and repairs (and my mom was paying for the repairs!). Any ideas, or advice?  
  
  
  
 Thanks everyone for your expertise,  
  
 Shane

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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:** [May 5, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-not-shifting-to-third/30082/2 "2009-05-05T21:49:46Z")

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Possibly a bad 3rd clutch assy. What you really need to do is have a trans shop take a quick look. I would first hook up a scanner and drive it to see whether the computer is commanding the 2-3 shift. I would also check for any trouble codes.

transman

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**Author:** ![shanefer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@shanefer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanefer)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-not-shifting-to-third/30082/3 "2009-05-06T01:31:54Z")

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Awesome, thanks for the reply. I guess I’ll have to take it in to a transmission shop. Do you think it could possibly be the modulator valve? I understand that’s a pretty easy and inexpensive repair.

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**Author:** ![shanefer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@shanefer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanefer)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-transmission-not-shifting-to-third/30082/4 "2009-05-07T00:29:29Z")

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I should add as well that I have 150,000 miles on the car. Thanks again!