# Harsh shift when car is not moving

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/harsh-shift-when-car-is-not-moving/17978>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 11, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harsh-shift-when-car-is-not-moving/17978 "2008-08-11T01:01:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![oldsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e0b2c6/32.png) [@oldsfan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldsfan)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harsh-shift-when-car-is-not-moving/17978/1 "2008-08-11T01:01:14Z")

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My 1988 Olds has a “kick” or harsh shift from park to reverse or from reverse to drive … any gear where the car is moving from a stopped position. No shifting problems while driving. The car seems to idle fairly high. Could this be causing the problem? If not, what would you check? No computer codes appearing.  
  
 Thanks!

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/harsh-shift-when-car-is-not-moving/17978/2 "2008-08-11T02:15:50Z")

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The high idle is your problem. Fix the high idle, and the transmission will calm down. The high idle is most likely due to a vacuum leak. Checkj all the vacuum lines, including the EGR and PVC lines. You may also consider removing and de-gunking the throttle body and IAC.