Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from this article:
- The transmission solenoid is a cylindrical component that controls the flow of transmission fluid as per the directions of the transmission control unit.
- The solenoid also shifts gears in automatic transmission.
- The common causes impacting transmission solenoid performance include bad solenoid wiring, wear and tear in transmission components, dirty fluid, and faulty transmission control unit.
- Some symptoms of faulty transmission solenoids include transmission warning lights, erratic gear shifts, skipped gears, and a shuddering sound during a gear shift.
- The solution to this problem includes replacing the dirty fluid/filter, replacing a faulty control unit, and replacing the transmission solenoid.
Introduction
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Transmission solenoid is a cylindrical component that shifts the gears in automatic transmission and controls the flow of transmission fluid in every transmission type.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
So, it is essential for the vehicle’s optimum performance and smooth driving experience. However, some issues in the transmission solenoid can impact its performance and overall vehicle performance. For example, you might be aware of issues such as erratic gear shifts, shuddering sounds, etc. A bad transmission solenoid can cause these issues (1). This article will shed light on the common causes of the bad solenoid, their common symptoms, and solutions.
The function of Transmission Solenoid
The transmission solenoid has one or more functions in your car.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Transmission fluid is essential for the optimum performance of the gears, so a transmission solenoid receives a signal from the transmission control unit regarding fluid flow rate. The fluid flow rate depends upon engine speed and the transmission type.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
For example, in an automatic transmission, the flow rate is greater than in the manual and CVT transmission. Therefore, shift solenoid is also a transmission solenoid inside automatic vehicles. This solenoid, along with the flow of oil, will shift gears. It is connected to a transmission control unit that takes information from sensors regarding engine speed, RPM, and the gear to be engaged (1). So, the transmission control unit will signal at the right time to the shift solenoid to shift the gears.
Similarly, the transmission control unit sends power to open the solenoid and flow fluid to the valve body. This is where the torque converter varies hydraulic pressure shifting gears in the vehicle (2). If you are experiencing an erratic transmission shift, it is a chance that the electric wiring of the solenoid has gone bad. Solenoid receives a signal in the form of voltage, so good wiring is essential for the optimum performance of the transmission solenoid.
Design of Transmission Solenoid
The transmission solenoid is generally designed from steel. However, in some car models, the solenoid can also be designed with cast iron or aluminum, depending on the requirements. It is cylindrical and has a valve and return spring.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
The overall design of the transmission solenoid includes an inlet port, valve body, solenoid coil body, outlet port, plunger, return spring, orifice, and lead wire.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
The problem in any of these parts can impact the functioning of the solenoid as it cannot follow the directions issued by the transmission control unit. Similarly, any problem in the control unit can also be responsible for the erratic function of the solenoid (1).
Causes of Bad Transmission Solenoid
Following are a few causes of bad transmission solenoid:
Bad Solenoid Wiring
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
A major reason for bad transmission solenoid can be bad solenoid wiring. As discussed above, the solenoid gets a signal from the transmission sensors regarding the gear shift and the flow of transmission fluid.
However, if the wiring has gone bad, there is a chance that the solenoid receives less voltage and an erratic signal (2). The wiring can be damaged over time due to overheating. It is recommended that the drivers change the solenoid wiring as soon as it goes bad to avoid erratic gear shifts and short-circuiting.
Wear and Tear
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
The location of the transmission solenoid is such that it is protected from any wear and tear. However, there are other components associated with transmission solenoids.
These components can include a transmission fluid pan, gasket, seal, etc., subject to wear and tear. In other words, wear and tear in other transmission components can significantly impact the performance of the transmission solenoid (3). So, you might experience difficulty shifting gears if the fluid pan is damaged or the transmission seals are damaged. Damaged transmission seals would mean insufficient pressure is maintained within the pan to flow the fluid. In this case, even if the transmission solenoid sends a signal to flow the fluid, less pressure in the pan would hinder flow.
Dirty Transmission Fluid
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Another cause of bad transmission solenoid can be dirty transmission fluid. The contaminants and dirt particles in the transmission fluid can get stuck in the solenoid.
This will hinder the movement of the solenoid. So, it is recommended to replace the transmission fluid at service maintenance. Along with dirty fluid, low fluid levels can also impact the solenoid’s performance (3). Eventually, the gear shift will be erratic. In addition, both dirty and low fluid levels will cause a stuck plunger, where the plunger would not be able to move despite receiving a signal from the transmission control unit.
Faulty Transmission Control Unit
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
It is possible that the transmission control unit can go bad and it will send wrong signals or send signals at the proper time. So, when accelerating your vehicle and requiring a gear shift depending on the engine load, the gears might not change due to bad control unit.
The control unit is mainly responsible for all electronic components (4). Therefore, you can troubleshoot the control unit and other computer systems to check if the solenoid is functioning optimally.
Symptoms of Bad Transmission Solenoid
Following are a few symptoms of bad transmission solenoid:
Transmission Warning Light
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Transmission warning light indicates that something in the car’s transmission is malfunctioning. A gear indicates it with an exclamation mark.
This sign might not appear on the vehicle’s dashboard if you have an older car model. To further diagnose the issue, you can connect a hand-code reader with the OBDII module of your vehicle (5). If your car does not feature an OBD module, you can take the car to a professional service center to resolve the issue.
Erratic Gear Shift
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
A major symptom of a bad transmission solenoid is the erratic gear shift. When the control unit sends the signal to the solenoid, it flows the fluid, and the gears are shifted.
However, a faulty control unit can send wrong signals to the solenoid, impacting the plunger’s movement. Dirty transmission fluid can also cause contaminants to get stuck between the plunger, so it might not open and close correctly (4). Erratic gear shift not only impacts the driving experience but can also damage the engine, so it is recommended that the drivers resolve the issue timely to avoid complex transmission/engine problems.
Skipped Gears
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Faulty solenoids can result in skipped gears. In this case, you might experience under-acceleration or over-acceleration.
When the transmission solenoid is faulty, the car might shift into fifth gear automatically instead of shifting to third or fourth gear. So keep an eye on this symptom and take the car to a professional service center to get the issue resolved.
Grinding Transmission Noises
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
When solenoid malfunctions due to less transmission fluid, you might experience grinding transmission noise. It is an indication that gears are starving and grinding against each other.
A grinding sound can also indicate that the plunger is stuck (5). So, you need to get the transmission fluid flushed and replace it with new fluid.
Gear Stuck in Neutral
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
A stuck neutral gear indicates that the transmission solenoid is malfunctioning. Your car will not move in this case, although you are changing the gear using the gear lever.
This can be frustrating for a driver, as the gears are jammed. You need to tow your car to a nearby service center to resolve the issue.
Solution of Bad Transmission Solenoid Problem
Following are a few solutions for bad transmission solenoid:
Replace the Transmission Fluid and Filters
Two major things that impact the performance of transmission solenoids are transmission fluid and transmission filter. As discussed above, contaminant fluid can get the contaminants stuck between the plungers.
To resolve the problem, replacing the dirty fluid with fresh transmission fluid is recommended. Also, replace the transmission filter to be on the safe side.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
A bad transmission filter can allow the passage of dirt particles that can stick between transmission components and the solenoid plunger (5). You can consult the vehicle’s instruction manual to know further the mileage at which the transmission fluid needs to be replaced.
Reset the Transmission Control Configuration
If you are facing the problem of variable transmission even after replacing the transmission fluid and filters. Then, reset your car’s transmission control configuration and other computers.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
You might need professional services if you need to be made aware of the electrical components or the car’s computer. After resetting the transmission control configuration, you can test drive the vehicle to check if the issue has been resolved. You can also record the voltage received by the solenoid using a voltmeter.
Replace the Transmission Solenoid
If replacing the transmission fluid and resetting the transmission control configuration does not resolve the issue, then the solenoid has gone bad. In this case, it is recommended to replace the transmission solenoid.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
You can consult the vehicle’s instruction manual to check the transmission solenoid specifications. It is recommended to replace the transmission solenoid at the earliest to avoid further transmission issues.
Reset the DTC and Test Drive the Vehicle
If there is a check engine light or transmission light. But there is no erratic behavior in the transmission. It can indicate that the DTC is due to a wrong message sent by the car’s ECU.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
In this case, you can reset the DTC using a hand-code reader and test-drive the vehicle. Then, you can take the car to a professional service center if the warning light appears again. Else keep driving the vehicle.
