Questions and Answers

318i Won't Go Q. Hi, I've got a 1984 BMW 318i automatic with around 133,000 miles on it that's giving me serious problems. The main problem is this: After driving it a few miles, the engine begins to sound rather high-pitched and shortly after the car ceases to go when you push on the accelerator, the engine revs up but the car doesn't move.

Turning off the car and restarting it lets it drive a bit further and enabled me to get home the first time it happened. The shifter was broken until recently and it does it less since then but I still can't drive it very far, which is a problem since it's my only vehicle. I've tried putting in some transmission cleaner in case something was clogged in there but I haven't noticed it having helped much. Also the transmission fluid is quite dirty and I haven't had time to change yet. Please advise if possible.

Thank you,
Matt

A. Before we condemn the transmission, changing the transmission fluid and filter is the first thing to do. it may be just a clogged filter causing the problem. If I remember correctly, the torque converter has a drain plug also so when you drain the fluid, drain the torque converter as well. With the converter drained and if the transmission is the three speed, it will hold a little over 6 quarts of fluid. If it is the four speed, it will hold 8 quarts.

If the problem still exists after the fluid and filter change, then you'll need a transmission.

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