Oldsmobile 88 Car is hard to shift Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(49)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(49)

Car is hard to shift Inspection Service

How much does a Car is hard to shift Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Oldsmobile 88 Car is hard to shift Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1992 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1999 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1998 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1996 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1995 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8L TurboService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1993 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1997 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1994 Oldsmobile 88V6-3.8LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Oldsmobile 88 Car is hard to shift Inspection prices

A car that is shifting hard can be very unpleasant to drive. Regardless of whether it is an automatic or a manual, a transmission that is not shifting correctly can cause serious problems out on the road and under the hood.

A car that refuses to shift or go into gear easily is trying to tell you something is wrong and in most cases the culprit is the clutch or transmission. Transmissions are very complicated and have many moving parts, ignoring a hard to shift issue can quickly spiral into a very expensive transmission repair.

How this system works:

Automatic transmissions use a planetary system of gears that transfers power using different gear ratios. A planetary gear set has a central gear, known as the sun gear, an outer ring that has internal gear teeth which is called the ring gear and two or three other gears which are called planet gears and allow the gear ratio to change as the vehicle accelerates.

The vehicle drive train is coupled to a torque converter that acts like a clutch between the transmission and drivetrain. The transmission changes gears as the vehicle accelerates or slows downs.

In a manual transmission, a flywheel is attached to the engine crankshaft and spins with it. A clutch disk is located between the pressure plate and the flywheel, which is held against the flywheel due to pressure from the pressure plate. When the clutch is engaged the flywheel spins the clutch plate and the transmission, moving the car. When the clutch is depressed, the pressure plate stops applying pressure to the clutch disk allowing the gear to be changed without damaging the transmission.

Most modern cars with a manual transmission have 5 or 6 gears.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Transmission Fluid Leak: Transmissions are a sealed system so leaking fluid indicates a serious problem. Leaks can occur in the pan gasket as well as other areas of the transmission. Transmission fluid is bright red or brown, as it gets older. If there is fluid under the car it should be inspected immediately. Transmission fluid is essential for the proper operation of the transmission and low fluid levels due to a leak can cause the transmission to basically self-destruct, which will result in a very expensive repair.

  • Failing Transmission Solenoids: Transmission Solenoids control the flow of transmission fluid around the transmission. Trouble shifting is a common indicator that the solenoids are failing.

  • Dirty or Contaminated Transmission Fluid: Transmission fluid gets dirty and contaminated over time and must be replaced. Difficulty in shifting can indicate that it is time to change the fluid. Transmission fluid should be flushed and replace roughly every 100,000 miles.

  • Failing Transmission: Over time, especially as a vehicle goes over the 100,000 mile mark, parts and gears inside the transmission simply wear out. This process can be dramatically accelerated if the car is driven with low levels of transmission fluid. The transmission will have to be rebuilt or replaced which is a very expensive repair. Symptoms of a failing transmission include hard shifting, humming, clunking or grinding.

  • Bad Shifter Cable: Some vehicles use a cable to link the shifter handle to the transmission. Typically an automatic transmission will have one cable while a manual transmission will have two. Over time the cable can stretch or break. A stretched cable can make the vehicle hard to shift into gear and the indictor needle may not line up with the gear the vehicle is actually in.

  • Worn Out Clutch: Over time a clutch will wear out. The lifespan of a clutch can vary depending on the how the car is driven. Symptoms of a failing clutch not only include hard shifting but also a spongy feel to the clutch and a possible burning smell.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the source and cause of the Car is hard to shift issue, ​and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

A mechanic will inspect your car's transmission and other important components. This will include your transmission fluid for leaks and contamination, failing solenoids, shifter cable and clutch. This will allow your mechanic to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your hard shifting transmission.

How important is this service?

Transmission repairs can range from a simple and inexpensive adjustment to a major rebuild that can be very expensive. A car that is hard to shift is signaling that something is malfunctioning in the transmission or clutch and ignoring the problem will most likely lead to further damage, which can dramatically increase the cost of the repair.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Oldsmobile mechanics

Real customer reviews from Oldsmobile owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(49)

Rating Summary
46
1
1
0
1
46
1
1
0
1

Noe

36 years of experience
604 reviews
Noe
36 years of experience
Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Oxygen Sensor Replacement (Front/Upper/Upstream) - Seattle, Washington
8

Richard

21 years of experience
461 reviews
Richard
21 years of experience
Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Car is not starting - Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. Cobb was very professional and knowledgeable in his trade . Wish there were more like him a my mechanic inc. Thanks Mr. Cobb

Anthony

36 years of experience
23 reviews
Anthony
36 years of experience
Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Intake Manifold Gaskets - Atlanta, Georgia
I rated Anthony with 5 stars for his Honesty and Professional Expertise. Mr. Anthony came arrived at my home while I was out of state on business ; he was very respectful towards my wife as well as a Gentleman. I would highly recommend him and Yourmechanic Inc. to all my Business Associates and friends. Thank you Anthony Sincerely TERRY STRICKLAND

Oscar

16 years of experience
144 reviews
Oscar
16 years of experience
Oldsmobile 88 V6-3.8L - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Houston, Texas
He was a very respectable man and got straight to work. He fixed our requested problem and then informed us of what else needs worked on to hopefully get it running properly again. Would definitely recommend and hire again.

Excellent Rating

(49)

Rating Summary
46
1
1
0
1
46
1
1
0
1
Number of Oldsmobile 88 services completed
539+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Oldsmobile MECHANICS
300+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

What Causes Leakage in the Shock Absorbers?
Every car, truck, and utility vehicle sold today has at least one shock absorber (informally known as a shock) for each of its...
How to Install a Child’s Car Seat
When When you have a child, safety is of the utmost importance. Installing a car seat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/finding-the-right-car-seat) properly can help ensure your child stays safe in an accident. This task may be more challenging than you might think, but you...
How to Replace a Fuel Hose
The fuel hose goes bad when there are visible leaks under the car or cracks in the hose and when gas vapors are smelled around the car.

Have a jeep grand cherokee it cranks but has no spark started a few times then nothing what sensor went bad

There could be a bad cam sensor, crank sensor, coil, or even a wiring issue. It would be best to test the components individually to determine which is causing the problem. My recommendation would be to connect a diagnostic scanner...

Engine sounds louder than normal

Hello, thank you for writing in. The rumbling is likely due to the new tread on the tires. They are gripping the road much better than the old tires were, and you are hearing it when driving. The tire noise...

Light radio work fine but car won’t start can hear it turn over its just silent

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com