Auto box problem

[curious bystander]

C3 with standard TH350 auto - start up engine, put it into gear and nothing happens.
Move the shifter into and out of gear about half a dozen times and (so far) it springs back to life
Anyone else had this? And what's the fix?

 

[Corvetteville]

Hi Bill, I'm no expert but I know the "drive" comes from the fluid, so I would start there. Old or low fluid or possibly blocked filter could be the reason. Maybe if the cars been standing in sub zero temperatures the fluid is taking a while to circulate. Old fluid goes brown & smells burnt. On my fluid level stick there is a cold & hot measurement. Get the car warmed up & check. Hope that helps Steve.

 

[curious bystander]

Hi Steve. Perhaps I should have said the oil and filter were changed in the gearbox about 4,000 miles ago and the level is up OK, and once running the gears change as normal.
Just hoping it's not rebuild time - just yet

 

[Corvetteville]

Hmm, beyond my knowledge I'm afraid. Is there a pump in our gearboxes? Might just be that if it drives OK once you get it going. Correct grade fluid?

 

[Oneball]

If the gearbox seems to be ok once you’ve found drive I’d be looking at the shifter and linkage.

 

[johng]

Is it just drive that it doesn't go into? What about if you put it in reverse, 1 or 2? Is it only putting it in and out of gear that fixes the problem, or does just leaving it a while to warm up also fix it?

 

[curious bystander]

P, R. N, D - so had to go into R then D - didn't think to try 2nd and 1st tbh. Can't work out why it has suddenly started to take time to build up pressure if that's what's happening

 

[BobbyV8]

Sound like linkage needs adjusting. Had that on mine once.