2004 Vue does not accelerate in drive
 

Recently, my Saturn does not accelerate from a stop even though the car in drive. Engine will rev up, but car seems like it's in neutral. But If I shift the gear into park and back to drive, it will accelerate. I wonder is there something wrong? Does it need a new trans?

2004 FWD Vue Honda 3.5V6 with 95,000 miles.

You "wonder" is there something?

Definitely something wrong. Have you tried a transmission fluid and filter change? Do that with a little Lucas transmission treatment in there in place of a half quart of fluid.

I also have a 2004 Vue with automatic issues. Where do you add tranny fluid, check tranny fluid level and change the filter? Mine only has 106k miles.

I have never looked under the hood of a VUE. They don't appeal to me, so I've never bothered. If you don't have a transmission dipstick, then I don't have a clue. Maybe another VUE owner can enlighten you.

Yup! No dipstick. Looked in a Haynes manual and it just says "add transmission fluid" nothing about where.

There has to be a tube with a rubber plug in it somewhere at least. If not, then how the hell are you supposed to add fluid?

Well when disassembling the Vue yesterday to drop the drivetrain out the bottom I found the fill cap. It is located under the battery box / fuse-relay box assembly. Well hidden. Only way to add oil is to remove these items. Real convenient! Sarcasm, of course. As for being able to tell if it is full? well that it another issue. I just dumped all the oil I had into the transmission and fired up the engine just to make sure the transmission was not working due to low fluid level, no such luck.


When I pulled the transmission fluid cooler lines the fluid that came out was glittering with gold flakes of metal. Not silver but gold. ???