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Rental car tranny issues?

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Bret

Bret

Yoda
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Ok so a friend of mine (female) rented a new Mitsubishi Gallant at an airport back east. Told me that when stopped at a light on a slight grade the car will start rolling backwards unless you apply the breaks again or hit the gas before slamming into the car behind her.

Like most rentals it’s an automatic transmission and my friend told me that when she talked to the rental agent about this the guy tried to say that it was normal for foreign vehicles. I told her that I’ve never heard of that before and think it was a BS story. But just to be safe – I thought I’d ask the group if any of you’d ever seen or heard of such a thing?

Personally I’m thinking the tranny is low on fluid or is toast. Because I’ve rented hundreds (maybe thousands) of vehicles over the years and I’ve never had one that rolled backwards while it was in gear. In fact the norm is that is should start to creep forward on level ground and hold it's position on a grade.

Thoughts?
 
I thought this was going to be about cruising West Hollywood in a rental car. Not that I'm disappointed or anything.

I've been in vehicles with auto where they drifted backwards on a hill, but I don't know if newer vehicles are different than those from perhaps 10 years ago when I noticed such a thing.
 
What's this "automatic" tranny thingie you reference? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Well it's weird but I've never seen a automatic that acted like this unless something was wrong. Low fluid etc.

I told here to take it back and ask for another rental car.
 
Better that than have her stuck someplace when it completely poops out.
 
I agree Bret, that particular car has a dodgy transmission, for one of the reasons that you suggest.

I drive a fifteen year old BMW which, last time I looked, counts as one of those foreign cars, and it does indeed creep forward on the level and holds position on a slight incline, and after over 100K miles the tranny is certainly past its "best-by" date.
 
Steve said:
I agree Bret, that particular car has a dodgy transmission, for one of the reasons that you suggest.

I drive a fifteen year old BMW which, last time I looked, counts as one of those foreign cars, and it does indeed creep forward on the level and holds position on a slight incline, and after over 100K miles the tranny is certainly past its "best-by" date.
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And thats another thing - this car only has about 12K on the clock.

Because she's about 80 miles from the Airport I told her to take in to the local rental office in the town where she is and tell them to replace it. But theres a chance that because its a privatly own local franchise she might be told to she has to take it to the airport.

I told her if that happens - you tell'em that you're afraid to drive it that far and to come & pic it up and arrange for a replacement from the local office or bring one from the airport that she can take back to the airport when she flys home without any extra fees.

I've had similar issues renting cars & a lot of people don't know that you can do that and of course the rental company ain't going to tell you they will either unless you make them.
 
coldplugs said:
I have a 2004 Honda with an automatic. It'll roll backwards on most grades.
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Did it always do that?

If so what model was it? I want to know because I'm going to start looking for a ride for my son here pretty soon and was coonsidering a used Honda.
 
A lot of Hondas/Nissan's/Toyotas have their trans set low on stall speed, and pump pressure is lower than a lot of people are used to. They will often not "creep" on even ground, especially when warmed up, or slip backwards on an incline without throttle pressure applied.

Design not mechanical failure.
 
Bret said:
[... what model was it? I want to know because I'm going to start looking for a ride for my son here pretty soon and was coonsidering a used Honda.
Click to expand...

It's a CR-V with a 4 cyl. I didn't drive it much when it was brand new but I don't think its behavior was any different.

Don't misunderstand me - it will creep on level ground but it doesn't take much of a slope to cause it to stay in place or roll back.

Fwiw, I think it's the best 4 cylinder engine I've ever had - very responsive and very smooth. I doubt that most teenagers would want to drive it, though.
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif
I am with Ron on Hondas. Worked with Honda Canada for 25 years and this is common, not trouble.
It takes a small grade but not an issue to worry you.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif

Dave
 
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