Technical Bulletin #224

Transmission: KM Series
Subject: No reverse / binds in reverse
Application: Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Hyundai, Eagle
Issue Date: 1994

KM Series
No Reverse / Binds in Reverse
If you encounter a KM series unit that binds in reverse, you need to determine if the problem is caused by a
hydraulic or mechanical difficulty first.

To do this, get the unit to bind in reverse, the shut the engine off, leaving the shifter in reverse. Now try to push
the vehicle forward and backward on the ground.

If the car will roll in both directions, the bind-up is caused by a hydraulic problem (Cross leaks applying a com-
ponent that should not be on in reverse). It may be time to flat sand the valve body sections. If that does not cor-
rect the problem you probably have a leak in the pump (e.g. The pump is not flat, the turbine shaft rings leak,
etc.).

If the car will roll in only one direction, then either the band/servo is mechanically locked on, or the center sup-
port snap ring has snagged one of the sun gear shell holes. This is caused by not lining up the gap in the center
support snap ring with the hole in the top of the case (figure 1). When pulse generator ‘A’ is installed, it pushes
the end of the snap ring into the sungear shell.

Figure 1

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Technical Bulletin #224
If the car won’t roll in either direction, you have a problem with the park rod. Remove the valvebody and check
the park rod. The ‘Bullet’ that engages the park pawl should be spring loaded against two crimped places on the
rod, but unable to go past the crimps (figure 2).

The bullet on the rod may have worn out the crimps and is now free to travel further than it should. Now when
you pull the shifter out of park, the rod moves properly but the bullet can remain engaged with the park pawl. If
this is the case, the park rod assembly should be replaced.

Bullet

Make sure these

crimps are not worn
away.
Figure 2

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