Tranny Problem (Not the no reverse problem)

Ever since I've owned the car it always had the check engine light on with like 8 codes and once in awhile it would shift into what felt like 3rd or 4th gear after going around turns and stay there till I shut it off, and restarted it. But just this past Monday I replaced the fuel filter (who knows when that was last changed) and right after replacing that the light went out. But it would still do the "third gear problem" as everyone that knows me calls it. So I decided to check the fuses for the traction control and whatnot and found one of them was missing. So I replaced it and the problem stopped... till today . I've also narrowed it down to only right turns being the problem. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

Did you fix the 8 codes? (Not just reset the light?)

I didn't reset the light myself if that what you're asking. I basically drove it around awhile doing some errands and it went off by itself, even though I was planning on going to a shop to have em erase the codes to see if they come back.

Well you need to get to the root cause of the reason the lights are coming on. They indicate a fault within your system. I'd be willing to bet your MAF is one of them and vacuum codes and misfires are the other. Those will do wonders for your shifting.

Also I don't know if this has anything to do with the third gear problem but i dropped the plastic skid plate under the front end to put a new a/c belt on the other weekend and laying in the plate was what looks to be 6 cylindrical little metal bearings, a rubber seal/ring/I don't know what, and a plastic cap looking thing. I don't have a way to put pictures on right now but I plan on getting some up at some point.

one of your pulleys probably exploded. double check.
also post the error codes.

If one were to have exploded wouldn't the belt have come off? Because I'm pretty sure all my pulleys are ok and everything is working.

Thanks for the diagram though, I'll save that for when I change anything in there.

Yeah you would have found out pretty quickly if your pulley blew up. Maybe its parts from a prior failure before you owned the car. Who knows

Originally Posted by E46Mango

Well you need to get to the root cause of the reason the lights are coming on. They indicate a fault within your system. I'd be willing to bet your MAF is one of them and vacuum codes and misfires are the other. Those will do wonders for your shifting.

I was thinking of cleaning/replacing the MAF sensor, probably do that in a little while once I find the DIY. I also have some of the codes, if that would help any, from an OBD II scanner (I know it's not exactly the right scanner tool to use but it was a free scan from autozone).

P1188
p1189
p0420
p1250
p1770
when this one was wrote down she messed up a number so its either p1011 or p1111
p0775

I cleaned the MAF earlier, never got to take it for a spin though. I plan on an oil change and changing the spark plugs this weekend, probably even the brake pads. Who knows what else I'll get into with it.

I finished everything but the pads, didn't have enough time, but it didn't really seem to change anything. But I found another thread with other people with the same problems as me, and they all suggest a re-flash or software update. It apparently fixed their problems, so I just might look into that.

Here is the thread for anyone who sees this and has the same problem: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=639785