Transmission Perform Button Problem

I have a 95 trans am, it is an auto. It has a button called transmission perform. When I use it and am accelerating it goes past redline and does not shift. It shifts fine with out the button on. Any suggestions or comments.

Did you change your torque convertor?

I just got the car, i know i did'nt change it. But I don't know about the guy who had it before me. How would it affect the transmission perform button? By the way nice car it looks just like mine.Mine is t/a 95

I had a 97 t/a before I got the 02 and it was an auto, but it had no transmission perform button and the interior of 93-02 is almost the same, the 97 and ur 95 have the same body style so I dont know how i would have missed it. Are u sure the previous owner didnt install it in there some how? Sounds like all it does is not let the transmission shift into higher gear.

Before I got my car I tried out some other trans am a 94 and another 95 and they both had it. I think it allows you to redline when it shift and I have heard it helps you with traction. thanks though.

I have a '97 T/A and it has a traction control button. What it does is keeps you from applying too much power to the back wheels if there is low traction. You even get a dash light that comes on that says LOW TRACTION. The switch disables it.

Oh all right but do you know why it won't shift when I use it. Because everybody that has rode with me has noticed a totally different car power wise.

I believe I have read that the button sends a signal to the Torque convertor preventing downshift til redline, which if you had a high performance torque convertor with higher stall speed wouldn't that make the car go past redline before downshifting, Also Your Tach might be off because I beleive these cars cut off ignition after redline

Well thanks for the response. I know a little bit about cars but not enough in this area. Also is there a way without tearing into my car to find out just if the torque converter was changed. it sounds to me like this just might be it because when I get on it and it goes past redline it gets to about 7000 or so rpms and then basically bounces back to about 6000 rpms. it keeps doing this until I let off. I don't hold it long once it starts. Anything I could do to fix it. Thanks alot for the help.

thanks for your help

I think what happened is someone reprogrammed your computer to remove redline shift points (superchips?), somehow your computer only does it when the Transmission perf. button is activated, you might also have the extra 20-hp from the chip as well...
I dont know if a torque converter changes your computer shift points...If you push the brake (HARD) and hit the gas, it should go to around 1800 rpm before the tires break loose (the factory torque converter stall is around 1800 rpm)

All right thanks I will look into it.

I believe I have read that the button sends a signal to the Torque convertor preventing downshift til redline, which if you had a high performance torque convertor with higher stall speed wouldn't that make the car go past redline before downshifting, Also Your Tach might be off because I beleive these cars cut off ignition after redline

I don't think GM would like you to be able to red line you engine at the touch of a button - All the button is supposed to do is raise the shift points 500 to 800 RPM /Torque converter stall speed has nothing to do with shift points/ Stock tachs are often way off -Suggestion ? Don't press the button....:)

Well the button would'nt be put on the car if it was'nt going to help it. Now I would like to use it every now and then. Also I am trying to get an idea of how to fix this problem thanks for the help though

I don't think GM would like you to be able to red line you engine at the touch of a button - All the button is supposed to do is raise the shift points 500 to 800 RPM /Torque converter stall speed has nothing to do with shift points/ Stock tachs are often way off -Suggestion ? Don't press the button....:)
Not to sound like I'm trying to be a A$$hole and I know your just trying to give a suggestion as to why this is not the case but I doubt your car has the button as you seem to have no idea what your talking about. The button for one does not just raise your shift point. It in fact does not always make your car shift at a higher point I have gotten on my car with it on and off and it shifts at the same exact points at heavy throttle, The button makes your car down shift quicker and also firm's up your shifts by increasing line pressure and as any good mechanic will tell you even though the torque converter may not control your car shifting at redline introducing a aftermarket part to the operation of a stock system may effect other parts.

Hey formula LT1 do you know what kind of torque converter I should get. I was wondering because I am trying to find one.

Depends on how much you want to spend? and what your using the car for?

Well just one so that when the button is on and I get on it it will shift. It makes me nervous everytime I use it. Any Idea of stall? or price for one that would probably fix it.

First off before you go out and buy other parts , you should make sure what's causing it , I mean it could just be that someone hooked up a power programmer to it and changed your shift points or it could be someone changed a part , The best thing for you to do at this point would be to hook your car upto a scanner and see what its doing at the times it supposed to be shifting

Not to sound like I'm trying to be a A$$hole and I know your just trying to give a suggestion as to why this is not the case but I doubt your car has the button as you seem to have no idea what your talking about. The button for one does not just raise your shift point. It in fact does not always make your car shift at a higher point I have gotten on my car with it on and off and it shifts at the same exact points at heavy throttle, The button makes your car down shift quicker and also firm's up your shifts by increasing line pressure and as any good mechanic will tell you even though the torque converter may not control your car shifting at redline introducing a aftermarket part to the operation of a stock system may effect other parts.

No I do not have one on my f-body it was a rare option.
Yes it may firm up the shifts via line psi
I have had the mysterious shift button in other cars and it does raise the shift points some under heavy/WOT- but not pass the redline as was stated-The tranmission should never get that high in stock form - Reprogramed ECM or a trans mod may have been performed - can you tell me how the RPM's a car launches at effects the shift points? Which is what the question was -And as my comment of not useing the button- If it was my nice TA I don't think I would be over reving it like that till I found out what the problem was- but thats just me

Hook up a scanner and see if the RPM's the ECM sees matchs the Tach might be off -or find someone with a programmer -good luck

I have had the mysterious shift button in other cars and it does raise the shift points some under heavy/WOT- but not pass the redline as was stated-The tranmission should never get that high in stock form - Reprogramed ECM or a trans mod may have been performed - can you tell me how the RPM's a car launches at effects the shift points? Which is what the question was -And as my comment of not useing the button- If it was my nice TA I don't think I would be over reving it like that till I found out what the problem was- but thats just me
Ok, I don't know of any other performance car with the 4L60E, That came with the perform button, There was the Camaro didn't, Impala SS didn't , Corvette didn't. Sorry If I missed one but I can't think of any besides the Formula and Trans Am's 94 - 96. Also I have talked to 3 other owner's who have the button as well as I have experienced it first hand and believe when I tell you with the button off my car will go right upto redline before shifting when under WOT, And do the same with the button pressed but in your defense. I have read on websites and in articles that the button changes shift points but the only reason people who don't own the car think the shift points have been changed is because they pressed the button right before they got on the car and saw it shifted different than it shifted before but it makes a big difference firmness wise and feel wise. Also if your PCM is controlling when you shift and monitoring your VSS and see's that your car engaged motion at a specific speed and rpm range it could get a false reading and shift point's could be changed to a incorrect point because if you read his first post what he say's is that it won't shift until redline which means its not getting out of first. Also if something is broken fix it, is what I would be thinking.

Also I was just saying isn't it possible not that's what it was and after all isn't anything possible?. I have heard people who have had ignition problem's because of aftermarket stereo they installed being on the same frequency as there ignition system.

Also I was just saying isn't it possible not that's what it was and after all isn't anything possible?. I have heard people who have had ignition problem's because of aftermarket stereo they installed being on the same frequency as there ignition system.

I ment other cars such as a saturn DOHC SC2 with the button- not the
4L60E only - I would think the basic premise would be the same ? But for the record I spent some time trying to find out what the frikn button does (NOW I WANT TO KNOW!) instead of everyones guessing- No one knows EXACTLY what it does -just what THEY think it does- I can barely find any record of it at all - (There is on on EBAY for 10$ though... :)

GM or any other maker would not let you over rev the engine at the touch of a button -I would guess there is something is not right and wouldn't keep doing it till I found out what it was - And as far as anything is possible yes that is true - but the obvious is the most often overlooked- trust me with those ECM's (Brain Box HA!) it could be a thousand things but I would start with the basics- Before I suspected a reprogrammed prom -

I have seen people replace thousands of $$ worth the parts because the "fuel injection or computer or DIS" is messed up - and all it was is clogged fuel filter or a broken wire or plug wires on wrong

I tried to find out more info on the button as well and could not find a wiring diagram or anything, I do remember reading one time on a Tech site that the button sent a impulse signal to the torque converter (one of the things it does not all that it does) but I could not find the same site or that same info after about 2 hours worth of searching but the 4L60-E and Saturn tranny other than being built by GM are nothing alike. But I have read so much stuff about how its meant for you to chirp 1-2 and 2-3 shift and it changes your shift points and it just doesn't. I'm about to just take apart the car and follow the wire trail to know for sure

I'm not sure what kind of pulse it would send to the converter (except when to lock up) They used to have mods for vettes to stop the trans from downshifting out of overdive at a certain speed/throttle angle to prevent high speeds w/ low RPM's They can only change so much on a trans with a button all which STILL shouldn't allow you to ventilate your short block with a rod....

Yes saturn transmisions are slightly different than RWD Gm's I found that out when I tried to install an LT1 W/ 4L60E in my 90 SL2 saturn 4 door the drive shaft kept getting in the way... :(

Look tomminajar I don't use the button at all since I found out it would not shift. Look i take great care of my car so drop it. No more of those kind of comments. Understand? I think both of you might have the right idea so thanks for the help.

Formula LT1 if i find out that the torque converter is the problem what kind of torque converter would you think is the best. No matter what the price.

One other thing the car does NOT shift at all under full throttle. When the button was on.

Look tomminajar I don't use the button at all since I found out it would not shift. Look i take great care of my car so drop it. No more of those kind of comments. Understand? I think both of you might have the right idea so thanks for the help.

I didn't mean to imply that you didn't take care of the car I just didn't want you think it was ok - Most people would'nt even notice Did you

think just going up to the local GM dealership and ask the service manager or the Tech with the biggest tool box what could be wrong?

In my opinion the Vigilante is the best product on the market now for High performance but yet completely streetable and seem's to be the Convertor that most of the low Et's Auto 4l60-e guy's are using but there are so many good products on the market right now this is just a opinion. http://www.converter.com/vigilante.htm

Sorry for the mistake tomminar it sounds like both of you have a good idea of what is going on with it. Thanks for help from both of you

[QUOTE=Transam95]I have a 95 trans am, it is an auto. It has a button called transmission perform. When I use it and am accelerating it goes past redline and does not shift. It shifts fine with out the button on. Any suggestions or comments.[/QUOT
HOLD UP!!!! we have a 1995 formula ram air with the "perform" button and we have had serious problems!!!!!!!!! i can answer any question you have. its not your convertor!!! this will be our 7th tranny since we bought the car!!! we have the same problem with over rev!!

Thats funny I was just goin to post on this thread that I found the info I couldn't find before about what the button does anyway this is what it was said to have improved ,it supposed to increase hydraulic pressures (firmness of shift), incorporates a pulse width modulated signal to control the lockup of the torque converter.

FormulaLT1 Can you post that info so I can read it. I am trying to get as much info on the button and have not had any luck. Thanks

I just did all it said was a performance button was added to 94 - 96 Formula's and Trans Am's that would increase hydraulic pressures and incorporated a pulse width modulated signal to control the lock up of the Torque converter