transmission slipping in first gear!!!

[kamikaze_789]

i have a 98 grand prix se with the 3800 v6. just bought it for 400 bucks as-is. its actually in pretty nice shape and has a new engine. runs great after just replacing the starter.

but when i accelerate in 1st gear it will slip all the way through the gear and then surge on the tach before switching to second gear. that's if i give it just a little bit of gas. if i get on it a bit it will slip and suddenly catch into gear like i'm neutral dropping it, but then i won't get a surge going into second after that.

i got the transmission flushed in addition to adding some lucas afterward and it didn't help. in fact, i think its a little worse now. the car itself has almost 160,000 on it.

it weird though cuz it doesn't always do it, especially after i drive it for about 20 minutes at a constant speed. all of a sudden it will shift perfectly even if i gun it.

i know it probably needs a rebuild, but do you guys think it might be worth it to try changing the transmission filter first?

thanks, chris

[richtazz]

At that mileage, you shouldn't have done the trans fluid flush. you probably doomed your trans and will need a rebuild soon. Have the car scanned with a trans capable scanner ( the free scans offered by the chain auto parts stores cannot read chassis and trans codes) and post the results. You probably have a failing/sticking PCS valve or 1-2 shift solenoid.

[Headnsouth]

Before you go dropping crazy money into a rebuild try a bottle of auto-rx.
www.auto-rx.com
www.bobistheoilguy.com

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Headnsouth

Before you go dropping crazy money into a rebuild try a bottle of auto-rx.
www.auto-rx.com
www.bobistheoilguy.com

What makes auto-rx additive any better than the other tranny additives on the market or the Lucas additive the OP used? IMO if you are going to use band-aid fixes like that then products like Seafoam are just as effective but only costs around $6.00 per container.

And who the hell is bobistheoilguy and the relevance to this thread?

[Headnsouth]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

What makes auto-rx additive any better than the other tranny additives on the market or the Lucas additive the OP used? IMO if you are going to use band-aid fixes like that then products like Seafoam are just as effective but only costs around $6.00 per container.

And who the hell is bobistheoilguy and the relevance to this thread?

I rolled my eyes before I tried ARX in my vehicles. After I saw the results I got and read about others results I was impressed.
Read up a bit more about this product over at bobistheoilguy before you poo
poo it. Do a search over at BITOG on my nic to see the results I've gotten.

[kamikaze_789]

i took it to a tranny shop and they said there weren't any codes to read since the check engine light wasn't on. they had a trans-capable scanner, too, and they said there's no point in charging me 75 bucks to scan it. so i dunno.

[BNaylor]

Well, you can always try some more tranny additive. ......

But seriously with the 160K miles and based on the symptoms you have an internal issue probably more mechanical/hydraulic. Send a PM to Troy1 who is supposed to be our resident GM transmission expert/pro (AF Advisor) and he should be able to shed some light on the issue. See link below.

Troy1's Profile

[grandprixgtx00]

the 4T65E's have really weak 1st and 2nd gear clutches, I'm sure they went out. you may also have a bad pump in the tranny.

dont mess around w/ a rebuild. it is near to impossible to get metal shavings out of a tranny. find a used tranny w/ lower miles on it. before you buy the tranny, if possible take, a look at the fluid...if its nice and red...buy it.

but to answer your question...the tranny you have now is gone. dont even try to fix it...truthfully its not worth your time and money.

[troy1]

It is 100% possible to get all the metal shavings out of the trans. A junk yard 4T65E would be a mistake. There can be DTC's stored if the SES light is not on that trans shop guy was a idiot. A bad PCS can cause slips flares and bangs (like your neutral dropping it) but with 160K your on borrowed time.

[grandprixgtx00]

i would much rather go w/ a nice used one than a rebuild.

find one w/ lower miles, and put a shift kit in it. ZZperformance has a real decent one for under $40.00 shipped. i have one in both my GT and GTX, they shift real nice. i actually JUST put a transmission in my GT not even a month ago at 70K cuz the pump went out on it.

i have an advantage though cuz my dad owns a transmission/automotive shop

[tblake]

HA, you put a shift kit in a used junkyard tranny, and but that tranny into a car with 70k? The junkyard tranny might have 150,000 for all you know.

I agree with Troy, rebuilds are the way to go. Plus if you have knowledge time and space, it would only cost a DIY'er about $600.00.

That pump in your initial tranny isnt that big of a deal to R&R once you have the tranny out.

[grandprixgtx00]

why would you R&R a pump?? the tranny is just going to sh!t out in 3 months anyway, and by the time i got the tranny out, there was metal shavings from lack of fluid to internal parts. yes, i coulda rebuilt it...but why rebuild a tranny and put $600.00 into it...at least, when i found a used one w/ 50K on it for $300.00??? doesnt really make sense to me...everyone has their own opinion though.

**edit** yes, you are right though...if i couldnt have found a used tranny w/ lower miles, i woulda just rebuilt the tranny, and put better clutches in it.

[Rambacher1]

Troy1

I have a 2000 4t65e he that slips in first and reverse only. When I don't give it any gas, it is choppy/ surges like it wants to grab. When I give it gas, it will barely move. I pulled codes and there was one for pcv. I have replaced every electrical device under the side pan with used ones from a 4t65e I had laying around. Still has same issues.

Any insight? I've also noticed a wire going to the ecu has rubbed against an after market filter and exposed some wire.