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Old 12-13-2009, 08:23 PM   #1
wilson8260
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Question 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

I've had ongoing problems it seems with my 99 Pontiac Montana. I took it to a transmission shop in January of 2008 because it wasn't shifting correctly and was overheating. They kept it for almost 3 months!! Yes, 3 months, trying to fix the problem. The shop ended up putting in 2 rebuilt transmissions. Here is the list of parts they fixed/replaced/bought : Clutch Hub, Washer Kit, Wiring Harness, Drive Chains, TC 4T60E, Pressure Valve Assy, TCC Apply Valve, EPC Solenoid (BW), Shift Solenoid, M.L/S 4T65E, Band Fwd, Band 2-1 Coast, Band Rev, Filter. Under labor it says: R&R Transmission, Rebuilt Transmission. Total cost: $1400.00

Exactly 1 year later - to the day - the transmission started acting up again. Slamming into gear, overheating & then eventually not shifting at all. If I put it in drive, the car would completely shut off. But strangely it would drive in reverse. So, I took it back to the same place since it had a 1 year warranty. Again, they kept it for 2 months...checking the computer codes, putting in a 3rd & 4th transmission, etc. Finally they got it running again. Thankfully I didn't have to pay any extra. The only thing that they couldn't fix was the overheating problem.

So, we took it to another shop & had the thermostat replaced, cylinder heads replaced & new head gaskets put on. That fixed the overheating problem and everything seemed to run smoothly!! yay!

But now, almost exactly 1 year later.....AGAIN.......the tranny is acting up again. Yesterday it started slamming into gear. It doesn't do it every time, but I dont' want to drive it anymore to risk further damage. I don't want to take it back to the same shop & not have my car for 2-3 months again. That just doesn't seem right. But I just can't believe that it would need ANOTHER transmission. Do they only last 1 year?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!.......
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Old 12-13-2009, 08:53 PM   #2
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

I just answered the same type of question on another site.

What is the mileage?

The harsh shift can come from a worn or dirty pressure control valve in the tranny.

The fact they've changed trannys so often makes me wonder if they are the ones rebuilding the trannys or are getting them from someone else?

In other words, someone is NOT doing his/her job correctly.

I would look/ask around for a reputable, independent tech/shop and simply tell them the symptoms and let them figure out the fault.
(Ask family, friends or co-workers who they trust.)

DO NOT give them (the new shop) the whole sordid tale of past tranny woes.

Someone who knows his business will likely figure it all out anyway.
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Old 12-14-2009, 06:07 AM   #3
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

THANK YOU for your reply! Mileage is 175k. Yea, that was my suspicion too....someone wasn't doing their job. I'm headed to a different shop this morning - thank you so much for your advice. I will post later what they tell me.
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Old 12-14-2009, 08:50 AM   #4
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

.

You might find lots of transmission "common problems" info within lower pages of:

http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com...sion_Info.html


Also... My local transmission specialist tells me that GM transmissions do NOT like heat. GM builds their cooling needs based on minimum "average" driving conditions. Great "white board" design but in reality, many GM transmissions over heat. With that in mind, may I also recommend the install of Aux transmission LPD cooler. Even if only using your van as "soccer parent" transport vehicle, installing an aux transmission cooler is a great idea. For your vehicle (for hotter summer months and perhaps lots of stop/go traffic &/or hills driving conditions), I'd install an LPD designed to tow an attached 5,000 lbs trailer.

re: http://www.transmissioncoolers.us/Me...roduct_Count=1


If you do tow a 2,000+ lbs trailer and/or do `more then average' internal cargo hauling, I'd install the slightly larger aux LPD cooler instead. re: http://www.transmissioncoolers.us/Me...roduct_Count=2


If wondering, I installed the Hayden 1678 LPD cooler (which is rated for up to 5,000 lbs attached trailer) in my 2009 Montana van and it works great. It keeps its ATF oil much cooler then factory and thus, increases its transmissions life expectancy.

Hope this helps as well...

.
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Old 12-14-2009, 09:30 AM   #5
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

Also....

It's a great idea to perform self inspection of transmisson ATF steel cooling lines as well. If your other transmission shop was taking transmissions in/out, this process can easily crush a steel transmission line. Thus, stopping its fluid flow. If NO or `restricted fluid` flow, its transmission will over heat and burn its ATF. Thus, burning out inner seals and creating other damage. If you find a crushed steel line or feel its steel line bends are "too tight", remove its factory steel transmission lines and install new larger size ID rubber lines instead. New rubber lines going from transmission inlet/outlets to its main rad, then into its its LPD cooler as well.

If getting a different transmission shop to repair your vehicle's "another" burned out transmission, I'd get them to inspect its steel "ATF Flow" lines as well. And, they perform a fluid flow rate test down these lines as well. If ATF cooling lines are plugged, do replace with "larger ID sizing then factory" replacements.

Hope this helps as well...

.

Last edited by spike88; 12-14-2009 at 10:17 AM.
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Old 12-14-2009, 02:27 PM   #6
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

Ok - just heard back from the new Shop...they said it was pulling a code "Long shifts" (didn't give me the number). The guy said he was thinking it might be a valve sticking but wouldn't know for sure unless he got inside the tranny, of course. They gave me 2 options:

1. Flush, new filter, etc. and then add LubeGuard conditioner. He said it was a 50/50 shot that this would help the problem. $150.

2. Get inside the transmission, possibly redo or rebuild (i guess). around $1525.

Any thoughts??
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Old 12-14-2009, 08:20 PM   #7
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

.

Roll the dice. 50% chance the problem is resolved in the "short term" - just enough time to sell / trade your van. Or, 50% that it won't help at all. Definately, hard call on this one...

Other then broken tranny, what's the other conditions of your van? Burning engine oil? Rust level? Internal condition? Rubber / brake condition? Steering / Suspesnion condition? etc. etc. What's current "book value" of your van today? Perhaps the answers to some of these questions might help you decide to "rebuild tranny" and KEEP IT (for many more years), or tade-in and get a different vehicle. A newer year vehicle replacement.

If wondering, I rebuilt the tranny insides of my previous Safari van for $1,100. Its rebuild made its transmission better then factory. A rebuld it needed many years before it broke. But soon after tranny rebuild, my old van needed new tires, new steering box replacement and final straw was new power steering replacements. We "traded her in" and got a newer van - as a replacement. If I had to do it again, I'd probably try the 50% odds on its ATF replacement, then immediately "off load" it. Lesson learned - the hard way...

Hope this helps - some how...

.
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Old 12-15-2009, 02:07 PM   #8
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

These trannys can have a problem with the shift solendoids sticking if the maintenance hasn't been performed regularily. I have had 100% "luck" with dumping in 1 bottle of "Trans Tune" made by the SeaFoam company. Run the vehicle for 30 minutes on the open road and then drain the fluid and change the filter. I have had 3 of these vans that I did this to and it fixed the problem on all 3.
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Old 12-15-2009, 02:38 PM   #9
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Smile Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

While my experience has not been as severe as what you describe, the trans did begin to show signs of hard shifting (mostly when the trans and engine got hot due to higher ambient temperatures).

I finally did two things that have stopped this problem and seem to have given the trans new life at about 170,000 Kms.

The first step was to drop the pan and remove the filter. The inside of the pan had a lot of grey film, but no pieces or particles. I attributed the film to the normal action of the bands and clutches, combined with the torque converter slipping (it’s designed to do this apparently during lock-up). In other words, normal wear and tear.

Then, I removed the accumulator assembly, cleaned it, lubing the two servos with clean trans fluid. Installed a shift kit from ZZPerformance.com for the 4T65E series transmission, following the instructions and using the recommended spacers. Added a new filter and buttoned it back up. Then installed a trans cooler that should drop the operating temperature (regardless of season).

Added a 947 ml bottle of Lucas trans conditioner (stuff comes out looking like STP!!) and filled the trans with new Dexron fluid. Made a huge difference. Nice crisp shifts between 1st and 2nd and a firm 3rd to overdrive change too.

Total cost: about $10 for the Lucas, and $30 for the shift kit.
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Old 12-22-2009, 09:16 PM   #10
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Re: 99 Pontiac Montana Tranny problems?

Wow that many trannies? have they ever looked at the flow from the cooler lines to and from the rad? If one of the lines is damaged, kinked, or the cooler is damaged or blocked, it will overheat and lead to failure every time. Even a partial block in the rad will overheat the trans and cause the problems your describing.
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