2000 auto tranny problems

Well, it is my turn. I think I know what is wrong.

Here is the deal (automatic, V6)

When holding speed at 52-62 MPH, the transmission will make 2-4 clunks. Like the torque converter is trying to kick in. I'm guessing that the solinoid in the tranny is bad. I have about 51k on it and had the dealer flush it at about 31k. I'm the first owner so I should be covered by warranty.

-Ryan

Let us know how it works out.

Say it aint so Ryan! :uhoh: Did you 100% rule out a misfire or an a/c kicking on/off issue? Did you scan for codes? As we know the 2 most common 4L30E problem causers are 1) low volts, 2) bad mode/range sensor. Hope you, or better yet the dealer, find it!! Keep us posted.
G/luck
Joel

Just checked the code, and I got zip. Took it for a spin, defrost off, no AC, still happens. The battery is 4 years old and I have read about a lot of owner batteries dieing 3-4 yrs out. I was planning on changing it this fall.

I took a peak at the range sensor. I pulled off the heat shield and stopped there. Over all it looked pretty clean.

Unfortunatly this is only 1 of four problems I'm having.

1. Tranny issue
2. Intermitted whipper sometimes work, sometimes don't (there is a fix here the involves sodering it a new chip).
3. stearing wheel shakes at +68 MPH. I recently rotated my wheels and I think that is when it started. So I'm going to rotate them back and see if that fixes it. If not I have three options. 1. balance the wheels. 2. repack the wheel bearings (never been done and I checked and there seems to be a bit of play in one of the wheels. 3. Shock (orginal) are dead, and I'm getting a bit of wheel hop.

4. Ping. I'm had this since the truck has had about 20k or so. It comes and goes. I ran the last 6 tanks of gas on 87 octane and it was fine, and then it started to ping again so I went back up to 89 again and it stops. I know there is a new ECU flash, which I should get done for free (even though I'm out of my warranty for that) since I have it documented on two occassions.

So tomorrow (if they are open) I'm going to call them up and ask when a good time is to bring it in. The good thing is that they are about 2 miles from my place and I'm unemployeed still (that's not a good thing) so I can just toss my bike on the back and bike home.

A lot of these little things I was planning to doing this fall, but I guess I can start now. I have faith in my dealer, they have always treated right.

Cheers!

-Ryan

Well it is at the shop now. I took a ride with the tech and it took a bit for it to act up, but he felt it too. He is going to hook up a scan tool and take it on the same strech of road to see what he finds. He agrees it is something with the torque converter or a miss-fire, which I doubt, since I can to the same test in 3 gear and there is no jerking at all.

On a side note, in one corner of the garage there was a pile (4-6) of 3.2/3/5 (+98) engines sitting on the floor (spun bearings?).

Well it is fixed. Guess what the scan tool said it was?

Intake manafold gasket

They hooked it up to the scan tool took if for a drive and that is what came up. Unreal.

-Ryan

No kidding? the 'ol bad IMG?? Thats cool that's all it was. One of the computers may have been dumping the TC lockup every time it sensed a little misfire from the air leakage. I'm not too surprised it happend only in 4th due to the nearly closed throttle postion & high intake vacuum. That's where she'd leak the most, causing issues. Good luck amigo! Had to know the way you care for your rig it couldn't be anything too major!
G/luck
Joel

Ahhh...the irony! Glad it was nothing major.