Transmission feel/sounds (2000 LS)

Hi all,

Please reply with any ideas, thoughts, feedback regarding the following:

Car: Chevy Impala LS 2000 3.8L V6 SFI (43,000 Km)

Had the Transm. fluid topped off during a routine oil change at my mechanic last November 2003...Had the oil changed a few weeks ago and the mecanic said the ATF level was fine...The fuel filter and PCV were also changed...

Everything was fine until 2 weeks ago when I noticed a change in the way shifting (1-2; 2-3...) felt / sounded...Now it feels not as "smooth and gradual" as it used to up until a few weeks ago...Now it's like it "shifts faster" with less smoothness and also there like a kick back (as if someone is pushing or kicking the front"...It is very ANNOYING...It's like a little jerky...It is somewhat audible (not so much a grinding noise)...however a noise nevertheless... :?

Thank you in advance :)

tgenerl

tgenerl,
Just put mine in the shop. For a couple of years the transmission has been slipping in the morning or when it was cold/wet. It started acting up after a weekend trip. It would go out of gear while it was in reverse or drive. I jumped from gear to to gear. Before this happened I would hear an occasional whining or whirring noise. For the past three years, when I would put it in park or neutral, the engine would roar louder than if it was in gear. If you are having any of these problems or symptoms, I would have a shop look at it. Each time I took it in, they could find no problem. They found it this time, but I had to lose my transmission first ($3,000 for a factory rebuilt) Mine is same year as yours. Hope you have better luck.

Giantone

Well i had the same problems with the shifting in reverse and drive and having the hesitation. Then i noticed that if you are driving about 10-15 mph...let of the gas and coasted a little bit....and pushed the gas again the car would slam back into gear. I took it in, they said the transmission needed a "valve job". It was fixed under warranty, the shifting in mine was just like you described. The fix made the shifting smoother but it still does the hesitation in forward and reverse. It's very annoying!!!! Lately is seems that when i push the gas to make it upshift, it either won't upshift or it goes in the wrong gear...it's weird. Mine is a 2000 3.4 also, but i'm sure they have the same tranny.

Has anyone had problems with theirs? What did you do...they where talking about replacing the transmission, but i'm not sure what they are going to do. The dealership has been great to me here.

Mike

Hi Guys,

Thank you for taking the time to write a reply...

I have decided to take her for GM GoodWrech Service this week...

***GM Goodwrench Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Service***

What the Dealership I bought the car from will do:

Road-test before and after service
Inspect transmission/transaxle for leaks
Replace transmission/transaxle fluid, gasket and filter
Adjust linkage (if required)

Hope it will fix the funky experience ;-)

I'll let you folks know what happens...

Cheers,

TGENERL

yea i got a 2000 3.4 same as u bermis my car is about to hit 60000 and at about 52000 i had to get a new tranny. My advice is to get the number to the Big Wigs at Chevy and complain ur ass off about the car i've found out that shit flows down pretty fast if u catch my drift. I mean its worth a try u might get a new tranny. Unless its still under warranty

Hey tgenerl

My 2000 Impala had shifting problems similar to what you described. Pressure Control Solenoid was the problem. I think it cost about $600 at Chevy dealer to fix.

I have been experiencing some of the same problems with my vehicle as well. I have a 2000 3.4 also it tends to jerk when i hit certain speeds and i also hear the whinning when i accelerate. I have yet to have anyone look at it...does anyone know if there is a recall for this? If so is there a way to look up recalls for the 2000 model?

I was just told that my 2000 Impala with 54K on it needs a new transmission - ouch! Is there a way to complain about this and get a new one paid for? From what I've read here I am not alone.

I was just told that my 2000 Impala with 54K on it needs a new transmission - ouch! Is there a way to complain about this and get a new one paid for? From what I've read here I am not alone.


I totally agree with you, if there is a way to complain I want to know because i do have a lot to say...as well

I have a 2000 impala LS with 93,000 miles on it and it is start to give me a jolting, kickback type of feel no matter what speed it is at. I think it is the tranny going out slowly, but the dealershiop cannot find anything wrong with it. My car does not have the whining noise of any kind that you other readers complain of. Any suggestions would help before i shell out any $$ for a tranny. other than that the car runs fine.

chevellemann

Problem: 00 and 01 Impalas use the sub-standard 4T65E tranny that was famous for self destruction in 97 GM cars with the 3800. take a look at http://myimpalasucks.com

Anyone experiencing these tranny symptoms as described above should take their car to a trusted transmission service/repair shop and ask them to troubleshoot it via the OBD II (OBD-2) diagnostic tool...

This is the error code I got...

P1811 - Maximum Adapt and Long Shift (GM)

So, who wants to purchase GM?

:L

I just started having trouble with my 2001 Impala last week. My Chevy dealer says it needs a new transmission, and is estimating $2600. A local transmission shop says the same thing, but is estimating $1500.

Has anyone had any luck getting GM to fess up to a faulty product? 15 minutes of research on the internet has shown that this is obviously an issue with the late model Impalas.

I have the same problem with my 2000. I checked to codes and no problem. I would like to replace the pressure control solenoid. Has anyone done this? Hanes has no information about transmission repair. Is it deep in the trans? Do you have to remove the trans to get at it?

Great thanks for any information.

I just started having trouble with my 2001 Impala last week. My Chevy dealer says it needs a new transmission, and is estimating $2600. A local transmission shop says the same thing, but is estimating $1500.

Has anyone had any luck getting GM to fess up to a faulty product? 15 minutes of research on the internet has shown that this is obviously an issue with the late model Impalas.

Common and known problems posted by GM can be fixed under warrenty, otherwise they will leave you SOL. I agree that the non-HD tranny is fairly... weak.

Common and known problems posted by GM can be fixed under warrenty, otherwise they will leave you SOL. I agree that the non-HD tranny is fairly... weak.

I called the Chevrolet Customer Service number in my manual, explained the situation, how I felt about it, and the fact that I've been a loyal customer over the years to Chevrolet, GM, and my local dealer.

The service rep called me back yesterday and said that they'd take care of 75% of the $2623.80 that they quoted me, for a total of $655.95.

I told them that I'd bring the car in today, and when I got there this morning, they gave me a courtesy car as well, which is usually reserved for in-warranty work.

It sucks that I'm going to be out almost $700, but that's better than $2600 or even the $1500 that the transmission shop quoted me.

I called the Chevrolet Customer Service number in my manual, explained the situation, how I felt about it, and the fact that I've been a loyal customer over the years to Chevrolet, GM, and my local dealer.

The service rep called me back yesterday and said that they'd take care of 75% of the $2623.80 that they quoted me, for a total of $655.95.

I told them that I'd bring the car in today, and when I got there this morning, they gave me a courtesy car as well, which is usually reserved for in-warranty work.

It sucks that I'm going to be out almost $700, but that's better than $2600 or even the $1500 that the transmission shop quoted me.

:eek7: :eek7: :eek7: :eek7: :eek7: :eek7: :eek7: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I think that explains my reaction well enough. I wasn't expecting a reply like this, coming from GM and all, but glad to see the still know how to be... well... personable.

I have a 2001 Impala with 154000 miles on it. The trans also shifts hard. It is the pressure control sol. It resets when the vehicle is shut off. It will start doing it again occasionally. Not sure what is creating the problem. Two differnent transmission guys could not figure it out either. Other than this and a bad exhuast manifold I have had no problems with the car.