1995 Century Problems
jakkrk
12-16-2004, 01:59 PM
We need help, (my friend and I). He has a 1995 Buick Century with high miles. Recently it started acting up. It will start right up just fine, reverse works no problem BUT as soon as he puts it in a forward gear, the car dies. Does anyone no what the problem can be?
Thanks
Jeff
Thanks
Jeff
occupant
12-25-2004, 09:24 PM
The torque converter clutch solenoid is stuck. This is causing the converter to go into lockup mode (or be stuck in it) whenever the vehicle is placed in a forward gear.
The transmission may have to be removed from the vehicle to change the solenoid and free up the converter. I have heard that the solenoid can be replaced without removing the transmission but I am doubtful of this since it's pretty much inside the case. Expect $400-$600 for the repair depending on the shop's hourly labor charge. Expect more if the car has been recently abused, because the whole transmission may need rebuilt.
The stickiness is caused by not changing the transmission fluid often enough. The varnish from the aging and deteriorating fluid, as well as the sediment from the probably clogged filter, collects in the solenoid and causes it to stick. 200C, 200-R4, 700-R4, 3T40, 4T40, 4T60, and other GM transmissions suffer from this.
My 1995 Century (now traded in on a god-awful Aerostar) made it to 268K before the lockup solenoid began locking. I simply unplugged the connector. It's a green connector with two or three wires and it's mounted on top of the transmission case, near the battery. But that's not going to help you if the solenoid is stuck to the point where when on a cold start, the converter locks up on your first shift from Park to Drive. If you can drive the car and it sticks when coming to a stop, unplugging the connector will give you a chance to drive the car with slightly lower gas mileage on the highway, until you can afford to fix it properly.
The transmission may have to be removed from the vehicle to change the solenoid and free up the converter. I have heard that the solenoid can be replaced without removing the transmission but I am doubtful of this since it's pretty much inside the case. Expect $400-$600 for the repair depending on the shop's hourly labor charge. Expect more if the car has been recently abused, because the whole transmission may need rebuilt.
The stickiness is caused by not changing the transmission fluid often enough. The varnish from the aging and deteriorating fluid, as well as the sediment from the probably clogged filter, collects in the solenoid and causes it to stick. 200C, 200-R4, 700-R4, 3T40, 4T40, 4T60, and other GM transmissions suffer from this.
My 1995 Century (now traded in on a god-awful Aerostar) made it to 268K before the lockup solenoid began locking. I simply unplugged the connector. It's a green connector with two or three wires and it's mounted on top of the transmission case, near the battery. But that's not going to help you if the solenoid is stuck to the point where when on a cold start, the converter locks up on your first shift from Park to Drive. If you can drive the car and it sticks when coming to a stop, unplugging the connector will give you a chance to drive the car with slightly lower gas mileage on the highway, until you can afford to fix it properly.
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