Transmission Problems?

I read here now and then about Century transmission problems. My wife has a 2002 Century. What kind of problems should we watch for? Also I believe in serviceing a trans at about 50k miles.
I have a 2003 Lasabre, should I expect any problems with it?

Regular servicing is key to the trans lasting a long time.

You could wait until 100000 to safely change it, but I'd do it every 75000.

Regular servicing is key to the trans lasting a long time.

You could wait until 100000 to safely change it, but I'd do it every 75000.

I beg to differ with you. If you want a transmission to last change the fluid every 3rd time you change oil. It will never wear out. Heat kills transmissions. Used fluid cannot handle heat as well.

Change the filter every 50,000
I put a transmission pan drain plug on all my cars (Toyota comes with one)
While I’m under the car draining oil I drain the tranny fluid, easy to do.

Check tranny fluid idling in park, engine hot. Do not overfill. That can cause fluid to bubble which will overheat the tranny.

Buy quality transmission fluid.

Check out this post by FlatRater... http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=398499. It clearly shows the problem with the 4T65E PCS (which is also used in the 4T40E and 4T45E, by the way). I've read on this forum that the part was redesigned to fix the issue, but I've heard from an engineer who used to work at Delphi (makes the PCS) that they did not redesign the solenoid because GM knew they were going with a Bosch solenoid for MY2003 and beyond.

Transmission drain plug question:
This sounds like a good idea ! The only problem I see is that one would have to drill the bottom cover, tap drain plug threads into it. The cover is only about 1/8" wall. Is this enough to tap the threads into it? How many threads you can get in that thickness? The only solution I see is to remove the cover, weld a reinforcing alluminum plate, maybe 2"x2" where the plug will go.
Please advice how you have done it. I am seriously entertaing this great idea.

Isn't this kinda like changing your motor oil but not your oil filter?

On the other hand, it's better than nothing at all.

My service manager told me to use 36K for changes. He knows I do them myself. I changed the filter the first time and then I'll change it every 2nd fluid change. This way you see the crud in the bottom of the pan to decide if clutches or other parts are wearing too fast.

I didn't change my 98 4t65E fluid until 65K and it developed the variable lockup problem. But a few frequent fluid changes after that helped the problem by cleaning up crud that had deposited in the valve.

As far as the drain plug in the pan, if they would of wanted one in there they would of put it in. I change my fluid and filter in my mail car (91 Century) every 13,000 to 15,000 miles along with a bottle of "Lube Guard". I run a 125C trans. and have gotten 240,000 miles on one trans. in a 84 citiation. Years back a mech. told me that you should change the fluid and filter every 20-25,000 miles. I always figured it was cheaper to change fluid & filter than the transmission. My two cents!

Transmission drain plug question:
This sounds like a good idea ! The only problem I see is that one would have to drill the bottom cover, tap drain plug threads into it. The cover is only about 1/8" wall. Is this enough to tap the threads into it? How many threads you can get in that thickness? The only solution I see is to remove the cover, weld a reinforcing alluminum plate, maybe 2"x2" where the plug will go.
Please advice how you have done it. I am seriously entertaing this great idea.

Here's a link to the one I put in my GTP over a year ago. I plan on installing the same one is my Regal GS. It will work on any 4T65E tranny. You not only get a drain plug but extra cooling, etc.

http://www.3800performance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MSP_TRANPAN&Category_Code=T&Product_Count=3

Drilling the ½ hole is the hardest part. No tap needed. Plug comes with all of that. Here is the info.

(318) 742-7353
Ask for K032 drain plug kit
$13.95 delivered to your door (Visa, MaterCard)

When installing I would use an oil resistant sealant.

As far as the manufacture wanting a drain plug. Manufactures want what costs less to build. Toyota furnishes one. Toyota is the best selling car on the road.

I also use LubeGard, red bottle, $9.95 O’Reilly/Napa Auto parts, good stuff.

Yeah, I could have got a new pan with drain plug and better cooling because of larger volume of fluid, but at $180.00 for my particular vehicle……………..it can wait.

Yeah, I could have got a new pan with drain plug and better cooling because of larger volume of fluid, but at $180.00 for my particular vehicle……………..it can wait.


Looks like a good alternative and deal. Sure beats the expensive aftermarket option. In my case it was better to spend the $180 than suffer a $2000 tranny repair bill. My GTP is modded and gets heavy duty use at the dragstrip.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/gtp.jpg
Thrasher CAI, DHP v1.0 PCM, SLP Headers,
3.25 SC pulley, CAIT GMAF, 2.5 DP/Hi-Flow CAT,
u-bend delete, 160 TS, ZZP Stage 1 72mm TB,
TB spacer, MSD 8.5mm wires, Autolite 104s,
Goodyear Gatorback Serp. & SC Belt,
Nitto NT555R Drag Radials

Transmission drain plug question:
This sounds like a good idea ! The only problem I see is that one would have to drill the bottom cover, tap drain plug threads into it. The cover is only about 1/8" wall. Is this enough to tap the threads into it? How many threads you can get in that thickness? The only solution I see is to remove the cover, weld a reinforcing alluminum plate, maybe 2"x2" where the plug will go.
Please advice how you have done it. I am seriously entertaing this great idea.

When I changed the PCS on my 4T40E, I bought a drain plug kit from AutoZone (about $8). It consists of a half inch bolt, mating nut, nylon seal washer, and then a plug that threads up into the bigger bolt. You drill a half inch hole in your pan, put the big bolt and seal on one side and lock it down with the nut on the other, then put the plug in the bolt. I was actually thinking of making the same thing in our machine shop here until I saw the item on their shelf. You have to hold the big bolt with a wrench while you install/remove the plug, but WAY easier than trying to catch fluid from the edge of the pan.

you go ahead and change your trans fluid every 9000 miles, I'd be changing trans fluid every month in moms car if I did that.

as for the drain plug, the gmt-800's get get trans pan drain plugs. We want drain plugs to remove the fluid because its a mess to pull a full trans pan, especially without a lift. As for the filter, in over 100 years of automotive innovations, why isnt there a filter similar in form to the oil filter for the trans. trans fluid changes could consist of drain the pan, unscrew a filter, pop a new one on, tighten the drain plug, and fill it. perhaps the magnet in the pan could be integrated into the filter.