Transmission 'hard shift' - thanks
cblguy
08-28-2006, 09:54 AM
Just wanted to come on the site and say thanks to the folks here. Because of this site I was able to fix my wife's '99 Montana this weekend. :)
The van was experiencing a hard shift when the transmission would get hot. I tried changing the fluid & filter. Didn't work. Scanned it, found a code P1811. I then got online, found this site, and registered and started searching. Found that it's a bad pressure control solenoid in the transmission. Tried the SeaFoam transmission treatment as a last resort. Didn't work. So I ordered up the parts and dug in. I ordered a new pressure control solenoid, a side cover gasket, and a new pan gasket (the old one got trashed a while back, and I was SICK of cork gaskets).
I followed this procedure
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=4243251&postcount=11
And it held very close for the Montana. The only additions for the Montana I'd say would be to remove ALL intake duct / plastic, loosen the A/C accumulator (makes lines easier to wiggle), and info on how to tackle the steering shaft joint.
The worst part for me was that steering shaft joint. The boot used on it is tough to move out of the way to get your socket on that 11mm pinch bolt. I found it was best to tackle from above, with all the intake duct out of the way, it's pretty accessible. From the side or below (where I first worked it), it's plain evil.
The cradle needs to drop about 1" on pass side and about 6" on drivers side. I used an engine crane instead of the "engine support assembly", and that made it easy to move the engine up/down when wiggling the side pan out.
No special tools required, T40 torx bit was probably the most exotic. Good selection of metric sockets (regular and deep) and wrenches up to 18mm.
On a scale of 1-10, this was a 4, maybe a 5. Time consuming but nothing awful. (a 10 would be changing the rear head gasket ;) ).
This fix may not be for everyone, as I consider myself a 'serious hobbyist mechanic', but it's DIY-able if you have a decent set of tools, floor jack, and engine crane.
I went back in with Mobil 1 synthetic trans fluid. While scanning it (before the fix) I saw that trans temp would get near 220 degreesF when driving. Wow that's hot. I haven't had a chance to scan it afterwards. I did make sure that the tranny cooler wasn't plugged up.
Total cost for me was about $250 (that includes the noid, the gaskets, the new filter, and 7 qts Mobil 1). And I know it's done right. ;)
Cheers,
Andrew
The van was experiencing a hard shift when the transmission would get hot. I tried changing the fluid & filter. Didn't work. Scanned it, found a code P1811. I then got online, found this site, and registered and started searching. Found that it's a bad pressure control solenoid in the transmission. Tried the SeaFoam transmission treatment as a last resort. Didn't work. So I ordered up the parts and dug in. I ordered a new pressure control solenoid, a side cover gasket, and a new pan gasket (the old one got trashed a while back, and I was SICK of cork gaskets).
I followed this procedure
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=4243251&postcount=11
And it held very close for the Montana. The only additions for the Montana I'd say would be to remove ALL intake duct / plastic, loosen the A/C accumulator (makes lines easier to wiggle), and info on how to tackle the steering shaft joint.
The worst part for me was that steering shaft joint. The boot used on it is tough to move out of the way to get your socket on that 11mm pinch bolt. I found it was best to tackle from above, with all the intake duct out of the way, it's pretty accessible. From the side or below (where I first worked it), it's plain evil.
The cradle needs to drop about 1" on pass side and about 6" on drivers side. I used an engine crane instead of the "engine support assembly", and that made it easy to move the engine up/down when wiggling the side pan out.
No special tools required, T40 torx bit was probably the most exotic. Good selection of metric sockets (regular and deep) and wrenches up to 18mm.
On a scale of 1-10, this was a 4, maybe a 5. Time consuming but nothing awful. (a 10 would be changing the rear head gasket ;) ).
This fix may not be for everyone, as I consider myself a 'serious hobbyist mechanic', but it's DIY-able if you have a decent set of tools, floor jack, and engine crane.
I went back in with Mobil 1 synthetic trans fluid. While scanning it (before the fix) I saw that trans temp would get near 220 degreesF when driving. Wow that's hot. I haven't had a chance to scan it afterwards. I did make sure that the tranny cooler wasn't plugged up.
Total cost for me was about $250 (that includes the noid, the gaskets, the new filter, and 7 qts Mobil 1). And I know it's done right. ;)
Cheers,
Andrew
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