1-2 Shudder

The other day I was merging onto the freeway, up hill, at wide open throttle. Just as the transmission shifted from 1st to 2nd (at 6500 rpm), there was a sharp shuddering that I could feel. I watched the water in my water bottle jiggle with it. While it lasted for less than a second, it still makes me nervous. I have yet to have that happen again, but I haven't done too many WOT 1-2 shifts recently. Also, it definetly was not the pressure control solenoid, as subsequent shifts during that drive were fine. I have been suspecting a minor vacuum leak for some time. Is it possible that a it could cause something like this? Or would it more likely be that I could use some fluid in my tranny. BTW, its been 40k miles since the last tranny fluid change. Also, its an 01.

6500 rpm in first? sounds like you just stole the car and the cops are chasing you or your TRYING to break something. Pull the codes out of the computer. Mine had a high rpm misfire that felt like a sharp shuddering in the tranny. I was sure the tranny was gone but it was just a simple misfire. Seriously if you drive your car like that all the time it wont last long. These are pretty good motors but their not small japaneese engines that can rev sky high.

Apparently GM thought they could at least rev to 6500rpm safely, thats what they set the rev limiter at.

Im confident they could even go a scosche higher and not cause any trouble whatsoever.

I dont think youd ever really cause much harm to that engine doing that, the transmission is another story entirely.

Yeah I figure as long as the engine isn't above redline, it's not doing any engine harm, but I do know these transmissions were not designed for the higher revving 3.5, so I don't let it get above 6000 rpm often. I think I'm going to have a pan drop and get the fluid changed in a month or so, about the same time I get the plugs done. Hopefully that will keep the transmission ok for a while to come. I really would like to get another 50k miles (I'm at 99k right now) out of the car without putting much $$ in for repairs.

Yeah I figure as long as the engine isn't above redline, it's not doing any engine harm, but I do know these transmissions were not designed for the higher revving 3.5, so I don't let it get above 6000 rpm often. I think I'm going to have a pan drop and get the fluid changed in a month or so, about the same time I get the plugs done. Hopefully that will keep the transmission ok for a while to come. I really would like to get another 50k miles (I'm at 99k right now) out of the car without putting much $$ in for repairs.

Yeah, I'm at 99k miles now myself and will change the plugs next Spring. Sure would like to get another 100k miles out of my old Intrigue without spending mucho $$.

Sounds like a good time for both of you to change your transmission fluid if it hasnt been done before.

I had mine done just before I reached 60k miles, but I am going to do it again and see if it helps with my transmission issues. As I wrote in another thread, my torque converter has been acting a bit weird around 60 mph with a part throttle load, so hopefully I'm just a little low on fluid. Anyone know if GM has released at any point along the way, any transmission/powertrain software updates that I could have my dealer apply to my car?

Transmission fluid changes at 40k and 75k. Probably will do another at 115k. The fluid looks very good and at 75k added a bottle of LubeGard. Every once in awhile I drive it hard in 2nd or 3rd.

Just bought a 2007 base Grand Prix (3.8L / 4A). What is the typical mileage to have the 1st tranny fluid change? (Old 300m had obscure schedule, required one at 50k then every 25k there after).

Any horror stories with these cars as well?

Thanks.

If you do mostly highway driving, you can go to 100k miles. I'm assuming you bought it used and not knowing how many miles are on the vehicle, I would change the fluid at 60k miles. Basically the car is one year old. It would have to have been driven very hard for the tranny fluid to deteriorate in such a short time.

It would have to have been driven very hard for the tranny fluid to deteriorate in such a short time.

If you plan on racing your Intrigue you should expect more maintenance. At 6500 the rev limiter cuts the torque and shocks the tranny which is much more amplified in the lower gears. = cut the torque before the 1-2 shift, I personally tap the brake (1/10 sec~)before most high torque (not OD) shifts (4t65e)

how many trannys can take balls out 6500 full power up/down shifts? - not many -. I like to downshift into 2nd coming off the highway all the time and even into turns.

Years of abuse by the 3800 club has made the 4t60/65e into a fairly robust unit.

well in the past few weeks my tanny seems to be acting up as well. If i drive for a while (45 mins maybe) the tranny will slip and shudder in drive on take off, but it will lock up and take off just fine if I select a lower gear (1,2,3) just not D...Added a tube of lubegard antishudder, helped with the shifting but it still likes to shudder/slip in D only. Im thinking this is a TCC solenoid not fully locking up the converter or maybe im over heating a bit. Fluid still clean and pink. I think im just gonna avoid putting it in D until I hit the highway, take off in 3.