[saturnspeed_12]

so i think i know the problem. quite some time ago, i changed the filter and fluid. the pan was covered in sludge, it was pretty horrible but no major metal shavings or anything. it just looked like the fluid was never changed. so after i did that i noticed it started to shift hard. i stop check fluid, a little low and i fill it up. well then it felt fine, till it hit its operating temperature and started acting up again. well then we went and had it flushed, did wonders till city driving. it took a while, but it acted up again. once it cooled down it was fine till it passed the half mark on temperature. it has some kind of additive which has helped more but still once it breaks half way and up to fan kicking in it shift hard.

my feeling is the torque converter has gone bad. i dont think im going to be able to get in there and pull it out anytime soon. my thought is to install a b&m trans cooler w/fan and thermostat which kicks in at 160 degrees. i think this will greatly help out, and help the engine coolant from heating up so quick. the transaxle is causing engine temp to jump fairly quick, so i know theres an issue with it.

so i want more input, maybe some of you had a similar problem. im thinking its the converter but im not certain, maybe valve body. but i do know i was riding in a camaro 3.8 and it acted pretty much the same and my boss even said it was the torque converter. and yeah i know its has a transmission/rear wheel drive, but thought maybe it was carrying the same converter.