Hard shifts....no shifts? Tranny trouble? READ THIS!!!

arioch2112 · #1 01-28-2005, 10:59 AM

Well.....I feel your pain on the tranny shifting thing. I have a 98 GT with 155,000 on it.....it started acting weird back in July 04. It would either shift hard from 1st to 2nd...or not shift at all into 2nd....and go straight to 3rd. It would also lock up my torque converter when I was coming to a stop.....after travelling on the highway.

After all this....it began to shift hard in all gears...and doinf this at will. Bottom line.....I was looking at 2k to get it fixed.....or drive it this way till it fails completely.

I got on this forum and read some stuff.....and asked some questions.....got some great help. The assumption was that the shift soloniod was going out. Then of course......that would not take care of reasons like the torque converter staying locked though....

Long story short guys.......and I stand dumbfounded myself for what I am about to say.

I put the Seafoam tranny treatment in the tranny....whithin about 20 miles......85% of my trouble went away. This stuff is supposed to free up hung valves and clean up some of the sludge. I tell you.....I NEVER subscribe to putting som sort of addative like this.......but in desperation I tried it.

Now.....based on driving the vehicle...it appears that the only time I am still having issues is when coming off of the highway.....sometimes....and this seems to be improving....I ahve 150- miles on the tranny with the seamfoam added. It is obvious that vlaves are beginning to move properly agian....and the more I drive it...the better it gets. I am going to prolly put 10k on the tranny...then service it with a filter and 6 new quarts of fluid.

FYI....I also service the tranny 1 1/2 months ago...in hopes of fixing these issues......and to no avail. New filter and fluid did not help.

Guys.......I have no idea if other addatives would have done the same thing....but before you go and spend a hell of of lot of money.......try one for yourself.......

Good luck.....I hope this thread helps some one with as much desperation that I have had in this matter

Ernie

arioch2112 · #2 02-01-2005, 08:29 AM

Wanted to make sure you guys read this........the car is still working great.......anybody that is having some of the same problems I was having should look into this

RG501 · #3 02-01-2005, 01:03 PM

my 95 grand prix does the same thing i think. when i go, it will jerk alittle right when it shifts into 2nd. is that what yours did?

arioch2112 · #4 02-01-2005, 02:50 PM

Oh yeah....among other things

Phoenix69 · #5 02-01-2005, 05:41 PM

Mind does the same and has 50k on it. Its like a very small one around 15mph, then a little bigger at 30 or so, then a noticeable one atleast to the driver in the peddle at 46mph, (all at typical driving rpm). Doesn't mean my transmission is dying...least i dont think...?

RG501 · #6 02-01-2005, 09:59 PM

so do you think that jerking in my car is the samething yours did? what was the stuff you put in your transmission to fix it? where could i get it?

arioch2112 · #7 02-03-2005, 08:25 PM

I put the Seafoam tranny treatment in the tranny....whithin about 20 miles......85% of my trouble went away. This stuff is supposed to free up hung valves and clean up some of the sludge.

Yep....my car was jerking.....I really think this stuff will help you.....sure beets the hell out of 2000.00 for overhaul

Tonyr · #8 02-03-2005, 09:35 PM

Where did you get the Seafoam? Mine jerks going into second ony after the car is warmed up though. If the engine is cold it doesn't do it.

arioch2112 · #9 02-03-2005, 09:40 PM

You can get it at Oriely auto parts

bsarabia · #10 03-15-2005, 06:36 PM

Just curious? Are you still having good luck with with the Seafoam treatmeant you used? Is the problem still improving?
Thanks.
BS

arioch2112 · #11 03-16-2005, 07:10 PM

Yes.......once the car warms up.....it works pretty well. Gotta say though......it still wants to act funny some of the time. I am going to pull the fluid and go back in with another treatment.....I think the valves have some goop still on them....and with time.....it all should clear up. By the way......my problem came from NOT servicing the tranny when I was supposed too.....that will never happen agian

tbialowas · #12 03-17-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arioch2112

Yes.......once the car warms up.....it works pretty well. Gotta say though......it still wants to act funny some of the time. I am going to pull the fluid and go back in with another treatment.....I think the valves have some goop still on them....and with time.....it all should clear up. By the way......my problem came from NOT servicing the tranny when I was supposed too.....that will never happen agian

I had to have my 2001 3.8 transmission rebuilt at 77,000 miles. It was doing exactly as the others have stated - it started off with a hesitated hard shifting into 1st and that eventually progressed to hard shifting into 2nd and 3rd. I have the fluids changed and the filters done without any luck - I still had the same issues. In desperation I put in some anti-slip for my transmission. This seemed to work for about 10-12 days and then the problems came right back. Then one day - grind is all I heard. The transmission went just that quick - from running to nothing. I had to have it towed. Unfortunately, unlike you gentlemen, I do not know much about cars and had to have someone else do it for me to the tune of over $1,200 and SEVERAL weeks without a car. The mechanic used to be a Pontiac mechanic for over 20 years, but still had to take it back a second time and do some more work. Anyway - sorry to bore, but I am still having a hard shift into 1st on occassion. This is how it all started out the first time. I am at 82,000+ miles and have 24 more months of lease payments on this beast that's out of warranty. Any idea what I may do to elongate her life without another rebuild?? I really can't afford it. Any idea is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

tightwad · #13 03-21-2005, 11:57 AM

I have the same type of problem, and I installed the Seafoam tranny treatment. Didn't seem to help, and I have put 1700 miles on it so far. Sometimes I wonder if it is the tranny, or a sensor somewhere telling the computer the wrong thing.

arioch2112 · #14 03-21-2005, 09:00 PM

Obviously....these trannys SUCK! It is amazing to me that we have to put up with this kind of crap.....pontiac should not be able to get away with this. And you know....everyone always talks about buying american cars.....well, they suck too. When you can muy a toyota, mazda, honda or any other rice burner......and it just wont fail.....that kikda says it all. Sorry for the rant.....but this a bunch of crap......American manufacturing has gone down the crapper

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD