Hard shift (intermittant) '01 V6 Aurora

[Kodak]

vehicle has 73k 80% of time auto trans shifts smooth as glass on occasion the shift feels like the car ran through a two foot deep pothole BAM! Then, before long shift returns to normal, nice and smooth. Have heard rumors of sensor faults on these cars but can find no one who really knows for sure. Anyone had this situation show up in their ride yet? Sure would like to cure problem , but don't know where to start. Thanks for any feedback!

[dafrazi]

I had a similar problem and it was a pair of shift sensors. One of the other posts on the forums spells out where they're located.

[dmorlow]

I don't think it is a sensor unless your check engine light is on. My sensor kept on making the check engine light go on until I had it replaced. I took mine in because the shop had to pull my transmission to replace it. (a $10 sensor cost $500 to have it installed.)

[dmorlow]

you should use a scantool to see if you have any codes stored in the computer.

[dmorlow]

But, I am searching the forum for that exact problem I am having with my car now. I had the sensor replaced (costing $500 or so) and it fixed probably 80% of the hard shifts. It used to do it once or twice a day. Now it does it a few times a month. I was talking to someone today and they were saying that this could be caused by bad motor mounts. He said the engine would sag too much because the motor mounts are giving out and when you first start driving the car, the engine isn't sitting right so the engine or the transmission would slam into the right position to match up with the (I think it is called) driveshaft (or at least whatever takes place of a driveshaft in a front wheel drive). Does this make sense?

[apostolakisl]

I had a hard shifting problem in my 01 v6 as well. It happened three times and each time it was a different problem. The speed sensor was the cultprit the first time. I do not believe the check engine light came on at that point. After about a year it happened again. Now they replaced the wiring harness to the speed sensor. About a year later it happened again. This time the check engine was comming on. It turned out to be the engine control computer. By some miracle, this part has an 80k mile warranty, so I would get your 73k mile car in for a computer diagnostic soon. Each time the problem was intermittant and happened when shifting from 2nd to 3rd.

[youknooow]

replaced solenoids, rebuilt transmission including tourqe converter, still extra kick, I will get my speed sensor replaced, along engine control computer, this will be a big fight at the dealer because my car is still under warranty, but if that cures the problem it will be worth it