2000 auto tranny problems

[amigo-2k]

Well, it is my turn. I think I know what is wrong.

Here is the deal (automatic, V6)

When holding speed at 52-62 MPH, the transmission will make 2-4 clunks. Like the torque converter is trying to kick in. I'm guessing that the solinoid in the tranny is bad. I have about 51k on it and had the dealer flush it at about 31k. I'm the first owner so I should be covered by warranty.

-Ryan

[Dober89]

Let us know how it works out.

[rodeo02]

Say it aint so Ryan! Did you 100% rule out a misfire or an a/c kicking on/off issue? Did you scan for codes? As we know the 2 most common 4L30E problem causers are 1) low volts, 2) bad mode/range sensor. Hope you, or better yet the dealer, find it!! Keep us posted.
G/luck
Joel

[amigo-2k]

Just checked the code, and I got zip. Took it for a spin, defrost off, no AC, still happens. The battery is 4 years old and I have read about a lot of owner batteries dieing 3-4 yrs out. I was planning on changing it this fall.

I took a peak at the range sensor. I pulled off the heat shield and stopped there. Over all it looked pretty clean.

Unfortunatly this is only 1 of four problems I'm having.

1. Tranny issue
2. Intermitted whipper sometimes work, sometimes don't (there is a fix here the involves sodering it a new chip).
3. stearing wheel shakes at +68 MPH. I recently rotated my wheels and I think that is when it started. So I'm going to rotate them back and see if that fixes it. If not I have three options. 1. balance the wheels. 2. repack the wheel bearings (never been done and I checked and there seems to be a bit of play in one of the wheels. 3. Shock (orginal) are dead, and I'm getting a bit of wheel hop.

4. Ping. I'm had this since the truck has had about 20k or so. It comes and goes. I ran the last 6 tanks of gas on 87 octane and it was fine, and then it started to ping again so I went back up to 89 again and it stops. I know there is a new ECU flash, which I should get done for free (even though I'm out of my warranty for that) since I have it documented on two occassions.

So tomorrow (if they are open) I'm going to call them up and ask when a good time is to bring it in. The good thing is that they are about 2 miles from my place and I'm unemployeed still (that's not a good thing) so I can just toss my bike on the back and bike home.

A lot of these little things I was planning to doing this fall, but I guess I can start now. I have faith in my dealer, they have always treated right.

Cheers!

-Ryan

[amigo-2k]

Well it is at the shop now. I took a ride with the tech and it took a bit for it to act up, but he felt it too. He is going to hook up a scan tool and take it on the same strech of road to see what he finds. He agrees it is something with the torque converter or a miss-fire, which I doubt, since I can to the same test in 3 gear and there is no jerking at all.

On a side note, in one corner of the garage there was a pile (4-6) of 3.2/3/5 (+98) engines sitting on the floor (spun bearings?).

[amigo-2k]

Well it is fixed. Guess what the scan tool said it was?

Intake manafold gasket

They hooked it up to the scan tool took if for a drive and that is what came up. Unreal.

-Ryan

[rodeo02]

No kidding? the 'ol bad IMG?? Thats cool that's all it was. One of the computers may have been dumping the TC lockup every time it sensed a little misfire from the air leakage. I'm not too surprised it happend only in 4th due to the nearly closed throttle postion & high intake vacuum. That's where she'd leak the most, causing issues. Good luck amigo! Had to know the way you care for your rig it couldn't be anything too major!
G/luck
Joel

[surferfletch]

Ahhh...the irony! Glad it was nothing major.