possible slipping transmission

[dtroilo]

I own a 98 venture ls, with 180,000+ KM (KiloMeters here in Canada! 112,000+ Miles) When I travel at higher speeds 120 KPH (~80 MPH) all is fine until I get to an incline. What I am finding is that the tranmission appears to be shifting up and down. At lower speeds there is no problem with inclines. I am not towing and am driving in D.

I have never had the transmission serviced/fluid changed. The fluid appears brown but does not smell burnt.

Would changing the fluid help, or am I looking at an eventual transmission failure?

Is there an additive that may help?

Thanks in Advance

Domenic

[DRW1000]

The fluid probably should have been changed already but I don't think you have waited an overly long time. There are those who recooment not changing it if it has been "too" long anf those who say you should in any event.
My belief is that the transmission is on its last leg then changing the fluid is not going to kill it. It just may die sooner than later but even that is hard to imagine.

There are additves but who really knows what they do. I have looked at Lucas products (available at Canadian Tire). They are expensive but The demo for the oil additive looks like it does something so I tend to expand that across all of their products. I just added their power steering additive but I have not had time to determine if it has done any good and I may never know.

I think you should replace your fluid and filter and if the problem persists then try an additive.

Just my 2 cents.

[dtroilo]

Thanks, I guess I should have changed it eariler... Since I do not know much about transmissions, does changing the fluid give it more viscosity such that would stop the slipping that may be occuring? Or is there a special reason for slipping?

Domenic

[bleepster]

i am not great with trannys either. but I suspect that your bands are slipping.

when i get my tranny fluid changed - they adjust all that stuff as part of the tranny fluid/filter change

might be worth the $60 to take it somewhere and have them change it

[DRW1000]

I was wondering if the torque converter might be what is slipping.

[gls02]

How long have you owned this vechicle? My 02 Silhouette does the same thing at highway speeds while going up a long incline. At lower speeds you don't have the wind resistance you do at highway speeds so your transmission won't have to down shift to overcome this.

[Kevcules]

I own a Venture too and I haven't noticed what your talking about yet.
(120,000 km's) I change my fluid at around 60 to 80 thousand km's.I have used Lucas additive and will continue at every fluid change. They say it wears less with this additive. Time will tell.
I recommend changing the fluid and filter (you can do it yourself,the gasket on the tranny pan is "re-useable" so don't get another one unless you tear it taking it out.) and popping in some lucas additive. If problem persists take it a transmission mechanicand have it diagnosed or call the dealer to see if this is common..There is such a thing as lock up torque converter that will shift up and down on inclines like it has 6 or 7 gears. My GMC truck has one.

[dtroilo]

Originally Posted by Kevcules

There is such a thing as lock up torque converter that will shift up and down on inclines like it has 6 or 7 gears. My GMC truck has one.

This switching is like a shift up for 20 seconds, then a shift down for 20, shift up, shift down, etc, only at highway speeds and under a load (hill), I don't think the torque converter has a "lock up" since this is the same as any other venture van, anyone else have one?

I can/have done simple stuff; fix the driver door by bending the sissor bar back to it's origonal shape, corrected an abs failure/turn signal issue by 'fixing' the connector to the back light. All issues that I have found out from this board. Thanks all of you!

I am not up to changing the tranmission fluid as I do not have any ramps and real tools for this type of job.

I have owned this vehicle since 2000, and had the intake manafold replaced, just like everyone else and they use a lot of salt on the roads here and it is rusting out on the rocker pannels in front of the rear wheels both sides, I have seen many other ventures with the same rust problem, it starts where the join is on the rocker pannel and I suspect that water does not drain properly around it and grows from there...

[Kevcules]

Any luck finding out if the venture is plaqued with this shifting problem?
What does the dealer recommend?

[dtroilo]

Originally Posted by Kevcules

Any luck finding out if the venture is plaqued with this shifting problem?
What does the dealer recommend?

I won't go to a dealer (can't find one I trust!), but the last time I had recall work done they of course suggested that I change the fluid. I do not believe that this is a problem that occurs often or we all may have heard more about it.

[jzimms]

Originally Posted by dtroilo

I won't go to a dealer (can't find one I trust!), but the last time I had recall work done they of course suggested that I change the fluid. I do not believe that this is a problem that occurs often or we all may have heard more about it.

Hey, go over to the Ponticrap Montana forum and see what we are dealing with. The same ol GM reliability. Sorry to put salt in any ones wounds but we are all trying to figure out these same issues.

[trannyman52]

that transmission pan is VERY SHALLOW,,,,,run trans a quart over-full,,,will not hurt it,,,actually helps,,,creates a splash oiling for planets,,,
will not blow-out seals or other BS