1999 Transmission/Traction Control System

[Bob Lane]

Bought this 1999 Silhouette Premiere 4 weeks ago. 90K miles. Had one problem right off. Air Bag light staying on. Dealer fixed by drying out a wet connector he said was under the driver's seat??? Now I have another.

Yesterday, for the first time, while turning up my steep driveway, it felt like the transmission jerked twice then kept going. It has happened 4-5 times since then, always when accelerating from a stop and going up a slight to steep grade. Each "jerk" is pretty hard and it does it twice every time.

Is this the transmission or the Traction Control System? I'm not getting any CEL's or anything else. No matter what I do with the TCS button in the dash, the light in the switch doesn't come on.

I also don't see a fuse that is labeled for the TCS.

Anyone have any ideas??? Thanks for any help.

Bob Lane
Pinson, AL

[scrapdaddy]

i had the same problem with my 2000 and it was in the transmission and it cost me a 1000 bucks if i were u sell the van b4 u have more problems these vans are junk. i have a 2000 with 130k on it and have put a new tranny and new motor in it plus several sensors the van is crap.

[01intrigue00silo]

Ours had similar issue around 75k miles, and it would disable the TCS (you do not mention if any ABS or TCS messages/lights go on). It turns out the front right ABS pump was going bad, then it finally went completely bad and shut down. This disables the ABS and the TCS systems. I was told it's $1000 to replace the pump. Mechanic will give me estimate tomorrow. Without the pump, you basically have no ABS brakes or TCS. We've driven it a year like this, but with car payments now over we may get iit fixed.

[Allbert]

Originally Posted by Bob Lane

Bought this 1999 Silhouette Premiere 4 weeks ago. 90K miles. Had one problem right off. Air Bag light staying on. Dealer fixed by drying out a wet connector he said was under the driver's seat??? Now I have another.

Yesterday, for the first time, while turning up my steep driveway, it felt like the transmission jerked twice then kept going. It has happened 4-5 times since then, always when accelerating from a stop and going up a slight to steep grade. Each "jerk" is pretty hard and it does it twice every time.

Is this the transmission or the Traction Control System? I'm not getting any CEL's or anything else. No matter what I do with the TCS button in the dash, the light in the switch doesn't come on.

I also don't see a fuse that is labeled for the TCS.

Anyone have any ideas??? Thanks for any help.

Bob Lane
Pinson, AL

If I had to bet, I would say it's the pressure control solenoid. Do a search for "PCS" from a couple levels up (not just Oldsmobile forum)... there are some good posts (especially from FlatRater) about the notorious Delphi pressure control solenoid problem that ALL pre-2003 4T65E (and 4T40/45E) GM transmission suffer from.

[kc9dre]

I had a similar issue but mine was after a hard stop, come to find out I checked the fluid and it was a little on the low side (about a pint and a half) Filled it into the acceptable range and my issues went away.

[woscarr]

Another thing to watch out for...

We buy these used vans and never even bother to check and MOST IMPORTANTLY change the tranny fluid.

I used to have a 92 Plymouth Voyager I bought used in 95. I drove that van 2 years before I even thought it might be necessary to check the tranny fluid ! BIG mistake on my part. You know how it usually is buying a used vehicle. You also buy a 'after market' 2 year/40k engine & tranny warranty. Two years after I bought the van, about the time the warranty expired one day the van did a really hard shift from 1st to 2nd while driving slow. Well it was already way too late, I should have did the fluid change within one month of purchase. At the time I was under the impression as far as it goes with tranny's LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE! So I put in some Gunk Trans Medic, and kept doing that over the years until about year seven when I decided to get a power flush ! That's when the real problems started.


And thanks to the boy's at the local MR. Lube, I was almost on my way to doing it again with this van.

I bought my 98 Trans Sport back in November and also purchased another after market warranty on engine & trans. 2yr./40k. I had to bring her in for quarterly oil changes.

I notice the boys standing around the front under the hood at the Mr. Lube all looking at the dip stick and mumbling. I stick my head out the window and say... I know, I know the oil looks brand new, I'm doing this for warranty purposes. They and reply... Oh! Ok.

edit; I meant to add. The van has been pretty well sitting since I bought in November, so even though the oil looked brand new it might have had some moisture from sitting so much. I might drive it once or twice a week. Winter blues, don't feel like going anywhere. The van will get plenty of use this summer.

Anyway I was really impressed with their service and here it comes...

The Mechanic pulls the dip stick form tranny and walks over to my window. " the fluid looks a little brown & slight burnt smell"

WHAM!!! Like a flash back from the 60's. IT HITS ME !

CHANGE THE (i wont use profanities here) TRANNY FLUID MAN !!!

And it looks like I might have got this one in time. The magnet was exceptionally clean.

$170 CDN. Mr. Lube drops the pan, new filter and gasket. Check and clean magnet. Change fluid then pump another 10 liters through toque converter.

All in about 35 mins. I realize the price is a little on the high side. But I said what the heck. Better than putting it off saying "I'll do it in the summer" . Give me about two years and I'll let you know if it was worth it.

Cheer's
Wayne

[diesel1962]

Hello.I had a 97'Olds van,(no longer own it).Had same problem with transmisson jerking.It was the torque convertor clutch solonoide going bad.I went and bought the part,Then found out that you have to tear the entire transmisson out of the vehicle to replace it!! Long story short,I drove the van for two years,Having to manualy shift the transmisson at times.Engine finally puked(intake gasket),Then sold it.I still have the solonoide (interested in buying it??) Also check coolant very carefully,As these engins have a nasty habit of blowing intake gaskets,Coolant mixing with the engine oil done my van in.I really liked my Olds van too,It got great fuel mileage and I could haul alot of stuff around.But they are a bear to work on,So I just got rid of it and have no plans of evere owning one again.Good luck!! Diesel 1962