Transmission has no 4th gear

[pgarcia53]

Hello, I have a 2001 Intrigue with 105,000 miles. Recently I noticed that the engine was turning 3500 rpm on the freeway. I checked to make sure that I did not accidentally have the shifter in 3, it was in D. I then shifted back and forth between 3 and D several times, no change in engine RPMs. I have since noticed a couple of other things. When driving at a steady speed on a smooth asphalt road (too much road noise on concrete), the vehicle makes a steady whine which changes pitch with the speed of the vehicle, while in D. No such noise in 3. Also, when I take my foot off the gas after driving at a steady speed with the vehicle in D, the RPM quickly drops to idle, as if the trans was in neutral. If I do the same thing with the vehicle in 3, the RPM stays up, slowly dropping as the vehicle decreases in speed. My question is, is this a mechanical issue, or could there be some electronic problem causing this behavior? With this many miles on the car, I don't want to spend $2500+ to get it fixed, but I probably would spend $300-400. I don't mind driving it in 3 for another year or so, as long as I could be confident that the trans is still reliable in the 3 gears that it has left. After reading some of the other posts here, I feel lucky to have gotten more than 100,000 miles out of it!

[Jimmy Olsen]

Sounds to me like a mechnical problem. You didn't mentioned if you have ever changed the tranny fluid. If not, I would get a transmission flush and add a bottle of lubegard in case a solenoid is stuck. If that doesn't help, then I would just drive the car in 3rd gear.

[pgarcia53]

The fluid and filter were changed once, at around 60,000 miles. Another thing I noticed, when the problem started, I began to check the fluid level. I have done this several times, making sure to follow the procedure in the owner's manual exactly. Each time the fluid level has been 1 to 1 1/2 inches ABOVE the full mark. There are also small bubbles in the fluid on the dipstick. It's a company fleet vehicle, we have a fleet manager that handles the regular service (oil changes, check fluid levels, etc.). I have never added any fluid to the trans, I suppose it's possible that the garage servicing the vehicle did. As a check, I also checked the fluid in my Grand Prix GTP, which I believe has a similar trans, and it was exactly where it should have been, no bubbles either. I actually own that car, so I am naturally concerned about the long-term durability of the trans.

[panzer dragoon]

when you check the fluid level make sure you follow the exact directions in the manual. It will have the exact procedure to follow. When I first looked at my tranny fluid it was way high also, -just like you said about an inch to 1 1/2 to high. But when I followed the procedure it was right on --it freaked me out seeing it that high because thats what blows tranny seals.

On a older transmission (TH350 etc)when the transmission was cold usually it was 1 pint to low and then when warm it would get to the full mark. These new transmissions are not like that you need to follow the owners manual to a T.

For $25 you can get an alldatadiy.com account and get a good idea what is wrong with that tranny. I think adding the tranny lubeguard would be a good idea also. Remember that this is a 3 speed plus OverDrive and not really a four speed tranny. So your overdrive is not engaging.

***You did follow the owners manual***(but maybe your serviceman didn't)

To get that extra tranny fluid out: I used a syringe and plastic tubing inserted down the tranny fill tube. I overfilled my 75 Olds tranny once and I think thats when I got the bubbles on the dipstick. Take out another pint and add the lubeguard.

For $25 alldatadiy.com has a wealth of information. Probably better that getting the service manuals. But you need to renew after the year is up.

[Jimmy Olsen]

I get surplus tranny fluid out by disconnecting the connection to the radiator and turning on the engine. Messy so I do it over dirt or gravel but it doesn't take long for the extra fluid to get pumped out.

[pgarcia53]

Thanks for the responses. I just pumped out about a pint of fluid, I am going to test it out soon. I'll post the results.

[pgarcia53]

OK, I pulled out about a pint of fluid. No change in the symptoms. I did see a service bulletin relative to this condition, it's about a sun gear that slips out of the shell and can cause the loss of reverse, second or fourth gear. If that's what is wrong, then the fix involves removal and disassembly of the trans and replacement of the gear and shell with "more robust heat treated parts". In any case, I am going to have it looked at, if it's a relatively cheap fix, we will have it repaired, otherwise, I'll just drive it in 3 for another year or so. Even at today's gas prices, the loss in fuel economy on the highway for the next year or two is still cheaper than a tranny rebuild!

[Jimmy Olsen]

Did you put in the Lubegard?

[pgarcia53]

I had the car taken in for a tranny flush and filter change. They are also supposed to do a diagnosis. Should have it back tomorrow.

[zephram22]

Originally Posted by pgarcia53

Hello, I have a 2001 Intrigue with 105,000 miles. Recently I noticed that the engine was turning 3500 rpm on the freeway. I checked to make sure that I did not accidentally have the shifter in 3, it was in D. I then shifted back and forth between 3 and D several times, no change in engine RPMs. I have since noticed a couple of other things. When driving at a steady speed on a smooth asphalt road (too much road noise on concrete), the vehicle makes a steady whine which changes pitch with the speed of the vehicle, while in D. No such noise in 3. Also, when I take my foot off the gas after driving at a steady speed with the vehicle in D, the RPM quickly drops to idle, as if the trans was in neutral. If I do the same thing with the vehicle in 3, the RPM stays up, slowly dropping as the vehicle decreases in speed. My question is, is this a mechanical issue, or could there be some electronic problem causing this behavior? With this many miles on the car, I don't want to spend $2500+ to get it fixed, but I probably would spend $300-400. I don't mind driving it in 3 for another year or so, as long as I could be confident that the trans is still reliable in the 3 gears that it has left. After reading some of the other posts here, I feel lucky to have gotten more than 100,000 miles out of it!

Same thing happened on my 99 Lumina LTZ. Changing the fluid seemed to help a bit, but eventually, I went back to having only three gears and turning 3200 at 75mph. Didn't really damage the engine doing that, but it ate up my gas milage like crazy.

[pgarcia53]

Well, after a couple of days diagnosing the trans, the garage figured out that it was an internal mechanical problem. The solenoids all checked out ok. Believe it or not, our fleet manager decided to have the trans replaced with a rebuilt unit, figuring that we could get another 50,000 miles out of the vehicle, as the rest of the car is in good condition. I have since read in one of the other posts that this loss of overdrive is somewhat of a common condition with the 4T65E trans-apparently there is a splined shaft that gets stripped causing the loss of overdrive. Should have the car back in a couple of days.