trans problems

[berryjo5]

so i own a 2000 grand prix gt. i bought it with 60000 miles on it and have put about 15 on it give or take. just after i bought it i noticed that if you drive it for awhile, or until it heats up, it starts to shift hard and i get a whine in my engine. if i stop and let it cool for awhile and then drive it, its fine until it gets hot again. i havent really noticed if its getting worse or not but i dont think it is. im not really sure but i dont think im doing any damage, though i could be wrong. someone once suggested that if i do a transmission flush with a new filter that would fix it but i really dont think thats the remedy, i also heard that in some pontiacs the shift solenoid sticks when it gets hot causing it to shift hard but would that cause the engine whine too? i only have the engine whine when it shifts hard, just for the record lol.

does anyone have any ideas? cause i would really like to keep this car and invest.

[BNaylor]

Get it scanned with a trans capable scanner and look for a P1811 DTC. Your symptoms is typical of the classic flaky PCS solenoid issue. The whining is high line pressure commanded on by the PCM module and then the hard/harsh shifts follow.

Do not get a flush!!!!

[berryjo5]

why would i not wanna get my transmittion flushed? not going to do any harm is it?

[wafrederick]

You want dirt in the valve body and the valves stick in in the valve body?A flush is very harmful to an automatic transmission.I have replaced one transmission because it was flushed and it was acting up.I know a transmission shop that does valve body cleaning and rebuilds because of a flush was done.GM does not recomend flushing a transmission and it says in the service manual

[BNaylor]

Most techs do not do the flushes properly or use improper shop flush equipment for the job. Sediment to include fine metal shavings or clutch material gets into the valve body normally making the issue worse. Many of our members that get a flush wind up with more tranny problems later on. Just do a pan drop service replacing the ATF (Dexron III) and screen filter first and see if that makes any difference.

[berryjo5]

thanks guys for the quick responses and the helpful advice. From what i have heard i think i will get it scanned, possibly replace the PCS sensor cause thats what i see on alot of other threads and just do a pan drop with a new filter. thanks again.

[BNaylor]

You're welcome.

Just so you know the PCS replacement is not a simple DIY job. Most people take it to a transmission shop. It is an electrical solenoid with a hydraulic type valve. It is located under the tranny side cover assembly with the valve body. See link below. The engine/tranny has to be held with a hoist and dropped down intact on the subframe and then tilted. But a bunch of parts have to be removed first.

Click here