The Buick has trans problems...

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

The Buick has trans problems...

67BBSD · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

used cars, too bad its a front wheel drive-I'm sure it work out better as a rear wheel drive, whatever it is if you have to pull it might as well overhaul to save the cost of pulling again, never know what can go wrong with a ten year old car.

you just bought it ? no warranty ? not even the 30 day lubrico ? it was private ? maybe the seller would feel bad-never hurts to ask, Although it only happened once to me in a sale I did help the buyer with the cost-lotsa fair people out there.

Ken

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Boy, too bad you're so far. We have a great tranny guy at work and he does work out of his shop at home.

I will try to remember to mention this to him tomorrow and see if he has ideas.

eeluddy · Uber Guru

My 99 STS did the same thing. As I said we flushed & changed the fluid,a 50-50 mix of Dexron III & synthetic with some additive and it cured it. That was best case scenario. Todd, the mileage on the Buick is relativly low for the year, so it's likely never had a fluid change.
What is the recommended interval on the maintainence schedule?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

That is because it has been babied. It's hanging up between shifts so don't let it do that. I say use Earl's formula and give it a few good boots! It has to learn how to shift the way you drive.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

The car has 104k on it and I bought it as is from a local lot. The lot owner allowed me to take it to work for a DOT inspection before I bought it. The trans was shifting fine at that point. The service interval for the trans is 160k. I'll do a service first and see what happens. If you CLICK HERE and scroll down you'll see a list of common problems with the 4T65E and one of them is "Tach bounces up and down a few hundred RPM in lockup". It says this problem is more pronounced with added engine power and can happen when the valve body has excessive wear in the TCC valve area. It only happens on a slight grade. I wonder if I'm getting fluid starvation? I'll recheck the fluid level today.

-- Edited by 69Laurentian at 06:20, 2008-10-23

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

I have a turbo 400, if you want to switch to RWD idea

N/C

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

69Laurentian wrote:

If you CLICK HERE and scroll down you'll see a list of common problems with the 4T65E and one of them is "Tach bounces up and down a few hundred RPM in lockup". It says this problem is more pronounced with added engine power

...but your shudder smooths out with added power Todd.

-- Edited by 73SC at 09:25, 2008-10-23

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Sounds like you're operating the car at the exact point where the lock up can't decide to be in or out?.
If you lightly step on the brake while operating at this exact point, does the lockup stay unengaged and all else Ok?.
Stop operating in this exact speed range and go w/ the trans service first...and don't let anyone talk you into ripping it out or apart!.

Best of luck Todd!.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Ghost Post wrote:

Stop operating in this exact speed range and go w/ the trans service first...and don't let anyone talk you into ripping it out or apart!.

Best of luck Todd!.

I agree 100% with Pete, the car does not have enough kilometres on it for a serious problem imo. smile

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

You guys could be right. The symptoms described in the link above makes me believe this is a problem if you are cruising at a steady speed and the tac starts bouncing. Mine bounces if I come up to a grade and I (or the cruise control) try to slowly accelerate. Anyone running synthetic trans fluid? I've heard Mobile 1 is pretty good. What about additives like Lucas. I've heard good things about an additive called "Muscle" (and I remember using it in my 58 Plymouth for a harsh shift) but I haven't seen it in stores for quite some time. I remember it was about 30 bucks for a bottle.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I talked to our guy, and he suggested putting on a scan tool and going for a ride. He said that when it starts to do that to look at the signal from the vehicle speed sensor and see it that is consistent.

No ses light, right?

Have you checked yet if it has any codes?

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

No I haven't I might stop into the GM store I worked at tonight. They are open late and see if I can scan it.

eeluddy · Uber Guru

Hey Todd, I'll go see Gerry on Friday and see if I can score a bottle of Mr.Muscle

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Ok. I'm trying to source some Mobile 1 synthetic ATF. I've read good things about this stuff. I'll service it with that and the Muscle and see how it is.
Thanks
Todd

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Personally I'm always hesitant to do anything without first trying all possible to identify where the problem lies first?.

I'm out of the loop on these now but on many cars, slightly touching the brakes enough that the brake light switch clicks on keeps the lock-up from engaging.. Same as when it has engaged, touching the brake disengages it..
Being it's a simple test and free, just try it first before adding any of the snake oils..

Then go to your GM house buds, check for codes and scan while driving seeing if you can watch the lock-up engaging and if this is the exact moment the concern appears..

Even if the concern continues, again don't rip the trans apart..
A simple service and some miles on it may make it all Ok again?.
And who knows if the past owners driving habits have contributed to the problem?. They could've been a two footed driver riding the brakes and the lock-up only ever engaged when they sneezed or scratched their nuts?.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Yesterday I had the trans serviced. Zero debris in the pan. That's good news. I used Royal Purple synthetic and Lucas additive. I'll give it a few kms to determine if all is well.
I also had the front rotors turned to address a brake pulsation and have replaced the original (yes original) Goodyears with a set of Michelin Harmony's. They are great tires. The car drives like a dream. My commute is much more comfy than with that S10! I've really come to appreciate features like the auto dimming rear view mirror, the heated outside mirrors and those heated seats have been nice in the morning. The 9 speaker "Concert Sound III" system really sounds great with my MP3 player.

-- Edited by 69Laurentian at 09:53, 2008-10-28

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Well, on the way home from work the Buick acted up once. I was cruising at 80kmh behind a bunch of traffic. I got on a slight grade, gave the car some gas and the tac started bouncing again. I was still in lockup. With my left foot I tapped the brake and she instantly came out of lockup and all was well again. The car settled back into lockup again and didn't fluctuate. It's gotta be a valve body problem. Since I didn't find any debris in the pan, I'll likely leave it for now unless it gets worse. One instance in a 38k drive I can live with.

57poncho · Uber Guru

I had a trans with a lockup problem before and they disconnect it . Worked fine like that as long as I had it

64 Canso · Veteran Member

It sounds like either a solenoid problem or TC issue. You have to realize these trans have about 10 solenoids in them to do different funtions(all controlled by the computer). A really good tech with a good scanner (gm or genesis) should be able to diagnose using the capture mode. When it comes time to lock up the converter, the scanner should show a "demand", it other words it(computer) will apply voltage to engage the TCC. If it is steady, it is the solenoid or TCC. If it is not steady it is something else that triggers that "state". EG: coolant temp, MAP, TPS, brake pedal switch or the computer itself.

If you want something to do on the cheap I would look closely at all connections that go onto the trans for corrosion. I know everyone says that they are "weather tight" but I have seen some corroded in the past.

Good luck, Floyd.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Thanks Floyd. I'll check those out. Seems strange it only happens on a slight grade though.

im2ner · Addicted!

most buicks of that type : ie the gueen mary designation, were never meant to ever be pushed must past 78km/h , the median age of the buick gueen mary drivers is somewhere around 98-99 years young . and they all hold to their hearts that the rumour of "speed kills" is true !! so going 80 even in an 80 zone if to fast . so the engineers designed a slower car for their target market ....... should have bought the lexus i guess

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

So the lockup kicked out as it should have when you tapped the brake, the rev increase made the concern disappear and the tranny seems to be fine aside from the lockup being in question...right?.
But since the concern only happens under load and you noticed the tach bounces, my question now is...how many Km's are on those plugs?.
Are they the originals?.

-- Edited by Ghost Post at 00:09, 2008-10-31

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

im2ner wrote:

most buicks of that type : ie the gueen mary designation, were never meant to ever be pushed must past 78km/h , the median age of the buick gueen mary drivers is somewhere around 98-99 years young . and they all hold to their hearts that the rumour of "speed kills" is true !! so going 80 even in an 80 zone if to fast . so the engineers designed a slower car for their target market ....... should have bought the lexus i guess

It's supercharged, we are nice to newbies but let me say it again, it's supercharged. 80 km/h...NOT.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

That smart ass newbie works with me so he is forgiven. The plugs are likely original (104k). Supposed to be good for 160 but I do know how long they tend to last in reality. I really need to snag a Tech II for about 20 minutes so I can scan for misfire data or a tcc problem.