transmission feels like it is "bumping" into the next gear

[tedhontz]

HI guys,

I have a 2004 Grand Prix GT2. This transmission has always shifted a little different but I thought it was normal since my new car is a 6 speed automatic. The Grand Prix is for my son. Anyways when driving it slowly it seems to "drag" into the next gear. It was like it took a second to shift. Most noticeable from first gear to second. Today my son passed his test and got his learners permit so we went to a big church parking lot to practice. After about 10 minutes we noticed that the transmission was shifting hard and fast from first to second and second to third. It's still mild right now but you can feel a bump when it shifts and the tach reacts quickly. This is not what he was expecting on his first drive in his car. Hopefully it doesn't need a transmission because he doesn't have the money for that. The car has 197K on it but many things have been replaced including new exhaust head to toe. Not an aftermarket exhaust, just a brand new quiet exhaust. I am guessing that the tranny has been replaced at least once with those miles but now today it just started this "bump" from first to second and second to third. Any help is appreciated guys!

Thanks,

Ted

[ericspecullaas]

well i would drop the pan and replace the filter as typical maintance then put the 7 qts that came out. that should help the shifting.

[Below Average Joe]

I would also add a shift kit and an external cooler. 04+ transmissions like to get hot.

Here is a link to the shift kit you will need: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transgo-Shif...dU45dR&vxp=mtr

Here is a link to a trans cooler: http://shop.tripleedgeperformance.co...ooler-1405.htm

[ericspecullaas]

also i want to know how big the "church" parking lot is if your getting it to third then that a big lot

[tedhontz]

also i want to know how big the "church" parking lot is if your getting it to third then that a big lot

The church has approximately 2,600 members. It has a huge parking lot. I'll take it to get the filter replaced and new fluid put in. I'll ask about the transmission cooler and shift kit but we were only going maximum of 30mph so I don't think it needs a cooler. I was warned that these cars have awesome engines and weak transmissions. And now here we are.

[Below Average Joe]

make sure that whoever you take it to does not flush the transmission. Just a filter and fluid change. The shift kit will firm up the shift a little and the cooler will keep the trans cool all of the time. Once your son starts to drive the car, the trans will get hot no matter how fast he will go. The cooler will just help prolong the transmissions life. I had this same issue in my 05, but i waited too long and eventually replaced the transmission.

[ericspecullaas]

lesson for the day dont wait get it done NOW. then tell your son he owes you for the repairs

[tedhontz]

That's the thing, he still owes me a remaining balance on the car and I MYSELF can't even afford the repairs. I don't have a problem buying a $50 shift kit or a $50 cooler, but how much would you guys estimate labor to be for each job? In the meantime it is parked once again and I'm not going to let him drive my car to log his required 50 hours of drive time. I originally bought him a 2002 Ford Taurus SEL with the Duratec 24V DOHC V6 and also the better Taurus transmission but then he liked this Grand Prix better so now we are dealing with the Grand Prix, not that the Taurus didn't have any problems either though. My brother's brother-in-law is an ex mechanic that still possesses a computer that can read transmission codes. He also mentioned that the transmission has a driver "learn" mode that may need to reset. We've had issues with the battery being dead and have had to charge it so maybe that got reset and it's learning to shift all over. And if it's learning to shift, it shouldn't be learning in a church parking lot with my son driving it.

[Tonkin2000GT]

Just do the work yourself use the write up step by step it's not that hard. What else needs to be done?

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[tedhontz]

What step by step write up? I'm confused. It's not that hard to change the filter? Not that hard to install the shift kit? Or not that hard to install the transmission cooler? I'd love to do the work myself. I just need to know what I'm getting myself into. Besides the transmission issue the engine seems to run well. The last place I took it for service refused to do a radiator flush and fill because they said the oil and antifreeze and water were all mixing because I needed a lower manifold gasket. So, I took it home I checked it and did NOT see any mixture of those so with some help I did the flush myself. I just got a letter from GM saying not to park it in the garage because it could catch on fire. I guess they are waiting on parts. They are going to change a gasket of some kind. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll be the gasket that controls the mixing of the antifreeze and oil but I doubt it. It needs a couple new or good used front tires and the battery is dead if the car is left sitting for over 10 days so I'm probably going to get a new battery for it as well. As far as I can tell that is all the problems, and I REALLY hope the transmission issue does not turn into a big issue. I'm taking it tomorrow to my brother's brother-in-law to have the transmission codes scanned to see if there are any and to also reset the learning mode on the transmission. I hope the tranny can make it there to his house and doesn't get worse on the way.

[BrandonHall10]

What step by step write up?

http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...ailed-Pictures

I'm confused. It's not that hard to change the filter?

Nope, easy.

Not that hard to install the shift kit?

Nope, easy.

Or not that hard to install the transmission cooler?

That's a little more involved.

I just got a letter from GM saying not to park it in the garage because it could catch on fire. I guess they are waiting on parts. They are going to change a gasket of some kind. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll be the gasket that controls the mixing of the antifreeze and oil but I doubt it.

Valve cover gasket. Very common.

I just need to know what I'm getting myself into.

Take a look at that write up. That will be your guide. If you have any questions before or during the process, post it here. I'm certain someone (probably a couple people) will help you out.

[tedhontz]

Thanks!!!!

[coolone]

A catch basin, fluid, filter, shift kit, cooler and fittings. Drop pan and collect old fluid. Check pan for debris, clean magnet, remove inner component, install shift kit, replace, replace filter, replace gasket if not rubber, bolt cover back, install cooler, replace fluid and whoola! Easy peasy...
; )

Your transmission will thank you!

[robinsone]

Installing that Hayden 1405 cooler is VERY easy to do I have the same one. Do yourself a favor and get the Hayden 397 fitting. This way it makes the install far easier. I just took off the front bumper cover, installed the cooler in line with the passenger side bumper cover vent. Unplug the top trans line from the radiator, insert the 397 fitting. Now you have two male ends and the tubing from the 1405 will go perfectly with. I connected the top radiator line, the one with the fitting into the BOTTOM of the cooler. Then ran the TOP of the cooler back to the hard trans line. This way you take the hot trans fluid from the radiator and cool it before it goes back to the transmission. Also you will minimize air if you come in from the bottom and go to the top, that is the direction flow of fluid. There is enough space near the battery to run the lines and the tubing from the 1405 kit . Be warned not to bend the tubing, no drastic 90 degree bends or anything give the line enough space for a nice loop when running the line into the radiator fitting, otherwise you might pinch it.

It might also help when installing the wire tie plastic clips with the 1405 kit to take the radiator fans off, not out of the engine bay, just off the radiator. It allows a lot more space to secure the clips well.

I did the shift kit an the cooler and I might get a weird shift every now and then but its a lot better than before.