I'd like to preface by saying that I've had no issues with the transmission slipping.
After I bought the car I serviced the transmission because the fluid had been low and that the pan had been leaking due to the bolts being over-torqued. I filled the transmission up with fresh Valvoline DEXRON (high mileage) and a bottle of Lucas Transmission fluid (Thick gooey stuff). When I magnet it didn't really have have much clutch material on it, telling me that the clutches are good.
Since I bought the car it's had issue performing a downshift to first gear. If I were to floor it at 25mph or 35mph it would quickly start bouncing off the rev limiter. However, if I give it a large amount of gas (1/4 to full) at a stop light it will peel out and go. Even if I granny it from a stop light or in reverse - it's perfect! The transmission always shifts at consistent speeds and always seems to shift on schedule.
The car doesn't shift roughly - in fact the shifts are more smoothly than my 1993 Toyota Camry's or My 1991 Buick Riviera's. You can feel it when the torque converter locks and unlocks you can feel it, but I'm not going to expect miracles from a transmission that has 165,000 miles on it.
After I changed the fluid and added the Lucas Transmission additive it pretty much started shifting perfectly and will only do the downshift-to-first-rev-limiter-thing once in a while if I'm really working the transmission hard.
I think that the problem is due to pressure since the Lucas is so thick that it made the fluid less viscous and the pressure is higher. So would I be looking at a pressure solenoid or something?
I highly doubt the transmission is going out, but this is annoying me a little.
*I would like to note that after I reset the computer during changing the alternator, the problem actually got a little better.*
Okay - Sorry about the long post and I hope I was descriptive enough. I tried to search for an appropriate post, but If I missed something - I apologize.
It's the GT with the 3800 and has 165,000 miles on it.
Thanks for your help.
