Thread: 4th gear problems

Hey everybody I have a 2002 grand prix gt and I'm on my 2nd tranny,I believe this 1 was rebuilt but not 100% sure,anyway when I'm cruising 1st 2nd and 3rd work fine but when I'm in the top of 3rd gear going into 4th it just stays in 3rd,now if I go Wide Open Throttle it goes into 4th with no problem...anybody have any ideas or suggestions on what it could be? Ay help is appreciated thanks!

Anybody???

Originally Posted by uNda6gT

now if I go Wide Open Throttle it goes into 4th with no problem.

I think you have no responses because this makes no sense. It's shifting into 4th just fine at 130+ MPH?

Loosing 4th is very common on transmissions older than 2003, the splines on the clutch hub wear away.

Right on with Doug. Makes little sense that the TPS must be working properly to shift the other gears and 4th should drop in easily with low throttle. Yet a WOT or even a 80% throttle should keep you out of 4th.

May be worthy to check your TPS just in case.

TPS?????
so how exactly could i tell if its the 4th gear shaft?

TPS is throttle position sensor. The computer uses it to know when to shift.

First off, is it shifting into 4th at all or not? If not, it's a very good bet that it's the clutch hub.

Originally Posted by Scimmia

TPS is throttle position sensor. The computer uses it to know when to shift.


First off, is it shifting into 4th at all or not? If not, it's a very good bet that it's the clutch hub.

well this is the thing when i cruise it goes thru 1st gear,then 2nd gear then 3rd but it never goes into 4th but if im just cruising @ the top of 3rd and then just mash on the gas it feels like it went into 4th....i know it sounds weird but idk

My thoughts is the best advice we can give you is to head for a trans shop and ask them to diagnose it. Seems as though you might not have a lot of experience with trans issues, which is making the internet diagnosis tough.