Thread: 01 4t65e tranny shudder problem

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Whining is typically a sign that the pump is starving for fluid. Have you ever had the transmission serviced?

The harsh engagement/sloppy shifts could be a sticking valve etc. Typically the PCS will toss a code and give you max adapt shifting based on pressure issues. The rest of the behaviors you have described don't really fit with the pcs.

BTW, to get to the pcs you need to lower your trans mostly out of the car to get the side cover off.

Unfortunately no the transmission has never been serviced in it's life. I check the tranny fluid on a monthly basis and it's not too dirty, it still has a red/pinkish hue to it. If the PCS is starving for fluid could the filter be dirty? After this whole big ordeal last week something made me remember that the MAF sensor has something to do with line pressure so I went out and got some CRC MAF sensor cleaner yesterday and I cleaned the MAF for the first time, and some black stuff came off of it. I'm not sure if that helped at all.

What would explain the shuddering that happened? I don't have a code reader that will read transmission codes, would a tranny code trigger a CEL?

I know that getting to the PCS requires the whole left side of the subframe/cradle to be lowered a bunch, I was prepared for that.

If it's starving for fluid should I make an attempt at dropping the pan, removing the accumulator and installing a shift kit to reduce slipping on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts, and then replace the filter and then close up and refill her up?

What I'm trying to do is, being that the tranny has never been touched in 116k miles while I'm going to have it apart should I just replace the PCS along with any other solenoid/sensor that's easily accessible just so I make sure they don't go bad once I close the tranny back up and have to tear it apart again?

Thanks

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Wow.. you have some info, sounds like it's kinda mashed together in a random order though. I've never read or heard of Maf controlling line pressure, it is used to determine shifts etc along with TPS.

Since the trans is still a young transmission. Drop the pan, change the filter and refill with one quart of Lucas trans stop slip and the rest Dex 3 regular fluid (no syn).

A whining from the pump starving for fluid can easily be a clogged filter.

Thanks for the fast reply. I know I'm sorry I mashed a bunch of stuff together. I'm only 16, almost 17 and I've read all the horror stories about these 4t65e trannies and I almost teared up Friday afternoon when it started shuddering....I love my car, it was given to me by my parents when I turned 16 and it was my mom's car babied since we purchased it brand new in 2000.

You don't recommend putting in a shift kit? I've read that it's super easy to do and is usually a good preventative measure.

If you don't recommend putting in the shift kit, I will most definitely drop the pan, replace the filter and refill with what you told me to. Any reason why you didn't say to put Dex 6 in?

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I'm all for a transgo shift kit. Except I don't think it's going to help your current issue. Therefore I didn't suggest spending the extra money w/o a need.

I've heard mixed reviews on Dex 6. Some seem to experience slippage with it. Who knows if they already have issues or not. So being that dex 3 is lower cost and proven to work well, it seemed like the better recommendation. Synthetic versions of dex 3 have also given mixed results...once again.. who knows the condition of the trans.

I'm about to try out Dex 6 Walmart brand in a trans I recently built. Til I have some long term results... I don't like to suggest mixed result things.

Alright, Dex 3 sounds good then.
Although the shift kit may not help the issue I'm trying to get it to last as long as possible before HAVING to get it rebuilt.

Which shift kit would you recommend?

THRASHER Shift Kit for your 4T65e - from the home of Thrasher Engineered Performance

I've read great things about the intense one..
INTENSE-Racing.com: INTENSE™ Street/Strip Performance Shift Pak®


I would follow this how-to.
Shift kit install, very detailed (56K go watch a movie) - LS1TECH