Thread: 2000 GTP - gears 3 & 4 gone

You likely have a broken forward apply band and this is a somewhat common problem once the mileage starts getting up there. When the lug on the forward band breaks it cant hold so it will just rev in D or 3 range but in manual 2 and 1 there is another band that applies for extra holding power and engine braking so it will get you going but doesnt have near the holding power as the wider forward band so use caution driving this way though it will get you by. The easiest way to verify this is what is going on is to remove the lower pan and look just past and above the small narrow end of the filter towards the passanger side of the car and straight up in the trans case there is a windowed section where you can see this band and the apply pin on it and you will likely find the band lug broken and bent or you will find a roughly 1" piece of the broken band laying in the pan when you remove it. Unfortunately this means a rebuild as the band is almost the last part that comes out of the case.

These transmissions typically range in the $1200-$2500 plus installation and that can vary from $400-$800 on the average. Sometimes guys come across a shop that is a bit cheaper but these shops arent doing a full rebuild with all the parts that really should be replaced. $1500 for a 2004R in a G-body sounds aweful high but it may be your area. At the old trans shop I worked at a stock rebuild on a 2004R went for $450-$600 plus $150 for install and that is about the average in town, or was 8 years ago but prices really havent gone up on transmissions around here.