Thread: lost D & 3, shudder in 1 & 2

'03 GTP, 149K mi. Mostly stock. Since I bought it about 3 yrs ago, tranny has: TEP shift kit, new differential, and all 4 shift solenoids replaced.

I have a 2.5 mi commute thru city streets. Leaving work yesterday, I punched the gas from about 20mph, its revs, sc engages, tranny finds a gear, and I get a good lunge, but think hear/feel a sublte snap/pop. I stop at the next light, when it turns green I step on the gas, engine revs, but no movement!

I haven't had time to investigate/test it thoroughly, but I think D and 3rd are completely gone. In 1 and 2, it shudders from a stop, so I was able to get home. R appears to be normal, so I was able to get it in my garage (thank goodness for small wonders).

Where should I start?

Don't say anything too smart, b/c garage fire and the lake have already crossed my mind.

Thanks!

Broken forward band is my guess.

Thanks FFDP, forward band--does that also cause a shudder in 1 & 2?

And the natural follow up is, if going to replace a forward band, what else should i replace? Specifically wondering about the torque converter, or if the tc has any role in this at all?

Pretty good writeup:

http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com...or-3-only.html

the whole trans need to come apart to change that band. so full rebuild is the best option.

Thanks guys.
Yep, that write up pretty much describes me--except I have an '03, so it's not supposed to happen....
Decision time. (I really want a Fiero anyway--but its not going to happen).
Crappity-crappy-crap

The band is a "problem" for all years, the 4th gear hub is the non issue on 03+.

Yep i bet is the forward band. two broke on me in the last month.
it can happen to all years just more common on 00 to 02

is this common only on built sc cars or can na cars grenade this too. the trans in my NA car is acting up so i am looking for causes. I already knew the 4th clutch hub was smoked but now its starting a studder from 1-2 when its hot

The forward band is common to break, not the most common problem though but I see it from time to time on the forums. It just happens randomly, with no warning signs and no other effects.

The shuddering issue is something I've heard about many times but never heard a common failure point for. Probably either a broken spring in the accumulator or something wrong in the valve body.

Assuming it's the forward apply band, on a scale of 1 to 10, how stupid would it be to put it in 2 and drive it around the block?

Shouldn't hurt anything as far as I know. I see 4t65e cars doing like 40 on a 70 mph freeeway with their hazards on all the time.

Ha^^^

I am in this boat right now and have spoken to TEP to verify the broken Power Apply Band in my transmission. The GTP is at the transmission shop as we speak. I will have a quote in the morning. I drove it to work this morning and 1-2 started stuttering for the first time. I know that TEP told me that there are two different bands, one from 1-2 and the other from 3-4. I fractured the 3-4 and without both the 1-2 and the 3-4 bands, there is more pressure on the 1-2 band. So its only a matter of time before you loose all forward gears.

Could lose them tomorrow, could loose them last month. Thats what dave told me...

Just wanted to update yall.

Transmission is shot. A reputable shop is rebuilding the transmission with all the upgraded TEP hard parts for $2100.

Bench build, or does that include remove and installation?

Removal and installation are included.

Thank you.

Keep in mind, this is not a "stock" rebuild. I was quoted $1700 for a [Stock]rebuild including labor before they opened up the transmission and discovered the work[EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM IT WAS A BUILT TRANNY]. The tranny shop praised the builder(TEP) for the work inside the transmission. They were astonished that I had a non-stock 4T65 that had been build up with the Volvo parts had been assembled well. My 7/8ths chain drive gear was also marred where the bearing seats, needed a new drive gear. Should have it on the road Tuesday.

Just to put it out there, the shop quoted me a "Built" 4T65 with volvo parts would cost somewhere around the $4K range. I paid over $1K less for the tranny shipped to my front door from TEP.