Thread: Auto trans. slipping.

Since I have had sound advice so far, I will post another question.

Recently the Auto. trans in my 03' is hesitating before it shifts into 2nd, and I can feel it struggling to shift into third as well. I have checked the fluid and it does not look dirty or dark, and it is full. The cars doesn't buck or anything, just takes to long to shift and it doesn't have any power while it struggles. I think the car is to young for trans problems, but some here may no otherwise. I plan to take it for an estimate and check up to get an opinion on the problem. Any comments welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Scott

I have also just read in another thread that I may need a trans system flush and filter change. Could this help things?

There's no definate and any part on a car can go bad. How many miles on your car?

Before flushing or doing anything get a couple of trans shop estimate/opinions.

IMO: Don't let anyone flush it.

Just swap a new filter into it and add the 3-4 quarts of fluid back. Make sure the new pan gasket is the Molded type, not the cheap flat rubber ones, they leak. I'd rather re-use the original than use the flat gasket that comes from many parts stores..

Flushing one of these trannies can knock crap loose and clog the solenoids, resulting in a car that won't move, and the instant need for a new transmission.

Crack the old filter and cut open the "sock". See what ya find.

In general, by the time a 4T65E starts acting stoopid, it's time for a new transmission. Period.

Eh. Give it a few more miles. It'll start throwing codes. Your '03 has changes built in over the 97-01 years. Different style pump, solenoids, gaskets, seals that made the later versions more reliable, but didn't do anything to make them last longer overall. The earlier models would throw codes faster, because the root problems affected more things. Root problems being neglected broken down trans fluid, friction debris, and heat.

Hopefully you just have a clogged trans filter. It's true maybe 5-10% of the time.

My 98 was fine, except for a little too much slippage in 1st. Then Bang. Codes, massive slippage with hammering 2-3 shifts and no 4th. On the rebuild I found Torn input seals, sections of missing valve body gasket, fried 3rd clutches, slow pressure switches, worn pump shaft and 4th shaft splines, on and on ..... The car was at 113k mi, and driven fairly gently. 4t65e transmissions are Great. For about 50k miles. After that it's a crap shoot, and there is no "repairing" a problem. Just full rebuilds.