Hard Shifts

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Shop is likely wrong. I'd bet if you install a TransGo shift kit and put in new fluid it'll go away.

The hard shifting going away after the car sits is the dead ringer for a bad PCS.

[ericm88]

It started to fall out of gear when going up hills, I think in 4th gear. It only happens on long hills and mostly when the pcs is acting up but sometimes not. Because of this the shop says its prob more than just the pcs. They say they recommend a rebuild or getting a used transmission. They say that it will cost $1100 for the used tranny with 60k on it or 1600 to 1800 for a rebuild. What do you guys think?

[golfyeti]

I would heed the advice being given here. I too would be surprised that it's more than just the PCS, and strating with that repair would entail a small fraction of the cost of a rebuild.

I had the exact same hard shift problem 2 years ago and it went away with the installation of a 180 thermostat, keeping everything nicely cooler.

So consider the advice of the extremenly knowledgeable Bonneville experts here and then move up to more expensive propositions if they don't work. Just my 2 cents from a huge beneficiary of this site's helpful people.

[ericm88]

Your car would seem to fall out of gear on long hills?

[golfyeti]

Your car would seem to fall out of gear on long hills?

I live in Manitoba....prairies that are as flat as flat gets, so I can't say I have noticed "falling out of gear" on inclines. I would imagine that an automatic transmission will downshift at some point going up certain inclines so I'm not sure if your downshifting is neccessarly a problem, or neccesarily connected to the hard shift.

Like LeSabre said "The hard shifting going away after the car sits is the dead ringer for a bad PCS.". I agree with this diagnosis, but I will always suggest to start with the 180 thermostat because that's what worked for me and saved me from the cost of replacing the PCS.

So I personally still think that a 10-minute $10-thermostat replacement (180 degrees) is a good starting point and if no immediate improvements are noticed then look at having the PCS replaced before moving on and spending $1,500-$2,000 on a re-built tranny.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Change the ATF, the filter, add the TransGo shift kit, and see where you get. All this is done when the transmission pan is dropped.

Test for your car "falling out" of gear by shifting it from OD to 3. If there's no change, your car just shifted to 3rd. If the tach is right about 2500 RPM at 60 mph, it's in 3rd with the TCC unlocked. If it's about 2100-2200 RPM, it's in 3rd with the TCC locked. 4th with TCC lock at 60 mph is right about 1600-1700 RPM, depending on gearing. Mine's geared 2.84 highway gears, so it's loafing at 60 mph.

[1fatcat]

I don't agree with adding a shift kit to correct a problem caused by a failing part. I would get the tranny shifting the way GM intended it to using stock parts. If at that time you want firmer shifts, then add the shift kit.

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

The best way to fix this problem is replacing the PCS. That also happens to be a $600 or more job for most folks. The shift kit will mask the problem 95% of the time. Yeah, it's not fixed. For some folks, myself included, masking the problem is "good enough". The OP's problem is one where the "good enough" solution is in fact good enough to work long-term. If it were Bar's Leaks for leaking LIM gaskets, now that's a different story.

[Archon]

FWIW - I put one in my son's '99 Grand Prix that had the harsh shifts, and the long adaptive shift code. He also can not afford expensive transmission work. It's coming up on 3 years now, and it is still doing fine. Even Triple Edge Perfomance sees a shift kit as a viable option.
http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com/Ha ... P1811.html