Hard shifting and whining trans...need advice

[mthedude]

On my way home tonight I was cruising along and then hit stop n go traffic...then the trans started shifting really hard from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3...not so much from 3 to 4..but it's there slightly. The other thing that jumped out at me was the whining noise...a lot like the Supercharger whine...it even did it in Nuetral so I'm really scared that my trans is shot...and I just got this car.

Anyone have any advice?

[mthedude]

Just drove it again tonight...problem is gone...weird.

[01bonneSC]

It's your PCS, Pressure Control Solenoid. When the trans gets heat soaked it will malfunction and raise the trans pressure.

[Archon]

If you take it somewhere that has a good scanner, it will probably show code P1811. Most general code readers will not display the code, and it will not set the CEL. This is a good article explaining it.
http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com/Ha ... P1811.html

[harofreak00]

Is the whining gone too?

[mthedude]

Yes, whining was gone too...very weird. It seems to make sense w/the heat soaking solenoid.

[mthedude]

drove it 70 miles today and not a rough shift or whine anywhere...very strange.

[01bonneSC]

drove it 70 miles today and not a rough shift or whine anywhere...very strange.

Whats your outside temps compared to what they were the other day?

[mthedude]

not terribly different. It was around 55 degrees outside when the hard shifts started. This morning it was probably 45. I thought of that too...the only thing I can think of was the day it shifted hard I was driving a bit more aggressively as the commute home on 95/495 is completely bonkers...I suppose I'll just take it easy tonight and see how she does.

[johnmc2010]

My 2001 SSEi has the same problem.. I'm interested in this topic.

[01bonneSC]

not terribly different. It was around 55 degrees outside when the hard shifts started. This morning it was probably 45. I thought of that too...the only thing I can think of was the day it shifted hard I was driving a bit more aggressively as the commute home on 95/495 is completely bonkers...I suppose I'll just take it easy tonight and see how she does.

10* can make a big diff.

[Oldman]

It's engine/trans fluid temp that makes the difference. The pressure solenoid is the problem. Stop and go driving does the same thing to mine every time. It does it when it's 100 degrees adn when it's 40 degrees here in Savannah if I drive in traffic. Seafoam for transmissions helps. A supplimental transmission fluid cooler will help a tremendous amount. My 2001 SSEi does this too.
Mine has been doing it for over 2 years now.

[leatherneck]

Yeah I am interested in this one too as mine went a little farther and now will not grab in any gear... i got a whine then in the same trip no pulling... stpo for a bit and it would pulll for a few miles then stop again..

trans shop says 1650 for a rebuild...

[yonkerse]

My car experienced this hard shift shortly after I purchased it. In my case, the hard shift was very rare and inconsistent. Over the course of 12,000 miles, I only experienced it maybe 4 times. I was lucky enough to have it caught and replaced under warranty and has been fine ever since.

I installed my trans cooler and 180 thermostat after the repair was done, so can't offer any details on whether or not that helps...