2000 SSEI Sudden loss of first gear

[cbierniat]

Insight:
204k miles on my Bonnie it was experiencing some hard shifts after about an hour of driving. I was thinking it was the trans possibly overheating and debated on putting a bigger aftermarket trans cooler. I decided to drop the pan and add a DIY shift kit with fluid/filter change which was around 6k miles ago...

Issue:
Last night I stopped at a red light and when I went to accelerate the RPMs went up but I didn't move. I thought I somehow slipped shifter into neutral but NOPE. I was in drive and my car was not moving anywhere. I put it in second it clunked and slowly began to move and gain speed. Once I'm about 30mph I can shift it into 3rd then drive w/no problems unless I floor it then RPMs just shoot up.

Question:
Would my trans just lose first out of nowhere or doesn't slippage usually occur first? I have never had any type of tranny issues before. I've had this car for around 8-10k miles. Could I have messed something up doing the 1-2 shift kit? Any likelyhood a sensor is to blame?

Any help or opinion is greatly appreciated!

[00Beast]

It's new transmission time, no doubt about it.

[cbierniat]

What is the average price for a rebuild on this trans? Is there anything that is a MUST during a rebuild so I can verify the shop is aware.

Should I just go the used route instead of rebuild?

[cbierniat]

Just wanted to update...

Took it to two different shops and they both recommended a rebuild.

Rebuilt trans by a local trans shop $1700 with two year warranty. They claimed the "cookie cutter"? was at fault.



All is good now

[Summerson1]

Cookie cutter may be slang for a shift kit. Other than that I have no clue what it is
Edit: it's the 4th gear hub according to gator tranz

[cbierniat]

Well I got the car back and noticed the RPMs would go up and the car did not move occasionally while turning when accelerating from a stop. I took it back they blamed it on the code for MAF sensor and they couldn't experience the problem only hesitation. I laughed and said okay I'll replace the sensor and if the problem still exists I am bringing it back. Well as I thought the problem was still there so I dropped it back off.

They took another look and admitted they notice a "binding" not "slipping". They said the sprag gear was the culprit... I said ok sure fix it do whatevers needed i just want this car running right.

Today I get the car back and noticed yet another issue. Now occasionally while slowing down from speed to make a stop at a red light the car seems like it goes in neutral (car actually rolled back like a stick). Then when i tried to accelerate it was all RPMs again and no movement.

Now with these problems being intermittent I would assume it's something electrical like a sensor or solenoid. Any clue what this might be anyone experience this before? I'm getting fed up and looking at what my options are let them try a third time to fix it, call BBB, contact a lawyer, take them to small claims. My issue is i spent 1700 this trans shouldn't be experiencing problems. The shop is located in Brownstown, Mi

[cbierniat]

bump for some help

[RJolly87]

Until the shop demonstrates an unwillingness to back the work, I don't see why there would be any need for recourse from BBB, or legal attention.

Take it back, and see what they say.

[cbierniat]

Well how many attempts should a shop get to fix one problem? It's getting ridiculous.

[cbierniat]

The shop said that they overlooked the transmission and could not find anything wrong. They are stating that the ECM (I think they mean PCM) has a fault. Could this be true? Also could this be an issue resulting from swappping transmission's with the wrong code instead of actually rebuilding my unit?

[cbierniat]

Apparently there are now two codes

u1040 p1624

I'm going to pick it up... do some research

Hopefully someone on here will be able to help. If not off to the dealer I go.

[jethro99]

Just wondering, wouldn't they have replaced the PCM during the rebuild?

[cbierniat]

I believe PCS yes not PCM...

[cbierniat]

Took it back to the shop they claimed there's two codes apparently that pop up. I am about to get the print out from them. u1040 p1624


I picked car up with no SES light and took it to another shop that did work on my dad's truck. They came up with code P0756 and my SES light was on. I picked my car up verified the code with my scanner. I called the shop that "rebuilt" the trans and they said that's not the problem they replaced that part 3 times already. Its the TCM...

[Archon]

U1040 is loss of communications with the electronic brake control module. I don't show a code P1624 for 2000. P0756 is for the 2-3 shift solenoid.

[RJolly87]

I searched the P1624, and on other vehicles it indicates there is a code in the transmission control module. Given that these transmissions are contolled by the PCM, that would explain why it didnt exist for that year.

[cbierniat]

replaced PCM with a Intense reprogrammed PCM.... still same problem. It doesn't do it every time when coming to a stop it's intermittent. I'm about to blow this car up.

[shipmanlights]

I would take it to another transmission shop. Tell them the problem, don't tell them you just had it rebuilt and have them diagnose it.( Being a non transmission expert but one who has built a few) This sounds like to me like a pressure issue with the converter. Maybe wrong converter for the electronics or something that controls converter pressure. These transmissions have at least 4 variances within the same model year for electronics and gear ratios. I once made a mistake of buying a low mile used transmission with the "same electronic specs" but different gear ratio. made the car shift hard and delay/bog shift on acceleration. Took it to a shop to have the gear ratio re-flashed to to computer, only to spend 100.00 bucks and them tell me it was not an option for the car and there for had to change out the gears. Luckily I did a little more research and purchased HP Tuners which let me flash the computer myself with the gear ratio in the used transmission.

[cbierniat]

replaced the PCM and still same issue. They are saying because I didn't buy a "new" one it's likely bad as well.