Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, SSEi, Buick Le Sabre 00-05 and Buick Park Avenue 97-05. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
Post Reply
Valkuma
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:54 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Valkuma »

It feels like my engine is turning normally but there seems to be a lot less power going to the wheels..

For a while i've had a whiny belt that gets louder as my RPM's go up.

Yesterday i would thud every time I let the pedal down, after some good acceleration [going 3000 rpm at 20, letting the pedal go, would thud very hard]

Is this the infamous "Loss of overdrive" transmission issue?
User avatar
crash93ssei
Retired Moderator
Retired Moderator
Posts: 7671
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:08 pm
Year and Trim: 2002 SE
Location: Midland, Michigan

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by crash93ssei »

Check your transmission fluid first, make sure it is at the full mark and doesn't smell burnt.
Ryan
Image
2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
User avatar
Archon
Resident Gearhead
Resident Gearhead
Posts: 8781
Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 10:30 pm
Year and Trim: 2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport.
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Archon »

Also, check your front transmission mount, for the thud.
*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.
Valkuma
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:54 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Valkuma »

Yeah i figured i would check the mount [and pick up some hockey pucks at the store] but i was more concerned at the transmission errors i'm feeling.. I used to feel immediate pickup and now its like my engine is revving up great but my wheels are getting grandma-acceleration.
phatdaddymackc
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:37 pm
Year and Trim: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by phatdaddymackc »

what is this hockey punk thing I keep reading about?
User avatar
FasGP
GXP Member
GXP Member
Posts: 242
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 9:40 pm
Year and Trim: Pullied Clean 2k Black SSEi...
Location: Forks of the Credit, Ontario

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by FasGP »

X2 on the check fluid...for sure. Also might be a good idea to check your SC belt tensioner. The belt won't always fall off, but if the tensioner is siezed, this can net a belt squeal/whine, and will feel similar with a loss of power due to boost loss/belt slip.

phatdaddymackc wrote:what is this hockey punk thing I keep reading about?
Something like this...there is a write up or two, but it is straight forward.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 36054.html
Image

2000 SSEi - Hoddmann ported LIM and GenIII, 3.2 MPS, 1.8 SLP's, SSAC's, 3" Catback, AL104, 180tstat, Custom FWI, Cartuned
phatdaddymackc
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:37 pm
Year and Trim: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by phatdaddymackc »

Any chance you can link me to the write up or two? That would rock.
00Beast
Retired Site Developer
Retired Site Developer
Posts: 20960
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 10:30 pm
Year and Trim: '17 Silverado 1500
Location: MN/IA
Contact:

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by 00Beast »

His write-up is as good as any...

Loss of OD would have none of your symptoms, it just simply wouldn't shift into 4th gear.
Bye Bye:
Image
RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
00Beast
Retired Site Developer
Retired Site Developer
Posts: 20960
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 10:30 pm
Year and Trim: '17 Silverado 1500
Location: MN/IA
Contact:

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by 00Beast »

His write-up is as good as any...

Loss of OD would have none of your symptoms, it just simply wouldn't shift into 4th gear.
Bye Bye:
Image
RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
Valkuma
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:54 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Valkuma »

FasGP wrote:X2 on the check fluid...for sure. Also might be a good idea to check your SC belt tensioner. The belt won't always fall off, but if the tensioner is siezed, this can net a belt squeal/whine, and will feel similar with a loss of power due to boost loss/belt slip.

phatdaddymackc wrote:what is this hockey punk thing I keep reading about?
Something like this...there is a write up or two, but it is straight forward.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 36054.html

After a long hard drive I definitely hear the belt whining like crazy... Where is this SC belt tensioner? If SC stands for Supercharger, I don't have one.

Where are all the mounts? I've not had to replace it before so not sure where exactly on the frame I'm looking for the split mount..

It also seems like the proper sandwich should be Bolt -> 2" washer -> mount bracker -> 2" washer -> rubber bushing -> hockey pucks -> 2 " washer -> frame -> 2" washer -> locking nut. Seem right?

EDIT: BTW, it seems like i slip a LOT when i first start driving, but very minimally after i've warmed up. You know that shuddering rending noise/feel when your brakes are slipping in the rain? it feels like that, but i'm pressing the gas.
Valkuma
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:54 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Valkuma »

I was talking to my mechanic, he said that it could be my CV joint because i also hear creaking when i turn left at low speeds, ive got the shimmy, and he said the slipping could also be that.
Valkuma
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:54 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Valkuma »

Just as an update - quite noticeable belt whine turning left or right - im going to see if I can clean the throttle body and maybe replace belts.. im not sure where all the belts are but i guess i'll take a crack at it. Still not sure what the throttle body looks like / where it is. Getting close to selling Bonnie as much as i love this car...
Valkuma
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:54 pm
Year and Trim: 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by Valkuma »

selling the bonnie for 2k to a dealer soon.. its been a fun ride
phatdaddymackc
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:37 pm
Year and Trim: 1998 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI

Re: Huge loss of pickup, slipping?

Post by phatdaddymackc »

Did your mechanic say how much your cv joints would cost to fix if you were going to?
Post Reply