PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

So I had surgery (still recovering) sons Honda needed repairs i couldnt currently do so I let him use our best car our 2000 SSEI with 135k on it.

I rode with him other day and noticed the boost almost pinned itself when I punched it but acceleration wasnt matching. I didn't have the time, money or physical ability to go further and told him to be very gentle with it till I could research a few things.

I doubt he did that (he said he spun it out coming home from work on a exit return ramp a couple nights ago in only rain, no ice, with brand new tires).

So the call came yesterday that "the Pontiac won't go over 45mph Dad" but at least he limped it home.

I understand this to be a 4T65E transmission? Called a couple places and an r&r is $1500 which may as well be 15 million because since my injuries and wife's job loss we have lost 80% of our income. Just in a real bad spot with few answers but appreciate any suggestions other than don't let your son drive your car to work and school. I researched and saw I need one with the webbed mount (if mine has that) but what years and models have an interchangable transmission with the 2000 model SSEI please?

Thanks guys,
John

Man, sorry to hear that. The only suggestion i'd know to offer is to shop around.

Yeh I even called our "Car Care Ministry" at church I have been in since the start like 10 years ago (work on single Mom's and widows cars for free) but the church is hurting to in this economy (tithing is down) so no help there either (was hoping they had a donated car I could borrow for a couple weeks).

Anyhow has been a whole bunch of real rough years for the family and looks like it isn't done with us yet. I am still looking up and still swinging though. Kind of out of my control at this point.

Plugged cat. This would explain the high amount of boost (no where for the air to escape), and the lack of speed.

Symptoms sound more like a plugged cat, than a bad transmission. Have the car checked over before condemning the tranny.

I agree. It would be well worth a few bucks to have a trusted local mechanic or friend take a look at it. Or instruct your son on what to do. First thing to do would be crawl under the car with a hammer or mallet and bang on the cat, see if it rattles. If it does, it's done. If not, it doesn't mean it's not. Next thing to do would be disconnect it at the cat, tie the exhaust up and do a trip around the block, see if that solves the problem.

I agree on the cat converter... 00-02 were really common for failures.. Worth a look for sure..

Sorry I missed your posts yesterday, but I am very encouraged that there might be hope on the cat being stopped up.
I know I have heard it rattling (or something in exhaust) for a long time ( would stop at higher speeds).

Anyhow I will see if it will pull up
On the ramps and I will put the mallet to it.i know in the past year mpg has been way off so that might be another clue it is working against a clogged system?
Thanks guys, will let ya know : )

Ok took a drive yesterday. Ran a half mile pulling fine at normal throttle and then suddenly bogged down, couldn't go faster, turned around to head home think I heard some spark detonation.

Put it on the ramps today and banged on with the rubber mallet, didn't hear any loud rattle. I am out of work from injuries and can't crawl much further under it to unscrew front o2 sensor to see if it would run that way. Could drill some holes in cat but how can I confirm that is it in driveway other than vac test?
Thanks

They can still be plugged and not make any noise while banging on them.

Unscrewing the o2 sensor wouldn't do much, you need to disconnect the cat.