Pontiac Grand Prix Transmission Problems
No joy.
Picked up my GXP this evening.
They replaced the throttle body.
They could not re-program the PCM.
( ? )
There is still an issue – an internal transmission problem.
They have ordered the part – a ‘valve body’.
Not available in the Southeast.
Request has been forwarded to Lansing.
(I am in the Metro tlanta area.)
So – I was offered the ‘loaner’ (a Chevy HHR – 4 cyl.) or I could take back my car – as it was – to drive until the part arrives.
Approx. 5 days = current estimate.
So . .
Bummer.
- Ray
Wondering (among several other things) how such a part could possibly not be available closer than Lansing . . .
Picked up my GXP this evening.
They replaced the throttle body.
They could not re-program the PCM.
( ? )
There is still an issue – an internal transmission problem.
They have ordered the part – a ‘valve body’.
Not available in the Southeast.
Request has been forwarded to Lansing.
(I am in the Metro tlanta area.)
So – I was offered the ‘loaner’ (a Chevy HHR – 4 cyl.) or I could take back my car – as it was – to drive until the part arrives.
Approx. 5 days = current estimate.
So . .
Bummer.
- Ray
Wondering (among several other things) how such a part could possibly not be available closer than Lansing . . .
2022 X3 M40i
0
Comments
Then again, as any unproven technology, it's likely to have a few hiccups for some years until it's debugged.
Ray, I’m sure all the regular readers on this forum have their fingers crossed for you right now.
Well, I suppose I could have said something more aggressive than I did.
I was somewhat annoyed at the time, so I decided not to say anything until I was somewhat more calm.
If the car had been either completely un-drivable –
or at least somewhat more annoying to drive under my commute conditions –
or if I had planned a long, outside the Metro area (cruise control safe) drive for this weekend -
well, then I might have insisted more strongly.
The other factor for me here is that I have not driven a GM vehicle (except rentals) since I traded my ’97 GTP in late 2000. I am using this experience to ‘test’ the Dealer Service and the GM parts system. I do like this vehicle quite a lot – and when I approach 25K – 30K miles (typically 2 years + / -) I will need to decide if I want to extend the GM warrantee and keep it beyond 36K Miles. In addition to my perception of the reliability, the service I can obtain will be major factors in my decision whether to keep or trade at that time.
2 of my last 3 cars were Lincolns. The Dealer service and parts response (the few times required outside scheduled maintenance) were excellent.
If I do not hear anything by tomorrow AM, I plan to call the Dealer again.
Oh, and I see no indication that DoD is involved in this ‘event’. FWIW.
We’ll see.
- Ray
GXP Beta Tester, apparently . . .
Yesterday, I picked up my GXP, with the new transaxle installed.
I have now driven it approx. 45 miles.
No more surge, buck, chuggle.
TCC lockup working as expected – and as it did previously . .
With luck, this will be the end of the saga.
- Ray
Hoping every nut & bolt & connector is re-attached to spec.
Good luck.
I have only put ~2400 on mine in 6 months (Its my weekend driver). Only complaint I have is a buzzy trim piece around the sunroof (which is why I prefer not to have them in addition to never using it)
I must say that as a commuter car this car sucks!!!! but not in a bad way - its all the other drivers on the road! This car loves to kick and haul, but it was like being a rabbit stuck in a huge crowd of absent minded turtles...
I drove it to work a few days and practically went crazy in the evening jaunt home. I think some of that hp transfers into the drivers seat and 70 -80 mph seems like a crawl. :P
Approx. 7,200 miles. - on the way back from a 600+ mile drive over Thanksgiving weekend.
It went immediately and instantly from just fine to "oh, my goodness, there is a problem here". No gradual deterioration in trans. performance.
- Ray
Hoping I'll turn out to be the only 1 . . .
compartment and not checked regularly by service mechanics.
I am in a very simillar situation. I just noticed that my GT with 210k is not going into overdrive. I did a tranny coolant flush 2 month ago. so it could have been since then, or just last week. Any ideas? I will shift all other gears right but overdrive.
When I spoke with several trany shop's they all said the same thing. REBUILD. Because if you replace that part within 6 months you will have to rebuild anyway (cost you double in labor costs). It's a nasty truth about these cars. They said most tranys go around 70-80,000 miles and that I was lucky when mine went at 125,000.
Good luck.
Usually, (but not always) low speed overheating is indicative of an AIR ciculation problem, not a coolant circulation problem---so the suggestions to check the fan operation with the AC on might be a good one.
If the fans are working full blast, there's either a severe coolant flow blockage or (gulp) head gasket or cylinder head issues.
Assuming you're sure the air is all out.... I have seen Prestone Radiator Flush HELP a bit. I don't generally believe in additives, but I used it on my car and noticed the difference. I added two small jugs and ran it slightly longer than they recommend. Otherwise follow the directions on the package. At your own risk... I had a good experience but I can't guarantee you will.
Justin
Fallon
Thanks
Mac
In reference to messages #43, 44, and 47, I am also having the surging/jerking with the tachometer jumping. It can be induced at any speed, but it especially happens when going up a long hill. If you are holding a consistent speed and then try to accelerate a little bit, the car begins to jerk and the needle does the same. My 1999 Grand Prix GT has a little over 60,000 miles on it and I am the original owner. I have had it do it between 25-30, 35-40, 45-50, 60-65, etc. It is very random. Sometimes it does it; sometimes it doesn't.
Prior to this problem, the dealership first tried replacing a throttle sensor, then the pressure control solenoid, and finally the torque converter. The car no longer shudders when it shifts between 45-55, but it will do the thing I described in the above paragraph. So, it went back to the dealership for a tune-up - had new spark plugs, fuel filter, had wires checked, and had air intake cleaned. It still jerks when I go up hills. So, today it went back and they cleaned some kind of air sensor (or something like that, can't remember) for the fuel injectors. They didn't charge me ... said to drive it a few days and see what happens. Well, I took it out tonight, drove it up a hill and the jerking began again.
I also had to have the pressure control solenoid replaced previously at the 30,000 mile mark.
Any help and suggestions of what to tell the mechanics would be appreciated. :sick:
Also-a heavy sputter/lagging occurs during heavy acceleration. Are they related?
Well, guess what? It still does the same thing. It is back at the shop today. They are going to keep it a few days and test a bunch of things. (sigh) :confuse: