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Pontiac Bonneville Transmisssion

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Comments

  • phoenix86phoenix86 Member Posts: 3
    to gregjudy90: thanks! I will definitely try this! Will keep you posted.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    Pressure control module?

    Also, if you shut off the car and immediately restart and continue to drive with the transmission all warmed up, does it go away for a while and then come back. I recall someone talking about a problem that sets a computer fault which is cleared by restarting.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ricky2barbararicky2barbara Member Posts: 1
    I have this same problem with my 2000 Bonneville. What exactly did you do to repair this problem. What is the PCS and where is it located. My email is ricky2barbara@aol.com.
  • alitobaalitoba Member Posts: 2
    I had a 97 Pontiac Bonneville and got involved in a serious car accident two weeks ago. The insurance company is offering me very litle money, what I've contested. They"re now asking me to provide them with proof of the car value.
    Any idea about the value and how to get proofs.

    Thanks.
  • emeachamemeacham Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2010
    Sorry for the delay, but thank you very much for the reply.

    To answer your question, sometimes it is worse after turning the car off then back on... sometimes, it doesn't start UNTIL the car is turned off then back on. I've recently started having issues with the service engine light coming on, too... says the Fan 2 relays on my ODB2, but I've replaced all of the fan relays/fuses (~$200) and it still is an issue; I cleared the message, and it came back a few hours later.

    I will report back with findings; have to get the Bonne scheduled for a check-up.
  • phoenix86phoenix86 Member Posts: 3
    Hello, I am looking for some advice. I have had my Bonne for a year & a half and my tranny seems to get worse the longer I have it. I have done the fluid & filter change regularly. As of late my throttle position sensor has been acting up. I replaced it with a new one from the dealer & it seemed to help my tranny shift better. But now my car is idling high and my check engine light goes on and off by itself. This high idling problems has been prominent for the past 3-4 months. Sometimes I have to start my car a few times before I can pull off to reset the computer (I guess?) and my car typically will drive fine for awhile. I have noticed when I run shirt errands that it runs smoothly.

    Is there any correlation between the throttle position sensor and transmission?
    How likely is the problem my computer?
    Could it just be my tranny?
    Please, help!

    ------------I have replaced the shift solenoid and PCS------------------ :mad:
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    edited July 2010
    Sounds to me you might have a vacuum leak. I believe those will sometimes set a code or light. But I think the code I heard didn't obviously appear to come from a vacuum leak, but when analyzed it made sense. This is why it's important to troubleshoot anything before replacing parts. The box parts stores have started shying away from just letting people buy parts after running the code checks on the cars for them. I've heard counter guys helping people analyze the meaning.

    Check all around the perimeter of the upper intake manifold. Check all rubber hoses and connectors for cracks, softness, hardening, especially on sides toward hot motor where they might deteriorate and not be visible. The vacuum leaks can cause a high idle. With the upper intake, as it warms, it expands and may be sealing a leak or crack.

    You can use a carburetor spray around the areas where leaks might be with the motor idling. If there's a leak the extra hydrocarbons sucked in causes a change in idle speed and sound.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • cverboskycverbosky Member Posts: 1
    Need help I have 2003 Bonneville when I"m driving it comes in out of gear sometimes you just let off the gas and it goes back into gear other times u have to put her into netural then drive and she goes find this happening like every so often is the tranny shot?
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    How many miles and what kind of service in the way of trans fluid drains and filter changed?

    Whst does the color of the transmission fluid on the trans dipstick look like?

    I would say I've changed my 2003 leSabre at 35K and 70K. I put in Dexron VI which is a synthetic blend that replaces the original fluid Dexron IIIe (I think that's right, check the back of the glovebox manual). That means with a drain and fill that only about 50% of the fluid is replaced. That's good. New additive cleaners to pick up stuff collecting in places where it's affecting the operation but not a totally new 100% shock of lots of additives. I do not believe in the flushes that shops like to do.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ryankoglinryankoglin Member Posts: 1
    My 99 bonneville runs great normally but at low speeds when the transmission shifts in and out of 1st/2nd/3rd gear multiple times in short succession (i.e. rush hour traffic) bad things happen. The transmission will shift hard and acceleration is hesitant or non-uniform in the higher gear. Once I let off the gas completely and ease on the petal the acceleration is OK (till the next shift). Basically I pretend like its a manual and try to time up letting off the gas at the shifts (15mph and 25mph). Then after my car sits overnight the problem goes away.

    My mechanic replaced the ECU, ICM, manually checked the voltage levels (he had it for 2-3 weeks), and flushed the transmission fluid. After this did not fix the problem he told me that the transmission would likely need to be rebuilt eventually. After researching the issue I want to replace the crankshaft position sensor in any attempt to avoid rebuilding the tranny. Any knowledge you can share would be an enormous help as I am pretty much on my own to solve the problem.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    edited August 2010
    When were your spark plugs and wires changed? How many miles are on the car now?

    Because it seems to struggle after shifting, I'd suspect them first.
    Or, check each of the coils for corrosion in the sparkplug towers and on the prongs that insert into them underneath. Check the resistance on each and make a list. You can take the coils off one at a time easily. Sometimes coils give trouble when hot only. That's difficult to test for.

    You "mechanic" replaced the ICM, or I would have you check the connector on the end of it.

    When the car is doing this, stop. Turn the car off. Restart. See if it continues. I believe there was a problem with a computer control item that would reset.

    I would also take off and clean my MAF sensor without touching the two wires inside. Use a cleaner for MAF from auto store. I did use a camel hair artist brush when the wires were wet.

    After car has given the problem. Stop. Take off the engine cover and pull the vacuum hose off the FPR. See if liquid fuel comes out of the hose or if you get a strong gas smell out of the hose. The fuel pressure regulators sometimes leak extra fuel.

    Beyond that, you might have a fuel pump pressure problem. Sometimes pumps lose pressure when the pump gets warm after use and the fuel warms after being out in the hot ambient temps. If it doesn't do this driving when it's cooler, I'd take loan of a fuel pressure gauge with a long enough hose I can tape it to the outside of the windshield with duct tape and drive. See your typical pressures and see if there's a change when you car acts up.

    Beyond this I think you're at the wrong shop. The shop didn't diagnose. He hung new parts. Expensive.

    I think you need an up-to-date transmission shop that can watch the pressure control module and the various solenoids in the transmission during the shifts while driving it. A dealership who does transmissions would do this with their Tech II, I believe. A quality transmission shop also will have the same or better capability.

    Crankshaft position sensor?
    How many miles?
    Has it ever stalled for you? And then restarted easily or required a period of cooloff to restart?
    I think you would have mentioned a stall problem and you didn't. I would put CPS lower on the list.

    The EGR valve migh be acting up or sticking open slightly. It can be removed and checked. I believe it should have set a code for you and set the check engine light if it was not working properly.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • travis19travis19 Member Posts: 1
    will a 95 & 97 pontiac bonneville transmission interchange
  • ksunshineksunshine Member Posts: 1
  • chris1554chris1554 Member Posts: 1
    I just got my 99 Bonneville back from the shop yesterday. I took it in after a series of issues that started with a violent jerking after low speed coasting and stepping back on the throttle. It did this twice in a row, so I dropped it off at a local shop and they didn't come up with any fault codes. I drove it on home and used the car for another month, but noticed a few peculiar shifts especially after coasting out of a corner and stepping back on the gas.

    Monday I went to town in it and the Check Engine light came on, and it started shifting hard and a couple of time it just didn't seem to want to go after shifting. I dropped it back off at the shop and this time they informed me it was a torque converter and solenoid fault code which made since to me because of the way it was acting. They replaced these parts.

    I got the car back yesterday and all seemed well for the first 12 miles and the Check Engine light came back on, but it runs and shifting perfect. I took it straight back and they plugged it in and the transmission guy said it was the same code as before. He said he thought it hadn't had the computer reset.

    Does that make sense?

    He reset it and also said, "drive it and if the light comes back on it might be the throttle sensing..." or something like that. My wife took it to town today and after about 90 mile (we live way out) the light came back on again.

    It runs, shifts, and drives perfect, and just had a tune up about 200 miles ago.

    Does it make sense that out of the blue there is now a throttle sensor issue, or did they put in faulty parts?
  • 97_bonnie97_bonnie Member Posts: 1
    the high idling could be just the out side air temp. i live in North Dakota and when i start my car in the morning it will idle at around 1500 RPMs. you can drop the idle by taping the gas to snap it out of the warm up idle. it would do this when it is 30 degrees or colder it seems with my car at least.
  • sandysalessandysales Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2000 Bonneville that started out a few months ago when you started it you had to wait about 5 minutes before it would shift out of park. One day while driving down the road it just stopped working...it will run in 1st 2nd and reverse only. Does this sound like it needs to be replaced? The fluid is at the correct level and is pink. 165000 miles.
  • buddy0310buddy0310 Member Posts: 1
    I'm having a issue with my car. When it warms up it begins to shift weird, mainly between 3 and OD. it will shift in to OD and the the revs will bounce. also wile going up hills in OD it will bounce the revs as little a 600 and as much as 1500 RPMs it seems like it wants to down shift but can't. If I let off the gas and then ease back in to it it shifts it self down to 3 and will cont with no problem. Any ideas?
  • crankeeecrankeee Member Posts: 298
    edited August 2012
    Buddy: We had a 1998 B'ville that started slamming and missing shifts. The first symptom only occurred when turning right AND going slightly uphill. Sounds strange but as it got worse it slammed and shifted very hard after over revving the engine. Took a very bright service foreman at the Pontiac dealer (Same as Buick, Chevy, Caddy) to diagnose the external shift solenoid on the AT. The screens clog up after some time and even a trans fluid change does not always get it. They replaced the external solenoid w/o dropping the trans so it was relatively cheap (vs. $2000 or more for exchange trans).
    If you get a good trans guy he will know about it. Yours may be an internal problem, that is more complicated. Good luck.
  • moosesgirlmoosesgirl Member Posts: 1
    Last week, my car gave no warning & quit working! The motor locked up...there is no coolant in the oil. Someone thinks it might be the 'torque converter', any suggestions?
  • girongiron Member Posts: 1
    Hi i was having the same problem as you described did you ever find out what the problem was ? ive took it to 3 shops and they dont know what is wrong plz help

    2002 pontiac bonneville
  • imakelkatimakelkat Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2003 Pontiac Bonneville..today it didn't want to go into reverse..i finally got it to go but lunges everytime I take off from a complete stop.its never done this before.could it simply be in need of fluid or such?
  • neko8893420neko8893420 Member Posts: 2
    The check engine light can come on and stay on even if there is a very small air leak. If it runs fine and evrything is good i wouldnt worry bout the cel. I had an oldsmobile and even after i fixed some of the problems it jus stayed on. I wouldnt really be too worried.
  • neko8893420neko8893420 Member Posts: 2
    If its lunging like a speedy bullet then if you took the cylinder manifold off and didnt replace the gaskets and torque it down to what its suppose to be it could have an air leak from the warped gaskets. Or possibly throttle position sensor is going bad
  • wesman33wesman33 Member Posts: 1
    I know this is a very old blog but for anyone searching for help and might read this. I had the same problem along with missing and stalling after it got hot and seemed like the tranny was shot. I took it to a transmission shop. they said i needed presure swith soliniod and touc converter lock up soliniod and i would be better off just getting complete tranny overhal. $2100 buck. huh i ended up relpacing mass air flow sensor runs like new car. I can not believe it $120 bucks for a carban remanufactured maf sensor. Make sure you dont get one of those $39.00 maf it might run worse. Good luck
  • sweethavenfarmsweethavenfarm Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2000 Bonneville, Trans worked fine then one day all of a sudden it was like I kicked it out of gear, would not take any gear until I completely stopped turned it off, set there a minute then started back up , put it in gear and pulled out. It was shifting fine for a few miles then it did the same thing again. It will take gear after you turn it off, then restart it. what could be causing this? Any info will help.
  • crankeeecrankeee Member Posts: 298
    My guess is that the shift solenoid is clogging up and when you turn car off it corrects temporarily. Any reputable transmission shop can fix it without the trans being removed IF this is the problem. My 1998 Bonneville was slamming and not shifting. Tech diagnosed it correctly and fixed it with new solenoid that had a revised screen on the inside to prevent fouling. good luck.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    edited October 2013
    You don't mention the mileage or the maintenance history for the transmission. But assuming there's not a lot of negative there, it sounds like the transmission is losing pressure from the PCM.

    Is there a noise like a whine while it's doing this with the engine running?

    Does it reset to operate after 10 seconds or so and then turn the key on, or does it require a long sitting time? The computer control should reset if it picked up a code in a short few seconds of OFF time for the key.

    What does the fluid level look like when the transmission is warm, idling in park, level ground and you check the dipstick on the trans? It should be at the full level.

    Then what does the fluid level look like while idling when the transmission has refused to engage? Running, idling in park.

    If the fluid level changes during the problem occuring, that might help.

    What does trans do if you put it in the 1 position for hard first gear engagement? in 2?

    The FSM talks about several solenoids involved for various symptoms.

    But for dropping out of 3rd/4th low fluid level or low line pressure are first on the analysis algorithm. Line pressure might be due to a worn out Pressure Control Module, an item sometimes needing replacement in 4T65e's.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • Terry44Terry44 Member Posts: 1
    2002 Pontiac Bonneville I need to change a shift solenoid because my car won't shift from 1st to 2 can anyone tell me how hard of a  job this is  and where it is  located 
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    I believe that's a 4T65e transmission. The access to solenoids is on the left side next to the wheel and suspension. There is not a lot of room.

    If you contact a transmission specialist, they may tell you IF that is replaceable without removing the transmission from the vehicle. Some people have replaced the shift control pressure solenoid and I'm not sure if I've read they replaced the others without removing the transmission.

    Another piece of advice would be ask them if they are replacing one of those items accessible there, if the others should be replaced. I do recall the pressure shift control solenoid was a problem through 2003. So I assume yours will lose control of the pressure adapting to shift times, giving hard shifts in protect mode until the computer is turned off and reset after 30 seconds.

    I do know one shop said it's easier to remove transmission and work on it out of the car despite the time it takes. Said it was cost effective rather than trying to work in very confined space.

    I believe also the 4T65e was changed some for 2003 (LeSabre) including an improvement in the cylindrical tube which does the power transfer for 4th gear. I doubt if it's a choice, but a low mileage later year transmission might be a good replacement depending on the mileage and cost for yours.

    Do some research.

    This may be interesting for you
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b8-8FxNvTc

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • Shelby1026Shelby1026 Member Posts: 1
    Hi. I'm new to this site and posting on a forum, so bare with me plz.
    I recently bought a 1999 Pontiac Bonneville. It has started messing up and I need help figuring out a few things. #1.) Its having problems starting. I have to turn the key over and let that buzzing sound stop and then try to start it, if that doesn't work, I turn the key back off, push the gas pedal down for a second and then turn it back on and let that buzzing sound stop and it will start. I took it to advance auto to have the computer thing read and it wont read. They said it could be the fuse but my lighter works fine. So that's problem number 2.
    Problem #3.) When its shifting from 2nd and into 3rd the rpms go up to 2.5 and sometimes 3 and then shift. It doesn't shift hard just hesitates.
    The guy at advance said put seafoam in the gas tank and that would clean out the filter and the pump. I had a half a tank in it, put the seafoam in and filled it up. How long does it take before I know if it worked? I bought some Lucas for the transmission but I put a quart of transmission fluid in it yesterday because it was low now I dont have room for the Lucas.
    Oh the old guy I bought it from 4 weeks ago said he had a new engine put in it 3 years ago and has only drove it around our small town since, it also has a new battery, starter, alternator on it because it stalled a couple of times on him and wouldn't start back for a while he said that the mechanic said it it done it again it was some kind of control modulator, it hasn't stalled just all this other stuff. Any advice, suggestions on how to fix, deal with this, anything will be appreciated
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    1. The key has a small black chip near the end of the shaft that is connected between two terminals when the key is inserted. The resistance of that small piece is read and has to be within a certain amount of the 14 different resistances used for the keys. This was to make it harder for someone to copy a key and take the car: the key has to have the right resistance.
    2.
    BUT that resistance is read via two very fine wires that go down the steering column to the multi connector above the left foot on the firewall. The constant flexing of the tilt steering wheel, causes those two fine wires to have some of the microfine wires in the bundle break. That changes the resistance slightly as more and more break. That makes it hard for the module that reads the resistance when the key is put in and turned to ON to get the right reading.

    I suspect that is starting to happen to your car. You can clean the contacts on the key with a pencil eraser. But eventually you'll have to have someone bypass the bad wires that go from the connector up the steering column. People who install theft alarms on cars have the right resistors to insert into the circuit to pretend to be the key reading the resistance.

    3. I would save my money on the additives for the engine or the transmission. This may indicate the trans is going to need work some day. Dropping the pan and changing the fluid with fresh Dexron VI, the recommended replacement, along with a filter change may help. If the fluid in the trans is light pink, it's likely already been changed. One problem is folks putting in the multi-type fluid. The car came with Dexron III or IIIe fluid. But Dexron VI is the recommended fluid now. Putting in Mercon and others that are compatible with other transmissions may give a bad shift due to the adaptive shift controls in the computer. That's my opinion, even though they say on the can they are compatible with Dexron III, for instance.

    The most common cause of a stall after the engine has warmed up with no codes being set in the computer and flashing the engine light or turning it on is the CPS--crankshaft position sensor. It gets weak and the magnetic field deteriorates. The heat makes it worse. When the engine cools, it starts again. This is right under the edge of the crankshaft harmonic balancer. Sometimes, a cursory test was to pour water on the sensor when the engine was off to cool it quicker than waiting for the hot engine to cool. Sometimes the wires to the CPS or the connector are the problem area.

    Good luck.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

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