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I have been going through the forums and have found some great information so far. But I have not found any posts yet for my current problem. I have a '99 Grand Prix GT, and just rolled over 210,000 miles. I bought it with 80K on it, so I'm not positive but I think it is the original transmission.
A while back I was told after an oil change that there were alot of metal shavings in the transmission, and that I should get rid of it right away. Since then I have put in some Lucas and have driven it another 15,000 miles. Occasionally I will feel it clank underneath when I accelerate, but only when I am already doing about 40 mph,not from a standstill. So now I have problems getting it into reverse sometimes when I start the car. I have to play with the shifter and the brake pedal, and eventually it goes right into reverse. (sometimes it doesn't do it at all)
I asked someone about it thinking that it was the tranny finally taking the total dump on me. He told me that it was probably the interlock switch and has nothing to do with the inner workings of the tranny itself. When I squeeze on the shifter button, I can hear the clicking sound up to the dash.
So has anyone else had this problem, and how did you deal with it? My friend told me that I could try disconnect the interlock switch and it should take care of it, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Also....on the right side of the shifter, there is a little plastic plug that says "shifter" something....it's faded and I can't read it all. Any ideas what that is, and what it is for? I don't have a manual.
Lastly, I did put in an Astro Start last winter, that will shut off the car if you hit the brake before putting in the key.... Could this possibly be the culprit?
Sorry for being so longwinded here....this is frustrating and I need to see if I can get this taken care of before I get rid of it. The car has always been great up til now except for this problem and the water in the passenger floor while the A/C is running. With this many miles I guess I should be happy..
Thanks in advance for any advice with this problem..
JLP
electronic) are compatible with each other?
For example a 1990 regal vs 1990 grand prix with the same engine etc. Also since mine has
the 4T60 and not the 4T60-E will the electronic
one work in my car? Are there any other things
that I need to be concerned with swapping trannys? Thanks.
Has there been any other GXP owners with similar issues with the transmission?
Tony
Alicia
YES! Have your software checked out before you go any further. If Rob, who posted on here before me, hadn't posted what he did, my car would probably be long gone.
The software upgrade costs $44 or so. I spent $1,500 before they found this out.
Let's see: 1. Replaced some throttle thing - didn't work. 2. Replaced the solenoid - didn't work (twice). 3. Replaced the torque converter - didn't work. 4. Flushed out all the fuel injectors, replaced fuel filter - didn't work. 5. Replaced catalytic converter - didn't work. About 5 months, and $1,500 later ...
6. Found this web site, read about the software thing - EVEN THOUGH MINE HAD THE "MOST CURRENT" SOFTWARE, IT REALLY DID NOT. GM had an unreleased new version they uploaded to my car.
I HAVE NOT had a problem since. I am still driving my '99 GT and it runs like a dream again. So, by all means, explore this option. It fixed mine!
If I can save anyone some of the headache and frustration I've had, that will be great.
And thanks for your reply
My car had "the latest software" on it too, which apparently is faulty. Somehow, the tech got ahold of someone in Detroit who gave him a new version, which HAD NOT been released at that time. Maybe they have never released it?! I don't know.
I just think you have to get the right person at the right time, who knows what he or she is doing!
By the way, I do not have a Pontiac dealer where I live. I took my car to a Chevy dealer. In theory, all GM dealerships should have access to the same thing, but it might be worth trying another dealership.
I hope they get it right. It took 10+ times for me. I understand how awful it is.
I think GM should fix this for free!
it may put fine metel shaveing in the trans.
Gearr
thanks,
dustin
Also, I will be picking up the car from my mechanic who was replacing the pressure solenoid valve in the tranny. My car was also doing the "hard shifting" after it had been driven a while. We'll see what happens.
I was told the warranty was 80,000 miles on the catalytic converter for my 1999 Grand Prix. If you see some of my other posts, they replaced it while they were trying to find the problem with the jerking, which turned out to be a $40 computer program. Good luck.
After two pressure solenoid valves, one torque converter, and $1,200 my car was still being bad until they upgraded the computer program.
I'm new to this forum and so far I like it.
I hope somebody can help me with a transmission problem that I have.When I'm on the highway and I want to pass,the transmission does not want to down shift.It buckles until I let go of the gas and then it's fine.Or if I want to have little fun,the trans when it shifts,it shifts hard and it wont stop till I shut the motor off.When I turn the power off,everything is back to normal.It's like I have resetted something.Could it be that there is some kind of chip or selenoid scrued up?Because the probleme goes away when I restart the car.Can anyone help?
Thanks. p.s.Pontiac Grand Prix GT 1999
Shawn
I am new to this forum and it looks like you guy's help each other allot.
I have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT.My probleme is,If I go and give it some gas to you know,,have some fun with the big boys,,the transmission buckles.And after that the transmission shifts hard ,like it's detracked.But I shut the power off and restart,everything comes back to normal.Could this be some kind of sensor problem?
This thing is bugging me.Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!
Shawn
The problem I had with my '99 GT transmission after many many despairing trips to the garage was resolved by another poster on here (Rob94). The computer program was faulty on my car. Of course, I had my transmission pulled and different parts replaced multiple times to no avail. The $40 computer program fixed it after spending $1,500 in other visits to the garage.
If you want the whole saga, you can read my other posts on this forum. Good luck. You might want to print some of the things out from this forum and take them to your service manager.
so it would be reprogramming of the computer?I will chek it out.
Thanks
Shawn
That worked for my '99, so hopefully it works for yours. I know how frustrating this problem can be!
I went to the GM dealer ship and they did not want to reprogramme my computer.
They said that is not the probleme.But they could not tell me the probleme. :mad:
I think they just want to make money off of me.I am paying for the service and they dont even want to do that.
Anyways,I told him off and I left. :mad:
Now what do I do?
Shawn
I don't know what to tell you other than maybe try another dealership. That really stinks! I can't promise that it is the computer, but I just know that is what finally fixed mine and several others on here.
I was also told to go to a transmission shop about my car, but I never went there because I wanted my dealership to get the job done right (which took many trips)! Ugh!
This is obviously a Grand Prix problem with some cars and one GM should fix!
How was the transmission oil?before all of this?
Mine is like black :surprise:
It does not look good.I went to another dealer ship and checked my computer and said I have the latest software.Then he checked the oil and so did I and uhm,,,,well now I think that I have bigger problems.
What do you think?
Shawn
That doesn't sound good. :sick: My transmission oil has never been black. It is a red-ish color.
How long has your car been acting up? The service manager at my local dealership said the longer I let it go, the more likely dirt could get in there because the transmission wasn't engaging properly. So, maybe this problem caused it to get black.
Also, my car supposedly had the "latest" version of the software on it too, but when they finally called Detroit on my car's 12th trip to the garage, someone told the tech he would put a new program on my car that hadn't been released yet. It was my understanding that it was still a test program and probably would be released, but maybe they never have released it. Other people on here have had the same response you got, but their car still messes up.
What did they say about the oil?
But like you say,after maybe so long that is doing this,it's getting to the point that it is scruing up my transmission.I have been noticing it for a while now.But now the dealer ship thinks I should put a new one in.
But I am not giving up yet,,I will try to see a Transmission specialist,to see what he can tell me.
I am all nervest now,,I dont want to change transmission now.to much$$$$$$$
Shawn
When I tell them what I want to do,,,they look at me like I'm 'n idiot. :mad:
What can I do to tell the dealer ship that could be my problem?I am runing out of ideas.
Thanks
Shawn
Typicaly in a hilly area, going anywhere from 35-55 MPH, the cars seems to cut out, lose power, buck, or chug. Kinda hard to explain the real feeling. Its not shaking or ratteling. Turning the car of and it sitting for a while does not change the actions. It started off gradualy, and now it seems to be continual. Shops & dealers say all kinds of different things from the computer to replacing the transmission.
Your input would be appreciated. Thanks.
I have a Grand Prix SE 2005 3.1 V6 VIN M with 85,000 miles.
This morning I started the car after 2 days without using it. It passed about 1 minute after I went out from my home and made a stop to open a gate. After the gate opened I pressed the pedal slightly to continue but I was stocked in the same place. I saw that the transmission was in "D". I pressed again and it felts like wanted to move but nothing. I returned the transmission to "N" and then to "D" and the pedal and then I was on the road again.
I has to make another stop a mile after and I got the same issue.
I checked the trans fluid level and it is OK. The reverse is OK.
A week ago the car started to stall when I idle the car and also saw that the lights are dimming when I press the brake pedal or are bright when I pressed the gas pedal. I am not sure if this "seems to electrical/charging problem" is related to the transmission issue.
Please help!