2004 Buick Lesabre, transmission fluid never changed

[ShellyB]

My sister gave my son a 2004 Buick Lesabre with 150,000 miles. She told him to change the transmission fluid right away, but when he called Jiffy Lube, they said it would have problems if it was changed now. So, what do you suggest? She drove it 500 miles a week in South Carolina.

 

[HotZ28]

Jiffy Lube is correct and previously caused many trans failures due to the complete flush on high mileage cars. I guess their insurance company canceled their policy for repairs? The best procedure is to drop the pan and (sanitize) clean it, then change the filter and add approximately 7-quarts of Valvoline MAX full synthetic Trans fluid. Click Here. Drive it for another 5-K miles and change the fluid again. This second change would much easier if you have a drain plug installed in the pan. When doing the second change, the filter should not require replacement, unless there is sludge settled in the pan again.

 

[DonP]

^+1. A flush is rarely a good idea and often causes more problems than it solves, especially if there have not been any tranny failures that need to be cleared out. Change the filter, clean the pan and magnet.

And consider doing second change in a bit as suggested above.

If the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are a bit harsh when the engine is warm and you have a hidden code P1811, it might also be a good time to try adding a TRANSGO kit as well while the pan is off.
http://shop.tripleedgeperformance.com/4T65E-Shift-Kit-Combo-Kit-4T65E-SKCK.htm?categoryId=-1 (It helped on my '04)

Note that if you have a suction pump like the Mitivac 7400 you can avoid the pain/mess of dropping the pan for the second change, and substantially reduce the mess of the first change. IMHO it is worth having if you plan to do several tranny fluid changes in the future just for the mess it aviods.
http://www.tooltopia.com/mityvac-7400.aspx (there are other sources, at potentially better prices.)

 

[NickaV]

If the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are a bit harsh when the engine is warm and you have a hidden code P1811, it might also be a good time to try adding a TRANSGO kit as well while the pan is off.
http://shop.tripleedgeperformance.com/4T65E-Shift-Kit-Combo-Kit-4T65E-SKCK.htm?categoryId=-1 (It helped on my '04)

Sorry to poach this thread, but do you have any personal experience with the Transgo kit? Just wondering how effective it really is.

 

[DonP]

Sorry to poach this thread, but do you have any personal experience with the Transgo kit? Just wondering how effective it really is.

It worked for me (cleared up harsh 1-2 and 2-3 shifts) and it has been about 2 years now. On a DIY basis it is only a bit more difficult than a tranny filter and fluid change if all you do are the the 1-2 and 2-3 accumulators.

However, there are tranny issues/codes it will not fix. Read the information at tripleedgeperformance.com before you buy.

 

[BuickBonfireMikey]

My 2004 Buick LeSabre Limited got the transmission death code. The cost to replace both shifter solenoids was around $1,000!

 

[Ari11980]

My 2004 Buick LeSabre Limited got the transmission death code. The cost to replace both shifter solenoids was around $1,000!

(Photos within file size limit attached, might make new thread as well)
My 05 lacrosse CXS (now ~202,520 miles) had a tranny swap (4T65E) before I bought it: replaced summer 2022/2023 about a year from buying it, previous owner had to replace it at roughly 190k 195k miles. They never received paperwork until I pushed them to get it from the shop after discovering it was a junkyard trans. They paid around 3k for that trans plus plus labor! Around may/june I got the car, by June she was shifting harder. Took it in at 202,515 miles; shop recommended a fluid change so they did fluid and filter R&R and ran codes/cleared/ran again and gave me the report after asking due to the hard shifting still happening. Keep in mind I wasn’t told anything about codes or the risk with the higher mileage even after getting the report. Found the p1811 code! History was passed and failed, current says passed, mechanic never acknowledged or explained it. Tried to go home from work a week or two afterwards and guess what! 1-2nd band snapped it turns out. Then pushed by friend into buying the transgo shift kit in August and installing it when that wasn’t the issue. My point is please check that before trusting that the kit was all the issue was! I had to drive my Buick as 1st-2nd-D and back to 1st at any stop or under 20mph till I could park it. Good luck!!

 

[mammaw]

I have a 1998 Lesabre and the transmission fluid has never been changed. It has 115000 miles. Should I change it and with which style?

 

[G-617578]

This is a 9yo thread. Doubtful either of you will get any replies.

 

[jotzgr]

9yo thread. Doubtful either of you will get any replies.

 

[Ari11980]

9yo thread. Doubtful either of you will get any replies.

You did 🙂