03 Buick Lesabre hard shift thud after driving 20 minutes/transmission solenoid??

[scarlethand]

Hi, I bought an 03 Buick Lesabre, and noticed that after driving for 20+ minutes, it starts to thud and hard shift between shifting gears. I read online if may need a new solenoid. It only happens after driving for that long. Took it to the mechanic, they said that they checked the computer and checked shift points, dropped the transmission pan to inspect. Found no metal in the pan. They replaced the filter and transmission pan gasket. They replaced fluid and added transmission conditioner. Brought it home and test drove it and it is still doing the same thing. Is there a possibility that the solenoid is still bad even though computer read it as okay? Will it possibly need new transmission? Or could it be something else?

Any advice is appreciated. I am thinking of taking it to a different mechanic.

 

[RobR]

Search "Transgo Shift Kit". If it were me,id demand my money back from the mechanic. Did they mention anything about the PO 1811 code they supposedly scanned because its there.

 

[scarlethand]

Search "Transgo Shift Kit". If it were me,id demand my money back from the mechanic. Did they mention anything about the PO 1811 code they supposedly scanned because its there.

Thanks for your reply!! I was actually just looking the shift kit up on Amazon when I came to check if anyone had replied. My boyfriend and I are not mechanic savvy at all so we would probably need to have a mechanic put in the shift kit. Other people seem to be saying on forums to put in the shift kit so I think that is the route I am going to take. The only thing they mentioned about codes is that there were no errors coming up so they didn't think it was the solenoid. They had suggested doing everything I mentioned above and we said wait hold on and to please drive it again to see if it hard shifts again after driving it for more than 20 minutes. They said they would drive it again to see if it will hard shift. Called us the next day and said they drove it and went ahead and did all the work we told them to wait on which made me annoyed since we said to wait.

 

[RobR]

Thanks for your reply!! I was actually just looking the shift kit up on Amazon when I came to check if anyone had replied. My boyfriend and I are not mechanic savvy at all so we would probably need to have a mechanic put in the shift kit. Other people seem to be saying on forums to put in the shift kit so I think that is the route I am going to take. The only thing they mentioned about codes is that there were no errors coming up so they didn't think it was the solenoid. They had suggested doing everything I mentioned above and we said wait hold on and to please drive it again to see if it hard shifts again after driving it for more than 20 minutes. They said they would drive it again to see if it will hard shift. Called us the next day and said they drove it and went ahead and did all the work we told them to wait on which made me annoyed since we said to wait.

So they did the work without your authorization. At least make them install the shift kit for free.

 

[scarlethand]

So they did the work without your authorization. At least make them install the shift kit for free.

Yes they did it without our authorization. Which is strange because we have used them before several times and they have never done that before. Yes I think I will do that, tell them to install the shift kit for free. The pan needs to be dropped to install the shift kit right? Sorry if that is a dumb question, not quite sure of the answer.

 

[RobR]

Yes

 

[Mad_Coachman]

If the shop scanned it and found no codes then they may have used a low level scanner. The symptoms that you described usually cause a P1811 code which will not be picked up by a basic scanner.
If the computer detects slower than normal shifts it will force the line pressure to the maximum in order to make up for the delayed shifts. This is pretty common on these trannys as they age due to the springs in the accumulator getting weak. There are plenty of posts here on these forums regarding this issue. Do a search for P1811 and/ or harsh shifts. Also there a few videos on YouTube for the TransGo kit. Here is one of them.

 

[scarlethand]

If the shop scanned it and found no codes then they may have used a low level scanner. The symptoms that you described usually cause a P1811 code which will not be picked up by a basic scanner.
If the computer detects slower than normal shifts it will force the line pressure to the maximum in order to make up for the delayed shifts. This is pretty common on these trannys as they age due to the springs in the accumulator getting weak. There are plenty of posts here on these forums regarding this issue. Do a search for P1811 and/ or harsh shifts. Also there a few videos on YouTube for the TransGo kit. Here is one of them.

Thanks for your reply! You must be right about them using a low level scanner. So could it still be the solenoid if they used a low level scanner? Does the shift kit fix the problem or is it like a bandaid? I ordered the shift kit but now I regret not just taking it to a transmission place instead from the beginning.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

To replace the solenoids is a BIG job as the subframe has to be dropped to gain access to the side cover of the transmission. A transmission shop might try to sell you a rebuilt tranny.
I have logged about 10k miles since installing the shift kit and it's performing flawlessly.

 

[sightcrr]

M_C, Thanks for the video. Take Care, sightcrr.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Thanks for your reply! You must be right about them using a low level scanner. So could it still be the solenoid if they used a low level scanner? Does the shift kit fix the problem or is it like a bandaid? I ordered the shift kit but now I regret not just taking it to a transmission place instead from the beginning.

Some call it a band-aid and others have enjoyed long lasting results. I'm hoping to be in the latter category. Time will tell. 😉

 

[Lefty#53]

I was looking into a rebuilt tranny and found the lowest price was a transmission place (AATCO) and not any of the other General Car repair places.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I was looking into a rebuilt tranny and found the lowest price was a transmission place (AATCO) and not any of the other General Car repair places.

....and what was that price? $2k? I "rebuilt" my tranny for $46. 😀

 

[Lefty#53]

....and what was that price? $2k? I "rebuilt" my tranny for $46. 😀

No, this was a Ford Explorer I had priced out, so it was a lot more than $2000 It had 4wd. How can you even replace parts for $46?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I could actually do it for less than 46 by ordering the accumulator springs individually. Did you look at the video?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I was looking into a rebuilt tranny and found the lowest price was a transmission place (AATCO) and not any of the other General Car repair places.

Are you having the same issues as the OP?

 

[Lefty#53]

Are you having the same issues as the OP?

No I had a Ford Explorer that had 5th gear go out.

 

[Lefty#53]

I could actually do it for less than 46 by ordering the accumulator springs individually. Did you look at the video?

Are you saying the TransGo kit fixes all transmission problems?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Are you saying the TransGo kit fixes all transmission problems?

No, but it fixes the problem of harsh shifting that has been caused by weak accumulator springs.
What problems are you experiencing?

 

[Lefty#53]

No, but it fixes the problem of harsh shifting that has been caused by weak accumulator springs.
What problems are you experiencing?

I am not having any problems. I was just letting OP know that AATCO was cheaper over here than Car Repair places. I had a Ford Explorer that the 5th gear went out of.