Transmission shifting hard

[Happycampers]

In my 2000 Buick lesabre after the transmission is warmed up it shifts hard in all gears. This just started yesterday.
Previously i had shuttering issues that wet away after changing mounts. It has 104000 miles on it. Course of action?

 

[MelsRegal]

Change fluid and filter if unknown when last done .
Add a bottle of Lucas Transmission additive.
Look at Transgo shift kit.

 

[Happycampers]

I changed fluid and filter in march and old fluid had nice color. What does it cost have shift kit installed?

 

[century61]

The shift kit doesnt really fix the problem. Could be solenoids in the trans. All gears - hard shift when warm - sounds funny to me. I would probably just take it into a trans shop and get a diagnostic on it. After all, Could be a number of things and before you fire the parts cannon you might just fire the diag cannon instead.

 

[Happycampers]

Sound advice thank you.

 

[Happycampers]

Shifted nice when i drove it this morning but after warm up definitely shifts hard in first and second. But i commute 140 mikes daily and after driving it yesterday for 70 miles when i slowed for a trafic light and accelerated it definately shifted hard in three gears.

 

[century61]

There is no question that I prefer to do a lot of the work on my car. I do not want anyone touching. However, I think when it comes to the transmission I have a shop that I can trust. Its hard to diagnose from a keyboard on a lot of things. However, Just sounds like the solenoids are going bad. This seems to be a common thing with high mileage GM's.

I watched a video on replacing the solenoids and its a lot of work to get the side cover off the transmission. Your basically unassembling the right driver side suspension and drive axle. Plus, Removing a motor mount or two to get to the top bolts on the transmission side cover. The actual replacement of the solenoids takes probably 5 minutes.

I have the 4T65e in my Lucerne and as I hear it, Its a popular transmission that GM used. Mine is still going fine at 151k miles luckly.

 

[Happycampers]

So after all of my research on this transmission heres what people had to say about what they had to replace to fix hard shifting. Flush transmission, input clutch piston, pc solenoid, pressure range switch, 4th clutch shaft, valve body update, and b of course shift kit. either way it all sounds expensive. I dont know which shop trust as i have serious trust issues.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

In my 2000 Buick lesabre after the transmission is warmed up it shifts hard in all gears. This just started yesterday.
Previously i had shuttering issues that wet away after changing mounts. It has 104000 miles on it. Course of action?

Can't speak for others who have commented here but it sounds like your tranny could be "fixed" like mine was.

Order new Tranny pan equipped with drain plug from Amazon.
Put a TransGo kit in same order.
Watch YouTube videos about installing shift kit.
Upon receiving order, go to local parts store and buy two gallons of tranny fluid.
Install Shift kit or have your shop do it.
Drive car as normal.
Total Cost: 125-150

Knowing that you avoided an expensive tranny rebuild = victory!!!!

P.S. I was hesitant about doing it myself so I "drove around" the problem for awhile. Once I committed myself to doing it I could kick myself for waiting so long. Don't listen to the "nay sayers" just get in there and DO IT. Mine has been driving fine for about 3 months now as a result of about an hour and a half of work.

 

[Happycampers]

I'll l try and find video.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I'll l try and find video.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Also check this reply from Alan55

My transmission is shifting...HARD!?

Hello everyone! I have a 2003 Buick LeSabre with a very bipolar transmission. I have experienced this problem before with 4 speed automatic transmissions in Buicks, but i am unsure what causes it. (Perhaps age? Normal wear and tear?) What gets me is that it is not always shifting hard and heavy...

buickforums.com

 

[Mad_Coachman]

I changed fluid and filter in march and old fluid had nice color. What does it cost have shift kit installed?

I would imagine a nice local shop would charge between 1 and 2 hours labor. They could probably knock it out in an hour or less.
A tranny shop may balk at doing it because they want to get you for a rebuild.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Amazon.com: Transgo SK 4T65E Shift Kit (w/o Tap Shift) 4T65E: Automotive

Buy Transgo SK 4T65E Shift Kit (w/o Tap Shift) 4T65E: Shift Kits - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

More Information for TRANSGO SK4T65E

Read the reviews on Amazon.

 

[Happycampers]

Which solenoids are accessible after removing the transmission pan?

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Which solenoids are accessible after removing the transmission pan?

NONE....the solenoids are in the side pan. You have to drop the subframe to gain access to the side pan...Big job that I wasn't willing to try. Read the reviews on Amazon.

 

[Happycampers]

I will order that shift kit and have a shop put it in and then we'll go from there. Thanks for all of the feed back, grateful.

 

[Mad_Coachman]

Did you replace your filter or did a shop do it?

 

[Happycampers]

I replaced it.

 

[Happycampers]

There was some kind of spring loaded brace that could easily fall off when removing the filter and of course it did and i hope i put it on correctly.