transmission??

mastershake · 03-08-2011, 03:07 PM

since i got my alero ive noticed that when it shifts between first and second gear, it slips a little. not enough to be uncomfortable, but just enough to be able to feel it. also, when i shift into drive or reverse, it takes more time than it should to engage. ive read thats one of the early signs the tranny is going... another thing, when im going up hills, the rpm will get really high and it seems like its refusing to shift (maybe its supposed to do that? im not an expert with cars ... yet.)

i was wondering if i could put some lucas tranny treatment in it just until i can get the fluid/filter changed to help it? it doesnt seem like a huge problem, but it does bother me that i can feel it shifting and i dont want the problem to get bigger

XanderWiFi · 03-08-2011, 04:51 PM

I forget the exact components involved but the lower gears have more torque and the computer will drop to a lower gear to go up hills or if you suddenly floor it. I would worry when you go up a hill, keep going up in speed, but do not shift at all. If you have a car for a while you know at what speeds they generally shift so interprelate.

As for the slipping I do not know what to tell you. If you did a lot of reverse to drive before stopping to shift gears it can wear things out quicker. That is the extent of my general knowledge. Others can give you more in depth info.

jawa · 03-08-2011, 05:05 PM

i used to have a similar issue right after i got the tranny flushed, it was suggested to me to run Lucas tranny fix through it and it worked wonderfully no more slippage

mastershake · 03-08-2011, 05:39 PM

not sure about the previous owner but i always completely stop before putting it into drive.

would lucas treatment be safe in old fluid though? not sure if its ever been changed

widbyj · 03-08-2011, 08:20 PM

If fluid age is unknown it would be a good idea to have it checked. Is the level correct? Does it smell bad? Before adding anything I would have the filter changed and top off the fluid, DO NOT flush.

mastershake · 03-08-2011, 08:34 PM

unfortunately, gm found it necessary to restrict us from checking our tranny fluid level, so i have no idea if its burnt or not and have no idea if its even full :/

Philbar71 · 03-08-2011, 08:56 PM

^ Theres a check plug on the bottom.

widbyj · 03-08-2011, 10:11 PM

^ Actually it's located on the passenger side near the half-shaft. Car has to be running and warm to do it right. If you're going to the trouble to check the level PROPERLY you may as well change the filter while you're at it. Anything over 50k may as well be changed, no harm done. Do this before resorting to any kind of additives....

Nuf said, this subject has been covered in detail many times before, search.

mastershake · 03-09-2011, 01:04 AM

i have the 3.4l v6 engine, which only has a fill cap. no dipstick. ive researched where to find it, which is how i discovered it doesnt have one :P

mastershake · 03-09-2011, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbar71

^ Theres a check plug on the bottom.

i dont have the tools to get to the check plug (no jacks or stands)

zzyzzx · 03-09-2011, 03:22 PM

How many miles are on the car?

mastershake · 03-09-2011, 05:46 PM

about to hit 203k, but they're all highway miles (besides 18k from the very first owner)

zzyzzx · 03-09-2011, 08:31 PM

At 203K if you haven't changed out the filter and fluid, you are way overdue and also probably low on fluid.

I did my Escort at ~165K, but what I did was to siphin out as much as I could and replace with new fluid. Then wait a month. Repeat this a few times. Then change out the fluid and filter (not flush). My reasoning being that at this point if you change out the fluid and filter, with the new fluid having some new detergent, it breaks dirt loose and clogs up your new filter. Now if your filter is already partially clogged, then it's best to just change it out now and figure on doing it again in the near future.

My Escort has 199,500 miles on it and still has the original automatic transmission in it. I bought the car new in 1995.

The other thing to do is if it's possible on this transmission (I know I can on my Escort) is adjust the transmission oil pressure up a bit. There is a way to do it via a cable on older cars, but probably not on the Alero (might be some other way). On my Escort, there is a test port where you can connect a pressure gauge and you adjust the cable to bring the transmission oil pressure up to specs, or even maybe a little higher (some say to do that on an older worn transmissions).

In so far as any additives, you really only need those as a last resort. High mileage transmission fluid might be appropriate in your case.

zzyzzx · 03-09-2011, 08:40 PM

Another thing I've wondered is if anyone has researched adding a dipstick for the transmission.

kwhauck · 03-09-2011, 09:09 PM

or you could just swap tranmissions.......lol

mastershake · 03-09-2011, 11:33 PM

i would swap transmissions, but i am an unemployed and in highschool so i would not be able to afford that XD i would much rather pay 100 bucks to get the fluid/filter changed

but, will i be ok putting some lucas trans fix in it to keep it healthy until i can do that? or will it be no good since the fluid is so old

widbyj · 03-10-2011, 02:13 AM

High mileage... At this point you probably need to add fluid just to get the system full, which may solve your issues for a while. Certainly a full servicing is in order. As mentioned above, best would be to plan on double-changing it to trap most of the junk and refresh the fluid.

Lucalare · 03-10-2011, 02:15 AM

I would definitely do the double change. $150 to do that probably compared to a $1500 minimum tranny job if it fails due to low fluid. Pretty much a toss up.

zzyzzx · 03-10-2011, 09:13 AM

Seriously I do have nearly 200K on my Escorts automatic transmission because I don't take it to a transmission shop, and don't freak out and think I need a new transmission and try to fix it myself by the prescribed above procedure. I wish I could give some more specific Alero advice, but mine only has 29K miles on it so it's still like a new car and I haven't messed with it much yet.