4.8is Recommend Transmission Shop Vancouver BC

[dredre]

So heres my scenario... I had my tranny fluid replaced (not flush) 3 weeks in hopes of doing preventative maintenance. Car was totally fine before. After the replacing fluid, the following issues have surfaced. Note I am simply sharing my experience... not looking to take any side on the ongoing debate covered in numerous other threads.
Car: 05 4.8is 90K KM (56K Miles)

Symptoms
- on moderate acceleration, it'll pause to change from 3 to 4th gear. Applying more gas the engine will rev high than normal and then suddenly "lurch" into gear. Seems to happens from gears 3 to 4.
-Received Trans Failsafe once 2 weeks ago. Have been easy on the throttle and the lurch happened a few times since when I apply gas to get out of 3rd.
-Also slow response when kicking it into reverse.

Diagnosis:
-Indy confirmed symtoms on test drive; suspects possibly problem with TC. He did not remove the pan to inspect but a rebuild/ overhaul was recommended @ $4000
-He recommeded I get the CPU flashed first at the dealer so see if it helps before going fwd with the overhaul; got back from the Dealer after being flashed yesterday and symptoms are still there.

A full trans overhaul seems to be a catch all solution (and most expensive) for transmission problems. Looking for a second opinion on other solutions (TC or Valve Body rebuild, etc..) before I decide on a full trans over haul or selling the car....

Anyone know a good Transmission/ Indy shop in Vancouver BC who I can get a second opinion?

[Dan Fowler]

Hard to believe you need a rebuild with low miles. I know nothing of Vancouver.

Was there a symptom before the fluid change?
Who changed the fluid?
What fluid used?
Did they drop the pan?
Did they replace the filter and seat it properly?
Did they properly refil warm and running?

For encouragement, I have changed my 06 4.4 3 times now at 235000 miles. The only time I had failsafe issues was with a dying battery.

[dredre]

Originally Posted by Dan Fowler

Hard to believe you need a rebuild with low miles. I know nothing of Vancouver.

Was there a symptom before the fluid change?
Who changed the fluid?
What fluid used?
Did they drop the pan?
Did they replace the filter and seat it properly?
Did they properly refil warm and running?

For encouragement, I have changed my 06 4.4 3 times now at 235000 miles. The only time I had failsafe issues was with a dying battery.

No symptoms before fluid change
Another indy shop did the fluid change with the recommended fluid and did the refil warm and running procedure.
Ill confirm on my invoice if the filter was changed...

Dont know if doing a full flush now will help at all

[motordavid]

"JCL", a very knowledgeable poster, who lives in Van, may have a tip or, opin.
GL, mD

[JCL]

Sorry I wasn't able to be more of a help.

My recommendation was to look at the valve body before proceeding with a transmission overhaul, and based on findings during that process judge whether a transmission overhaul was necessary.

OP has done everything right so far, but it doesn't look good. Valve body is just more likely to be a cause than something mechanical IMO, given that symptoms started only after the fluid change.

Unfortunately I don't know any local transmission shops that I can personally recommend. Short of using the yellow pages, I withheld my suggestions on where to take it.

Perhaps another poster with local Vancouver experience can provide a suggestion.

Jeff

[Icer006]

Originally Posted by JCL

Sorry I wasn't able to be more of a help.

My recommendation was to look at the valve body before proceeding with a transmission overhaul, and based on findings during that process judge whether a transmission overhaul was necessary.

OP has done everything right so far, but it doesn't look good. Valve body is just more likely to be a cause than something mechanical IMO, given that symptoms started only after the fluid change.

Unfortunately I don't know any local transmission shops that I can personally recommend. Short of using the yellow pages, I withheld my suggestions on where to take it.

Perhaps another poster with local Vancouver experience can provide a suggestion.

Jeff

Yep, it sounds like the valve body (mechatronic). Very similar to my 4.8is mechatronic issues. I had my tranny serviced at 50k and the valve body issues didn't surface until around 70k.

[CanuckX5]

Originally Posted by dredre

Anyone know a good Transmission/ Indy shop in Vancouver BC who I can get a second opinion?

[/FONT][/SIZE]

Which indy did you go to? I take my 4.8is to Nixon Automotive in Burnaby. I haven't had any negative experience with them.

Also, CG Motorsports in Richmond gets highly recommended as well.

[dredre]

Originally Posted by Icer006

Yep, it sounds like the valve body (mechatronic). Very similar to my 4.8is mechatronic issues. I had my tranny serviced at 50k and the valve body issues didn't surface until around 70k.

Did you only get the valve body rebuilt? No full over haul of the tranny?

I was paying closer attention to the rpms last night and here is what I noticed:

@ normal acceleration, gears 1-3 shift at 2000rpm. Once into 3rd, the rpms drop to 1000-1500 rpm and have to apply more gas to get it into 4th. aggressive acceleration will produce the clunk or lurch into gear.

Does this sound more like an issue with the Torque converter or something with the valve body?

[Icer006]

Originally Posted by dredre

Did you only get the valve body rebuilt? No full over haul of the tranny?

I was paying closer attention to the rpms last night and here is what I noticed:

@ normal acceleration, gears 1-3 shift at 2000rpm. Once into 3rd, the rpms drop to 1000-1500 rpm and have to apply more gas to get it into 4th. aggressive acceleration will produce the clunk or lurch into gear.

Does this sound more like an issue with the Torque converter or something with the valve body?

The valve body was replaced under my extended warranty.

I had a slow reverse engagement.
I had a clunk downshifting from 2 to 1.
When cruising at around 45mph, I could feel the gears switching back and forth between 3 and 4.
At one time, I heard a whine from 3rd and banged into 4th.

The mechatronic unit was my car's problem. Yours could be different or inclusive of the mechatronic, among other things?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by dredre

Does this sound more like an issue with the Torque converter or something with the valve body?

They aren't completely independent. The torque converter has a lock up function, which is controlled by the valve body.