Hey all -

HUGE thanks to Jeffrey for turning me onto this forum .. Looks like it is as good as the TGP forum I'm also a member of (Hi TGPilot), and I got a tranny Q for all you gurus out there....
Got a '93 SSEi w/ 111k miles, and when I first start it up for the day and drop it into gear, the tranny has a considerable hesitation before it engages. Once it does engage, there isn't any slipping, no flares between shifts, no abnormal feeling/behavior, just the initial wait before it will engage. I checked my (GM) shop manual, and there was a "trans cooler check ball sticking or dirty" (paraphrased) listed as a possible cause. I changed the fluid and filter, and it still does it - warm weather and cold. I am considering getting the trans flushed (old fluid wasn't burned, but was old and very dark, like used motor oil), but being a cheap individual, I wanted to see if anyone else had experienced this, and what the fix was, or what to look for/try to get it straightened out.

TIA, and Glad to be here !!!!

Brian J - a.k.a. Gearhedd

BTW - Another FLOZ casualty, but working to get it working right - call it "informationally challenged at the time"

'90 Black Turbo Grand Prix - For Sale
'93 Black SSEi grey leather, fully loaded
'84 VF1000F (probably doesn't fit in here, huh?)
'70 GTO 455 H.O.

Your cheap way out that I can feel comfortable recommending is a flush. With a flush you also stir up alot of history and that can cause problems. I am interested if it has this problem happen every time you come out of park or just after sitting for a long time.

Ty

No, it only happens after sitting overnite or a similar length of time ....

Welcome to the forum. We'd love to hear your Floz story to add it to our ammo locker.

For the tranny....have you had a scantool on it yet? Just curious. Sometimes that can be a big help, even with the trans. Otherwise, I'd go with Speedguy'* suggestion.

BTW -

I don't have access to a scan tool that I'm aware of, but I did do the manual'* line pressure checks, and they are all well within the 'normal' range, high side of the middle, in fact ...

Where do I need to send the FLOZ story? Next time I got a couple hours, I'll write it up ..

Add it to the post in the vendor'* forum. You're the 5th that I know of. Your 'brother in floz' is Jeffrey10x2 here. Take a look at his Avatar. I think you'll like it

when you first start the car, the input clutch housing is sent fluid pressure to engage the forward clutches. this is done to prevent waiting for it to go into gear when a gear is selected. in the past, i have seen the piston seal for the forward clutches develop a small tear, causing fluid to bypass the seal, eventually you get enough pressure/volume to overcome the 'leak' and engage the piston. there was a TSB on this for earlier models. i have also seen the piston in this housing split into two parts causing slow engagement or loss of drive at speed.

hope this helps.

Please tell me we have a tranny expert in our midst! Tbill! Welcome to the forum!

thanks for the welcome. i have experience with the 125/3T40, the 440/4T60, 4T60-E and the 4T65-E along with dabbling with the 4T80-E as well. maybe not an expert, but i have worked on quite a few tranny'*

All-righty then - I guess that means I dig through the manual and find out how to get to that seal, and then see what I find, and if I can get it taken care of. I've done some amount of tranny work, but not real familiar with all the details and nuances of their operation, setup, that sort of thing. I'll get it checked out, and keep y'all posted...

THANKS !!!!