If there is a problem with your PCS that can be fixed with TransTune, it may come back after a month (that'* what mine did). Then I added a Thrasher Shift Kit and no more hard shifts (it'* been almost 9-10 months and over 10,000 miles).

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=80707

I would be concerned about the whining you mention. It could be a different problem or more than one problem. If the whining is an indication of some other problem, your trip could be a bad idea for the trans. If you only have a PCS problem, the trip is probably okay.

got a can of trans tune today. going to change fluid/filter as well.

i got a kit from advanced auto...has a rubber gasket in it...is that ok to use?

also, getting dexron VI...good to use?

Also, no codes in computer for trans.........checked at dealer.

got some pics of pan off today....



you can see the fluid color in the pics. has some red tint to it...but dark. magnet probable had about 1/8" or so buildup? not sure exactly....but you get the idea. i have no clue if or when the tranny was ever serviced...so this might be first fluid change..just have no clue.

car jsut turned 78K on it.

did the trans tune treatment....drove what the can said to do...then just drained it.

going to clean everything up and put new filter in and get new fluid in it....hoping for the best.

thinking of a shift kit from thrasher next if need be.

car drives really nice until it get really warm from distance driving...such as after like 40 minutes or so on highway..then it willstart shifting hard when taking off...... otherwise, car shifts good. have a hard time beleive clutches are shot yet. really thinking it may have been my fluid breaking down in the higher temps....[img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]

If the pan still has the original gasket, and it'* in good shape, it is reusable so use that. It is far better than any of the after market gaskets. Dexron VI should be fine, but it'* expensive.

i reused gasket, wife bought castrol dex vi....and it was pricey, but i used it anyway instaed of taking back for something cheaper.

NOW, car has firm shifts across the board....low speed, high speed, cold, warm.... just a firm soild shift all the time...enough to feel it through car...its way harder than i think a bonnie should shift.

guess im screwed....time to take to shop for diagnosis. love it.

I don't think it is time to panic yet. There are two different symptoms I would be concerned about here so let'* take them separately.

First, my biggest concern would NOT be the harsh shifting. My biggest concern would be the whine.

After the TransTune and fluid, do you still have the whining sound you mentioned in the original post?

If it is gone, I'd say that is good news.

If you now only have a problem with harsh shifting, it is possible that the fluid change has "stirred up" some sediment in the fluid and aggravated the problem with the PCS. Remember you can only drain about 65% of the fluid because it will stay in the torque converter.

The PCS gets sticky when it gets dirty fluid in it. Its function is to allow the computer to modulate the clutch slippage as the transmission shifts. This slippage is also monitored, and if the PCS slips the clutch too much (because it got sticky, for instance), the computer goes into a "protection" mode and makes sure the clutches DON'T slip too much - hence the hard shift.

Since your fluid was burnt somewhat (mine wasn't), it'* lubricating capabilities are more compromised. It may take some effort to REALLY clean out the burnt fluid and residue. I had changed both my fluid and used TransTune, twice, so I got about 88% of the old stuff out.

My sense is, since a fluid change altered the shifting harshness, it is fluid related (or fluid cleanlinesses related) and is simply about getting all the junk out. However, if you still have the whine you mentioned, I'd be more concerned.

I haven't noticed the whine yet. BUT, i also haven't been able to take it on a highway trip of any sort yet to check it.. I had been driving it on highway for about 45 minutes other night when i noticed it in some stop and go. But, tonight i did in town and noticed the hard shifts all the time...so it got me concerned.

is it possible for the PCS to act up and not throw the code though? that seems odd to me?

I know P1811 indicates a PCS issue, but I don't know that it will always throw the code. I believe mine did.

I agree that if the computer is going into a "protection" mode, it would leave a code. It is possible that not all scanners will read the code though.

If the computer is going into protection mode it will lock the trans in second gear and not shift, also the ses light will come on. The above problem could be related to several things, I agree with the fluid condition, pic of the pan looks pretty normal for the miles on it, as long as there were no large particles of metal in the pan, that is good news, the vehicle does have what are called transmission adapts or a memory that records shift points and pressures and has the ability over time to correct and adjust itself for different drivers, fluid conditions, clutch and band wear, etc. It adapts to all of these conditions, if you make a change in something it might take some time for it to adapt or if you have the correct scanner you can reset the adapts and start from scratch and it will learn all over again. I would recommend another fluid change and inspect the pan again and see if anything new is in there. Also it is possible that foreign material has made its way into the valve body and is causing sticking. Hope this helps.

Take the simple and easy steps first before getting really inside the box, the next step is side cover removal and inspection, it also uses a reuseable gasket, this trans is very user friendly to in the vehicle repairs.