Did I **** off the Bonneville gods?

I just finished my UIM/LIM on the SSE with great success. I was thinking, "o.k." maybe I'll have a spate of good luck". Nope.

Drove it the other day and WHAM trans shook hard going into reverse. Brain says - "not good sign". Wifey drives it the other day and phones "honey, it threw a check engine code". Could I be so lucky that it was a sensor?

Nope.

P1870. Having owned enough Pontiac'* I'm pretty sure this means new tranny time. Oh, yeah. This would be the third transmission in it since the oem blew about 5,000 miles ago. Didn't have the money for a re-man and went the used route. Bad idea. First replacement blew within the 30 day warranty period so they put this one in. Four months later - P1870.

So I am pretty sure I am up for a new tranny - this time a re-man, unless someone knows something about the TCC and this code that might prevent having to have an entire re-maned tranny put in?

Any other options besides a new tranny?

Thanks in advance.

What does the fluid look and smell like immediately after driving?

Not burnt. That smell I know well :( Looks normal (nothing in it and right color)

Wow, the level and fluid seems good?

Three trannies is crazy. I'd give you an award for wiping out the most 4T60'*...but I've got my feelings about that model trans.

Yup everything seems good.

And we don't even drive it very hard!!

UPDATE: Thinking out loud. Does the very loud and very obvious "THUNK" when going in reverse might mean there is some kind of mount lose???

It could be. Pop the hood and have her shift through the gears. Make sure to leave time between direction changes for the idle to drop back down, should be easier on the tranny.

If the fluid in the radiator and the lines havent been flushed completly you will always have trans problems. Depending upon what caused the trans to fail, debris can flow from the transmission into the radiator cooler and the lines. You replace/rebuild the trans and that same debris goes rignt back into the transmission and you have a problem again. this time make sure who ever does the work flush the lines and the radiator cooler.