1994 Bonneville SSEi (Supercharged) 177,000 miles

I am having problems with shudder on take off from stop signs. I was wondering if this could be associated with the torque converter and not my transmission. The trans shifts smoothly after I get moving and does not slam into any gears.

I also hear what sounds to be a spring relieving tension after I shut the car off and get out.

I hope someone knows something about this!?!?!?!?!

Thanks Guys...

I got this too... it'* a violent shudder seeming to come from the center of the engine? I don't know if it'* the trAns or something else, I am eager to see what the experts say. On a side note, Meineke says it is the trans, guy said first gear and third gear clutches are shot. Trans shifts fine though, only suffers off the line and has been doing so for at least the last 25k kilometers.

I continue to add Lucas Transmission Treatment. (Mechanic in a Can) It helped 100% the first time this happened, but now the problems continues only if the trans/engine is cold. I also hope that someone knows more about this!

Does the transmission slip at all?

also, have either of you ever had a fluid flush / filter change?

No, once I get moving it doesn't slip at all. It shifts smooth and I can still get tire chirp from 25 mph, it seems to be fine.

I was told not to flush the trans because it would clean away any deposits that are actually helping it'* performance in it'* old age.

I have added Two bottles of Lucas and can of Seafoam Trans Tune. I did suck some of the old fluid out to make all that fit but it doesn't seem to be doing much.

I still get the shudder off of dead stops or with hard acceleration around corners.

I'm currently having the same problem with my 94 SE. Cold start shutters with any type of "hard" throttle off the line, and shifts fine most of the time but if I accelerate hard in left turn it slips badly, but right turn or straight line it never slips.

Never had a flush... I don't want to flush it if the trans is shot. I am starting to think it may be a wheel bearing. Seems to me my cousin had the same thing going on in his lumina van, it was the bearing.

Both of my wheel bearings have been replaced in the last 25k miles. I am almost certain that it is something with the drivetrain. Either Trans or Torque Converter.

This last weekend I gave it some hard driving, i.e. brake stand launches and etc. Don't ask me why but the problem seems to be dissapearing. It is shifting really smooth and I only get a slight shudder as soon as I start the car and put it in drive.

The reason this all started was because someone who doesn't know how to drive decided they were going to take my car for a ride. I am a little more conscious of what me car likes and doesn't like, but this person tends to engage in drive while still rolling backwards after reversing and so forth.

I guess I would need more advice on what happens when your torque converter malfunctions in order to diagnose this further myself. And if it is my first gear clutches in my trans then why does the problem all of a sudden get better?

Anyone know any more about this?