I have a 1996 Bonneville SE. It has 215,000kms on it and has had many replacements and repairs in the 5 years I have owned it.

The biggest concern right now (and there are many others that will have to wait) is when I start out from park, I will suddenly hear a wirring sound and seem to lose power to the wheels. It is very cold right now and don't know if it is a winter issues, or over sensitive traction control..or is it early gear slipping? It doesn't happen in high gears only when I am starting to drive.

In high gear I have a different issue. When I am accellerating in high gear at high speed I will experience shuddering or vibrating. It will stop if I accellerate through to the highest gear or if I take my foot off the accellerator.

I hope that is enough information for now to start diagnosing. I have heard it will be around $3000 for a rebuilt trannie, so I am hoping there are other options. I really want to keep this car alive for another couple years or 40,000km with out that sort of investment.

Thank you all.

If you question the traction, have a friend stand outside the car and watch you take off. If he/she sees wheelspin, it'* a traction issue. I am not sure if the SE had traction control... so it'* possible. The whirring noise sounds like a lack of traction.. but I don't have that problem.. so I could be wrong.

The shuddering sounds like a classic case of an engine mis-fire. I'll let someone else chime in, they will better answer that.


-justin

$3000 seems high for a rebuild, maybe a performance one IMO. You can do better then that, shop around.

If they're related i would conjure a guess towards the tranny. How does the fluid look in it? Does the engine RPM drop when the low speed problem occurs?

The rpms don't drop. I just to not get power to the wheels. If I try to accellerate I will simply get a faster louder wirring (and higer rpms of course) which sometimes stops and I get power to the wheels, and sometimes only stops if I ease off the accelerator and try accelerating again.

The model SE I have has traction control and choice of Performance or Touring ride.

What is a missfiring problem.

Thanks

Is your ABS or traction control light on?

The ABS/Traction dash warning lights are not on. But the shifter lights indicating they are working are on. They come on periodically in the winter. But after I give the underside of my car a wash they turn off. I think that only happens when the sensors get caked with salt and sand and ice.

Rebuilt tranny is closer to $4k with the labor involved.

So does it sound like a transmission problem? Ignition? Something else?

Anyone else able to pipe in on this?

Thanks

Help?