My Bonneville has 175,000 miles on it, and the original transmission was starting to get a little sloppy on the shifts. As a result, the transmission would detect the slow shifts and boost pressure up to 100%, which would result in extremely harsh shifts and the occasional whine from the tranny pump (sounded like a power steering pump low on fluid).

Last weekend I installed an accumlator that BillBoost rebuilt with a shift kit (cost me $50), and did a pan drop fluid and filter change. Not only are the shifts nice and crisp now, after 4 days I can report there are no signs of the harsh shift problem I had been experiencing.


Some added info if you are interested:

• easiest install I have ever done. Took an hour, but that was only because I took a lot of time to clean the pan, the gasket and the gasket surfaces, and do an engine oil change at the same time. I probably could have done it in 15 minutes if I had to.
• the pan bolts take a 10 mm socket, and are torqued to 120 in-lbs (10 ft-lbs)
• if you have a gasket with ribs and feels like a metal core, so long as it is not obviously damaged it is reusable. Just clean it up.
• the accumulator bolts take an 8 mm socket, and are torqued to 106 in-lbs
• it took 8.5 quarts to bring the fluid up to the proper level after the change (2 gallon jugs plus 1/2 a quart)
• tranny fluid level is checked at full operating temperature, engine running, tranny in park
• the shift kit BillBoost installed gives a nice crisp shift, but no signs of harshness whatsoever.

This $50 rebuilt accumulator from BillBoost saved me the cost of rebuilding my transmission. At least for a while. She may crap out on me one of these days, but the life has certainly been extended. Even if you don't have the harsh shift problem I had, I would stongly recommend one of these shift kits to anyone. You will love the improvement in how your tranny shifts.

Thanks BillBoost.

Did you see a lot of clutch material? You gotta watch for shocking the fluid, basically the fluid is holding the clutches together and once you change the fluid the clutches don't hold anymore

There were no chunks in the pan. There was a thin layer of fluid with very fine particles in it on the pan surface. Minimal build up on the magnet. I'm no tranny expert, but it looked pretty clean to me considering its only the 2nd time since I owned the car (175,000 miles) its been changed (I'm embarrassed to admit).

Good to hear it worked and was easy. We don't call it the worlds easiest 4t65e shift kit for nothing. By shifting faster it reduces the wear on the clutches and bands by closing faster.

Awesome write-up!!!!

I have this exact same problem! Where do I order the hardware? Does it come with good instructions?

Thanks,
DH