2003 Park Ave Ultra shifting hard
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2003 Park Ave Ultra shifting hard
Just bought a 2003 Buick Park Avenue Ultra with 101,000 miles. Test drive it ran great like a dream. Now recently when I have driven it for awhile and it'* all warmed up, it upshifts hard in stop and go city driving 1st and 2nd gear. Owner told me the car had sat for awhile when I bought it. Should I have the transmission flushed? Is this possible cause? I hear Dextron VI is the fluid to use? Have read things online like all it needs is computer reset? Also read where these models have a problem with pressure control solenoid located in transmission, which I hear is very expensive to replace. Also front windows work sometimes and sometimes not, along with heads up display working and not working. Electrical issues? Any ideas or knowledge greatly appreciated.
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Have codes scanned. If there is an adaptive shift code set, I may be good to drop the pan, change the fluid and filter, and install a shift kit. That could get it if the PCS is the issue.
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No flush, just pan drop and filter change. Should get about half of the fluid out.
Use fresh Dexron-VI for the refill. Supertech brand at Walmart is usually the recommended go to on account of cost.
The shift kit helps to firm up the shifts, and decrease shift time. As mentioned, it can also be used as a bandaid fix for the PCS issues. Sometimes it works great for a long time, other times it may not be enough.
But as mentioned, if that is the case, there will be a long adaptive shift code.
Use fresh Dexron-VI for the refill. Supertech brand at Walmart is usually the recommended go to on account of cost.
The shift kit helps to firm up the shifts, and decrease shift time. As mentioned, it can also be used as a bandaid fix for the PCS issues. Sometimes it works great for a long time, other times it may not be enough.
But as mentioned, if that is the case, there will be a long adaptive shift code.
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The shift kit can be installed just by dropping the pan......in some cases this will take care of a P1189(this is probably the code set in the PCM).....as Rjolly says, it might not, and a pressure control solenoid will have to be installed......but that is more involved, because the side cover has to be removed......this involves dropping the cradle and partially lowering the engine/transmission on the on the driver'* side, removing the axle shaft on the drivers side, disconnecting ball joint, disconnecting the rack and pinion, etc. So much more work and more costly......
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My 90 did this after the same situation (just sitting). Mine would shift hard in stop and go, as well as do that small bucking thing once in overdrive. I checked the trans fluid and it was brown. As Jolly said, I dropped the pan, changed the filter, put a new pan gasket on and filled it back up with fluid. Never had a problem since.
It'* a simple job, just a little time consuming. Luckily, there are lots of Youtube videos on how to do this.
I hope this helps.
It'* a simple job, just a little time consuming. Luckily, there are lots of Youtube videos on how to do this.
I hope this helps.
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Just had front valve cover gasket replaced and codes scanned. Came up the dreaded P1811 code. Not sure what to do, mb shop around for price to replace pcs or go with trans fluid and shift kit as mentioned here. Have a friend who has the same code and issues on a Century he bought with 120,000 miles and he has driven it w/o replacing pcs and has gotten over 100,000 miles out of it still going strong with same symptons to this day. He did do a trans flush but that'* it. Should P1811 be a major immediate concern right now? Also mechanic said Dextron III instead of Dextron VI? Any reason why not Dextron VI?
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Regarding Dexron III vs Dexron VI, Wikipedia does a pretty good job of explaining it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEXRON
Essentially, the Dexron III moniker is no longer regulated by GM, so companies can do anything they want to it and call it compatible without GM taking issue. That'* not the case with Dexron VI.
As you brought out, the PCS issues can go either direction on their own. Your friend'* case lived with the problem for quite some time, whereas others have ultimately lost the battle, and opted to go for a full rebuild because there was many miles on the transmission, and everything was about due anyway.
The hope with the shift kit is that it is possibly a quick and easy 'fix', that, coupled with the pan drop and fluid/filter change, could whip the transmission back in to shape and serve you for years to come. It could possibly resolve itself if it is a product of the vehicle setting for a long time. The biggest concern I am aware of is wear. Transmission parts aren't a big fan of the shock load of a slamming shift (neither are passengers), nor are they a fan of long soft cushy shifts either (excessive heat and wear on friction parts).
At worst, you throw a shift kit and service at it, and it doesn't solve the problem. You can then decide if you want to live with it or have it fixed.
DEXRON-VI[edit]
The fluid specification for Dexron-VI was introduced in 2005, and was first used as the GM factory-fill automatic transmission fluid for model year 2006. All Dexron-III licenses expired permanently at the end of 2006, and GM now supports only Dexron-VI fluids for use in their automatic transmissions,[3] although fluids asserted by their manufacturers to meet Dexron-III standards continue to be sold under names such as Dex/Merc. These fluids are not regulated or endorsed by GM.[4]
Dexron VI is of a slightly lower viscosity when new compared to the prior Dexron fluids (a maximum of 6.4 cSt at 100 °C for Dexron VI and 7.5 cSt for Dexron III), but the allowed viscosity loss from shearing of the ATF during use is lower for Dexron VI, resulting in the same lowest allowed final viscosity for both Dexron III and VI (5.5 cSt) in test.[5] In reality most of the DEXRON-III fluids typically sheared to about 4.2 cSt in use. The lower, more stable viscosity improved pumping efficiency within the transmission and fluid stability over life. Since Dexron VI is not allowed to thin out (lower its viscosity) as much as Dexron III during use, it requires the use of higher-quality, more shear-stable (less prone to thinning while in use) formulations.[4] The current GM specification that defines the fluid is GMW16444, which superseded the original specification, GMN10060.
The fluid specification for Dexron-VI was introduced in 2005, and was first used as the GM factory-fill automatic transmission fluid for model year 2006. All Dexron-III licenses expired permanently at the end of 2006, and GM now supports only Dexron-VI fluids for use in their automatic transmissions,[3] although fluids asserted by their manufacturers to meet Dexron-III standards continue to be sold under names such as Dex/Merc. These fluids are not regulated or endorsed by GM.[4]
Dexron VI is of a slightly lower viscosity when new compared to the prior Dexron fluids (a maximum of 6.4 cSt at 100 °C for Dexron VI and 7.5 cSt for Dexron III), but the allowed viscosity loss from shearing of the ATF during use is lower for Dexron VI, resulting in the same lowest allowed final viscosity for both Dexron III and VI (5.5 cSt) in test.[5] In reality most of the DEXRON-III fluids typically sheared to about 4.2 cSt in use. The lower, more stable viscosity improved pumping efficiency within the transmission and fluid stability over life. Since Dexron VI is not allowed to thin out (lower its viscosity) as much as Dexron III during use, it requires the use of higher-quality, more shear-stable (less prone to thinning while in use) formulations.[4] The current GM specification that defines the fluid is GMW16444, which superseded the original specification, GMN10060.
As you brought out, the PCS issues can go either direction on their own. Your friend'* case lived with the problem for quite some time, whereas others have ultimately lost the battle, and opted to go for a full rebuild because there was many miles on the transmission, and everything was about due anyway.
The hope with the shift kit is that it is possibly a quick and easy 'fix', that, coupled with the pan drop and fluid/filter change, could whip the transmission back in to shape and serve you for years to come. It could possibly resolve itself if it is a product of the vehicle setting for a long time. The biggest concern I am aware of is wear. Transmission parts aren't a big fan of the shock load of a slamming shift (neither are passengers), nor are they a fan of long soft cushy shifts either (excessive heat and wear on friction parts).
At worst, you throw a shift kit and service at it, and it doesn't solve the problem. You can then decide if you want to live with it or have it fixed.
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And to clarify, GM did specify Dexron VI to be used in all former Dexron III applications. I take stock in that, especially with it being a GM application.
There may be reasons not to use it with other manufacturers, but I am not sure if that is the case, much less who.
There may be reasons not to use it with other manufacturers, but I am not sure if that is the case, much less who.
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