I have a 86 monte carlo cl and just recently the transmission has started acting up. I dont know what transmission it has just that its a 4sp auto. The car has about 80,000 miles on it. When in gear it vibrates violently while the car is stopped and has trouble shifting gears. Please help as this is the only car i have right now and need it to get to work.

 

Vibrates violently when it gear i have no ancer for, but your the trans is the th 200 4r

 

Can't say much without knowing more. But if the trans fluid is old, a simple and relatively cheap approach it to try changing the fluid/filter. It can't hurt and may at least improve the situation.

Someone with more tranny experience may chime in...

If you haven't drained the fluid before, it's messy; there is generally no drain plug unless someone added one later. You drop the trans pan to drain the fluid. Work your way around, slowly loosening the bolts. Don't remove them; just loosen them so the pan can hang down some. Let one end hang lower than the other so you can somewhat control the flow of the fluid. Have plenty of shop / paper towels handy; you'll get messy. I put newspaper on the ground around the drain pan as well. When most of the fluid is out, remove the pan entirely. Clean it out good; wipe off and re-install the flat magnet if your pan has one (it collects metal sludge). Make sure you remove all of the old pan gasket, both from the pan and the block; remaining skudgies from the old gasket will lead to leaks when you put the new one in place. The old filter may require a bit of wiggling to make it come out. Ensure the new gasket is properly in place as you're replacing the pan/bolts; it may not lay flat and require some patience to get it in place. Once you have a bolt or two in place, it will go much quicker.

Refilling the trans fluid is done at the dipstick tube. Go slowly and check the level a few times as you approach the required amount. You DON'T want to overfill since you'd have to remove the pan again to drain excess fluid.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

Thanks Sparky-88, ill try that tomorrow and see if it helps.

 

changing the filter and fluid didnt seem to help, i guess ill have to either rebuild or put in a new one

 

have you checked to make sure the trans mount is still intact?