2006 Monte Carlo LS 3.5
80k miles

Prior to flush, no real transmission problems to speak of except maybe a slightly hard shift in lower gears. It acted this way since I bought it, about 45k miles ago. No problems at cruising speed or going into OD.

Got my oil changed yesterday at a quicklube place. They had recommended a transmission flush and fill the past several changes. Yesterday I decided to go for it.

They said the machine they use was a no-pressure method that did not connect to the cooler line. It was a drain and fill from the pan (via dipstick hole) that "gets 99% of the stuff out" They did not drop the pan or change the filter. The fluid was brown.

Leave the shop and everything seemed fine for a minute. It even seemed a little smoother in higher gears.

However in lower gears, the shifting is a little harder, and even more frequently, I think. And the worst problem of all, when the car comes to a complete stop at a redlight or stop sign, accelerating from the stop is usually met with hesitation and then a sudden jerk while the trans engages. If I really baby the pedal it doesn't do this. This is the worst and most obvious problem I'm now faced with. The car never behaved this way. I can also make it jerk when accelerating quickly from say 40mph into overdrive on the thruway, which it didn't do before. Shift to OD was always smooth. I can also smell transmission fluid when driving, though it doesn't smell like burning. Just very pungent.

I went back this morning on my way to work. They said it was a little low and topped it off, but since I had only been driving it maybe 10 minutes on the streets they wouldn't add too much just in case. Told them I'd drive it for the day and get back to them, but as I left it happened at the red light right outside the shop anyway.

There are no visible leaks, definitely no drips, the transmission is smooth when going through the PRNDL and at cruising speeds.

I was debating between having them perform the drain (flush?) and fill again, or prying a refund out of them and having the pan dropped, filter replaced instead.

I've read a few threads that detail the same problem with accelerating from a complete stop. None of them quite seemed to give me a best next step. Any help would be appreciated. I don't want to make it worse.

 

Well, you said you fluid was brown before the fluid swap? That indicates one ore more of your clutches may be bad. The only blame I could place on the Quick lube place is that they should have known not to swap out the old fluid and not telling you to take it to a Trans shop to have it diagnosed.
Hard shifts could indicate a bad Solenoid or 2. I would forget about going back to the quick lube place and go to a trans shop to have them check it out!

I have minor trans experience. Hopefully a member with more experience will chime in and correct any mistakes I may have made. Good luck!

 

Get your money back and drop the pan, change the filter. Flushes on these transmissions can cause damage... I know, because back in the day before I knew better I had one done and guess what... I ended up buying a new transmission less than 1000 miles later.

 

If that's the case, is it too late?

 

Hopefully not, but to be brutally honest - probably. Changing the filter via a pan drop couldn't hurt though.

 

Let me add it wasn't totally brown fluid. It was still quite red just very dark.

 

Id say since they didn't do a drop of the pan and a filter change....

It sounds to me like they did a vac flush and fill which crushes the plastic filter that's in it from the factory...

Fluid and filter change (Drop the pan)... may help.... But it sounds to me like the mileage that's on your Monte may indicate that its time for a rebuild.... Especially if its never been changed before.... somewhere between 80k and 130k is usally when these trans usually start to fail without proper maintenance... I have my fluid filter changed once every 2 years....

Hope this helps...

 

Valvoline will not refund my money. That is, they say if I want a refund I have to take it to a qualified technician for his opinion on whether or not the fluid exchange caused a problem.

This puts me in a very anxious and tenuous position as my plan was to get my refund, and change the filter myself. Now I'm expected to shell out at least the cost of the original fluid exchange just to "diagnose" it.

 

Most mom and pop trans shops will do a free diagnostic. And they do a better job than the AAMCOz and other Nation Wide Trans shops that will only put in Original parts. And they are very Expensive. GM is expensive too but at least they will install any upgrades.
You can look up mom and pops trans online, and get reviews on the service They've provided.
The usually do good work because they want your business!
At any rate. To get your business most mom and pops shops will do a free diagnostic. At least here in jersey.

 

I bought my 02 monte a few months ago. It also behaved a bit like you described. I got the transmission fluid changed but it didn't make a big difference but like you finally saved up a bit to have my mechanic look at. He replaced the Catalytic Converter and it made a BIG difference. I'm relieved it wasn't a transmission issue.