My tranny - it's a 4T60E in a 96 Lumina, has developed a troublesome 1-2 shift. There's a slight delay, then a hard engagement into second. I'm thinking of trying some Seafoam Trans-Tune. Supposedly, it'll clean out the tranny and improve symptoms like mine. I plan on then draining and refilling with the new Dexron VI.

Anyone ever tried the Seafoam Trans-Tune?

I've called some transmission shops and what I'm hearing is that it could be a "pressure control solenoid valve"?? That's something that is only accessible by dropping the trans. I really don't feel like spending the $1,600 - $2,000, which is about the price of a rebuild.

 

The pressure module isn't really a rebuild. I believe that is the part that is generally blamed for the failure of these transmissions. Ask them to quote you a price on doing that job and putting the Dexron 6 in for you as well. I wouldn't think it would run you over $800-$1000, but I've never had the problem. Get it fixed before you have a hard part failure and really do need that rebuild though!!!

Oh, and some shops don't really like to rebuild anymore. Most of the time, they woudl prefer to just slide a new transmission under there.

 

It could be the pressure solonoid, you need to drop the pan, remove the filter and there should be a few solonoids up there. Hopefully that's all you need, but I went through 2 4t60e's in 130k miles, so...

 

Thanks, good advice. I guess I'll bring it to a shop and have them diagnosis it. I actually had an appt at Aamco this week, but when I pulled into their lot and saw what the shop looked like, I left. There were ratty cars everywhere. The shop was a nasty mess. Everything was greasy and dirty, there were parts laying around everywhere - axles, transmissions, tires. Looked very disorganized and unkept.

It's actually cheaper to buy and entire 1996 Lumina than it is to repair the tranny! I've had this car since 96, though and it's been good to me.