newb in need with trans ?'s

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10-19-2012, 10:42 AM

vikesfan

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Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 319

newb in need with trans ?'s

Hello all, hope you can help a newb with a new (to me), 2002 monte carlo ss…..

I recently bought this used (as is) and it runs great, however, recently it appears that it doesn’t want to engage 4th gear. If I leave it I D, it seems like it “wants” to shift to 4th, the rpms start to drop by 50-150 rpms, then bounces back up to where it was before (in 3rd gear). If I manually shift with the gear selector, when I go from 3 to D, nothing changes on the tach, it stays the same. Needless to say, I am not a fan of driving 60mph at 3000 rpms, so I am stuck finding ways to get where I need to go without going over 50 for long stretches. Luckily, I work close to home and do not need to go over 40mph.

Now I have read and searched, so please don’t tell me to do this.

I have seen that it could be the bad 4th gear spline thing and/or some sort of solenoid inside the trans, thus, requiring a rebuild. So I am contemplating just buying a low mileage trans from the junk yard and putting it in. so here are my questions….

Is my gear ratio 3.05 or 3.29? is there a way to tell without getting on the car?

I read that 2003 trans have the hardened/heat treated 4th already, so I assume if I find a donor from 2003 I can use it. I also understand that the 2004 trans are not compatible for my 2002 SS, correct?

Please do not suggest buying a built trans, I do not plan on racing the car or hot rodding it right now.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to any other options/fixes I can try without replacing/rebuilding the trans?

Thanks for any help you can provide.
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10-19-2012, 11:16 AM

Budsjlm

Monte Of The Month -- September 2012
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Vikes fan huh you a fellow minnesotan?, I want to say the n/a has the 3.29 gears

10-19-2012, 11:26 AM

ChibiBlackSheep

Monte Of The Month -- August 2014

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: Southeast PA

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Starting in 2003 they changed the trans so you can not use it in your car.

You should find an 00-02 Monte trans, 00-02 Impala, or 98-02 grand prix, 3.29 gears, non-HD.

10-19-2012, 12:10 PM

vikesfan

Thread Starter

Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 319

i swear i read somewhere on here that the 03 trans work, but not the 04. i guess i could have read it wrong.

and yes, i am from 'Sota

10-19-2012, 12:20 PM

ChibiBlackSheep

Monte Of The Month -- August 2014

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04 started the 4t65e-HD trans, that might be what you are reading

10-19-2012, 12:46 PM

vikesfan

Thread Starter

Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 319

maybe.

are there any cars with 3.29 HD?

10-19-2012, 12:50 PM

vikesfan

Thread Starter

Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 319

for some reason, i keep reading that a lot of trans issues are fixed with a new cat conv?

how the deuce can that be?

10-19-2012, 01:18 PM

ChibiBlackSheep

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back pressure

10-19-2012, 01:26 PM

vikesfan

Thread Starter

Join Date: Oct 2012

Posts: 319

i get that it causes back pressure, but how in the world is that going to cause the trans to to function correctly?

i am pretty sure PCM tables for shift are based off Throttle %, rpms, mph, etc. but back pressure?

#10

10-19-2012, 01:54 PM

ChibiBlackSheep

Monte Of The Month -- August 2014

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: Southeast PA

Posts: 25,136

I know we moved off the topic, but I found my information on the transmission that you were questioning..

Quote:

An important and critical design change was introduced in the 2003 model year. GM revised the pressure switch manifold assembly and removed many of the pressure switches from it. Because of this, 2003-later 4T65-E transmissions are NOT compatible with 2002-older PCMs. The older PCMs need to see the signals from these internal gear pressure switches in order to properly control the shift adapts and other functions within the PCM. The pressure control solenoid operating strategies were changed as well. It is possible to use a 2002-older 4T65-E transmission with a 2003-newer PCM, but some tuning will need to be done to the transmission pressure control tables in the PCM’s programming in order to make the transmission operate as desired.

And I believe the bad cat can help ruin the vacuum readings and make the car run sluggish which feels like transmission issues.

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