Tranny Is Shot.

[FormulaNERD]

ok, well i'm sure my transmission is close to going... it was slipping every now and then, and then it was less often.

i took my car to the races last night (gotta keep my points up)

(1/8th mile)
first run was 10.44
second was 10.69
3rd was 10.54
4th was 16.85 (?!?!) the car wouldnt go, basically. i imagine i looked like i had a manual and tried starting in 4th or something. these were time trials.

when it came time to dial in i took a wild guess and put 13.0 on the window, cause if i drive at slower speeds, the tranny will actually shift sometimes. but anyway, i ended up running a 13.05... really great guess... i was impressed. but i got beat to the line because he had .02 better r/t... it was a turbo SE-R Spec V, he dialed in 9.3 and ran 9.31. i decided i was bunnyed and went home instead of buying back in.

on the way home i could drive almost fine under 2500 rpm, the shifts were slow and soft, but at least the car was going.

today it's shifting fine, but i havent really beat on it. no soft shifts though. so i'm not sure what the problem is.

i guess i just need to know if anyone has any idea... i think that if it was an actual mechanical problem, once it basically died, it'd stay that way. so maybe it's something else? i'm not an expert at how auto tranny's work, so i'm not sure.

anyways... what would a GAGT tranny cost used? or would i be better off getting a race built tranny? i've seen the link somewhere, i'll have to search, unless someone knows it off hand.

thanks.

[FormulaNERD]

the 4T45-E is in the GAGT right? and the aleros/GASE have the 4T40-E?

[FormulaNERD]

could the torque convertor be the problem?

[b-spot]

Do you ever feel like you are all alone?

[BLK03GXS]

LOL
nice post b-spot
Sounds like something is bunnyed up in there, get the fluid changed and tranny flushed, if you do it yourself check the pan for fragments of clutchpacks, and debris.

The gagt tranny should work, but i dont know if the computer is any differant for dem thou...

[Youngblood77]

Form, I don't know this for a fact, but I think the GAGT tranny might be the best option. If I rememeber correctly, the whole issue with buying the computer for our cars is the tranny, otherwise it would be identical to the GA, because our final-drive ratio is different.. If you were to swap-in a GAGT tranny, you MIGHT be able to get a re-tuned computer for your car ( GAGT tune )very easily. Better check it out with a few of the more knowledgable guys, but If I were you, I'd think about it. ( hey, if it's do-able, it beats waiting and getting a custom tune from DHP, and it MAY be cheaper too, as GA's have a little better aftermarket support ) :drink:

[overdrive75]

GAGT trans will not work in our cars without a computer retune.

4t45E is in the 3400's
4T40E is in the 4 bangers

Youngblood is right, because the GAGT trans has a different final drive, it is not a direct drop in.

[FormulaNERD]

actually overdrive75 FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND the 4T45 is the GAGT tranny, with a 3.05:1 final drive.

the 4T40E is in all other grand ams, and aleros (from 99+) (3.93:1 or something for final drive)

and aside from the computer retune, it supposedly bolts right on.

[FormulaNERD]

anyone disagree?

[overdrive75]

Originally posted by FormulaNERD@Jun 25 2004, 07:02 AM
actually overdrive75 FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND the 4T45 is the GAGT tranny, with a 3.05:1 final drive.

the 4T40E is in all other grand ams, and aleros (from 99+) (3.93:1 or something for final drive)

and aside from the computer retune, it supposedly bolts right on.
You are wrong, do a little research before you go an try to flame me.

4T40E: All 4 cylinder applications, and the 3.1 L P-90 (old Malibu)
Thin chain and 5 plate direct clutch.

FDR: 3.1 L P-90 3.05 Chain sprockets 35 : 35
2.4 L N-cars 3.42 with chain sprockets 33 : 37
2.4 L J-cars 3.91 with chain sprockets 32 : 38

4T45E: All 6 cylinder applications with exception to P-90 v-6
Thick chain and 6 plate direct clutch
FDR: 3.4 LA1 Aleros and Grand AMs (non-GT)
3.05 FD with sprocket ratio of 35 : 35

FDR: 3.4 LA1 Grand AM GT
3.29 FD with sprocket ratio of 35 : 35

FDR: 3.0 L saturn LS 3.63 with sprocket ratio of 32 : 38

Basically the final drive ratios listed are the overal final drive ratio, they take chain ratio into acount.

There are only 2 final drives for the 4T40/45 E transmissions.

FD's are 3.05 and 3.29

When you take into acount chain ratios you get a range of overal final drives. The below table illustrates how the different final drives are achieved.

Chain Ratios
FD ratios | 35/35 33/37 32/28
3.05 | 3.05 3.42 3.63
3.29 | 3.29 3.69 3.91

Don't try to flame on me when you have no clue what you are talking about, and that is blatently obvious in your post about the GAGT trans vs. alero transmissions.

[FormulaNERD]

whoa there cowboy, i didnt flame on you.

i said "from what i understand" and asked if anyone disagreed, and i obviously said that because i wasnt completely sure of what i was talking about.

what's the difference between the alero tranny, and the gagt tranny then? is it just the FDR? if so, what makes it different? is it the gearing, or because of "chain ratios" you talk about?

cause all my information is based on stuff i picked up here before. you seem like you know alot about this, or at least can cut an paste from a google search, i've looked into it a little, and havent found anything.

[misslindseysue]

Google search, LOL. You won't find his source of information on Google.

[FormulaNERD]

it's really funny that you actually believe that this information isnt' documented online somewhere... it's actually probably posted by gm.

[overdrive75]

If you are dealing with the 3400 LA1 cars only

Alero and Grand AM SE are the same transmission 3.05 final drive with 35/ sprockets 4T45E

Grand AM GT is the 3.29 final drive with 35/35 sprockets 4T45E

The 2.2 L Aleros and Grand AMs are the 4T40E with the 3.29 final drive and 32/38 sprockets giving an overall final drive of 3.91.

I work with these transmissions day in and day out, so it is not just a google search cut and paste as you have said.

Read my title where it says "Tranny Guru" that's not there for no reason.

[FormulaNERD]

alright, so i'm looking for the 4T45e with 3.29 final drive.

thanks

the reason this all came about is because someone once generalized 4t40e's for aleros, and they were saying that the gagt has the 4t45e, and how it's so much better/stronger, when in all actuality it's the same transmission as in the 3.4 alero's, only a diff final drive ratio, not any better, at least mechanically.

[FormulaNERD]

and i'm not saying you didnt pull all of that out of your head.... if you work with tranny's all day, there shouldnt be any reason why you wouldnt know that. but i still think it's documented online somewhere, so the idea of finding it on a google search isnt silly or impossible.

you have any idea of what's wrong with my tranny?

i'm not sure how the torque convertor works, but my car mainly does this when i put alot of power to the wheels.... so common sense tells me if more torque = slipping, then the torque convertor may be the problem... otherwise it could be an electronics problem. i'm not sure. but the fact that sometimes it shifts hard like normal tells me it's not a mechanical problem.

[overdrive75]

If you want the taller final drive, yes, but don't forget you need a computer or aftermarket reflash for it to work.

Direct replacement for alero 3400 LA1 is a 4T45E with 3.05 final drive.

I would not be able to diagnos you trans without driving the vehicle with some sort of instrumentation such as a TECH 2, transmission, are a unique thing, and while some things are simple to diag. others are not.

Any further stuff, please come to me in Personal Message. Thanks

[FormulaNERD]

oh, and now that i think about it, it first started doing this after i installed my CAI (disconnected the battery) that tells me even more that its a pcm issue, or maybe the eccc in the tranny? (they have eccc's right?)

[FormulaNERD]

Originally posted by overdrive75@Jun 25 2004, 01:04 PM
If you want the taller final drive, yes, but don't forget you need a computer or aftermarket reflash for it to work.

Direct replacement for alero 3400 LA1 is a 4T45E with 3.05 final drive.
yea, i'll be getting the dhp along with a new tranny (if i have to get a new tranny)

[overdrive75]

Are you sure your MAF sensor is connected and functioning correctly, and that there are no air leaks after the MAF, that can goof all kinds of stuff up as far as shift control is concerned.

[FormulaNERD]

hmmm, the grommet's on the vaccum tube (i think it is? on the same coupler as the iat) is a little loose fitting.

[misslindseysue]

Originally posted by FormulaNERD@Jun 25 2004, 07:56 AM
it's really funny that you actually believe that this information isnt' documented online somewhere... it's actually probably posted by gm.
I said his source, not the info. Powertrain does post most of that.