PDA

View Full Version : RPM problem?

TaurineMike
10-20-2011, 11:40 AM
Hey guys for the last year or so I've had a weird issue with my car. Each time I climb a hill or give it more gas slowly, the RPM's fluctuate up than back down where they should be. Any ideas? I just replaced the spark plugs and wires about 6months or so ago due to bad wires. Not sure what the problem is but its really annoying. Seems like the computer is trying to compensate for something but than stops. Help me out!
guiguilandry
10-20-2011, 11:51 AM
IT'S CALLED DOWNSHIFTING...

J/K do you feel the tranny slipping or feel the car is bogging ???
TaurineMike
10-20-2011, 11:55 AM
No sir, its not the tranny. No bogging, just simple rpm and acceleration that fluctuates up than back down where it should be when climbing a hill mainly.
Shiwnath
10-20-2011, 12:26 PM
Seriously though...isnt that just downshifting....When you press on the acceleration pedal, the throttle opens and if you're in a higher gear it'll downshift so you can have more power to the wheels. This especially happens when going up a steep hill because of the extra amount of energy required to get your car up a hill. Its just your engine having to work at a higher speed to keep your car going at a constant speed.
03glgold
10-20-2011, 12:28 PM
Seriously though...isnt that just downshifting....When you press on the acceleration pedal, the throttle opens and if you're in a higher gear it'll downshift so you can have more power to the wheels. This especially happens when going up a steep hill because of the extra amount of energy required to get your car up a hill. Its just your engine having to work at a higher speed to keep your car going at a constant speed.

I think it may be going to the point just before downshifting...If you pay attention with cruise on when you are going up a hill it will fluctuate up a little before downshifting, however some hills that fluctuation is all that it needs to get back to speed. My car does that all the time.
sleepyalero
10-20-2011, 12:40 PM
Hey guys for the last year or so I've had a weird issue with my car. Each time I climb a hill or give it more gas slowly, the RPM's fluctuate up than back down where they should be. Any ideas? I just replaced the spark plugs and wires about 6months or so ago due to bad wires. Not sure what the problem is but its really annoying. Seems like the computer is trying to compensate for something but than stops. Help me out!

i think ive had the same problem, it comes and goes, and have never figured it out, i think it could be something to do with the transmission.

does it do it over and over? or just once? cause mine would fluctuate from say at 40 mph at 1100 rpms it would go to about 1400 then 1100 and go back and forth.
[ion] C2
10-20-2011, 12:42 PM
take a video FFS
Shiwnath
10-20-2011, 12:45 PM
I think it may be going to the point just before downshifting...If you pay attention with cruise on when you are going up a hill it will fluctuate up a little before downshifting, however some hills that fluctuation is all that it needs to get back to speed. My car does that all the time.

Yup, that is expected anytime you go up a hill. Engine speed has to increase to accomodate for the energy required to make it up the hill. If the current gear thats you're in while going up a hill cant make enough power it'll just downshift.
guiguilandry
10-20-2011, 12:46 PM
I say lockup solenoid disengaging/sticking... and at certain point it's normal (but in the case of sleepyalero I'm sure that was the problem)
TaurineMike
10-20-2011, 01:06 PM
i think ive had the same problem, it comes and goes, and have never figured it out, i think it could be something to do with the transmission.

does it do it over and over? or just once? cause mine would fluctuate from say at 40 mph at 1100 rpms it would go to about 1400 then 1100 and go back and forth.

It does it over and over, which is why i don't think its "downshifting."
Edit: Will try to post video later.
sleepyalero
10-20-2011, 02:09 PM
I say lockup solenoid disengaging/sticking... and at certain point it's normal (but in the case of sleepyalero I'm sure that was the problem)

it could be that, but ive asked on here before and never got a solution and the dealership couldnt give me one either, kinda a weird problem since no one really knows the answer to it lol.

It does it over and over, which is why i don't think its "downshifting."
Edit: Will try to post video later.

that would be awesome, i would do mine to but it hasnt done that problem in awhile, it used to be really bad, now it just comes and goes when it wants to.
Thewolf
10-20-2011, 03:36 PM
Is there any CEL? If there is it could be the Camshaft Position Sensor (CPS).
sleepyalero
10-20-2011, 04:46 PM
mine never had a light when the problem occurs.
mmorello82
10-20-2011, 11:08 PM
My car did the exact same thing!! Small world! About a week or so after mine started doing it, it started shifting REALLY hard. Took it to the dealership and it turned out being the "pressure control solinoid". There is a o-ring around it and it goes back and leaks off pressure. When it does, your rpm's will "surge" because the torque converter is locking and unlocking. You can replace it, but it is located in the clutch packs, have to tear the whole thing apart. I just bought a reman, and no trouble since. This is what the GM dealership told me and I trust them, like I said no problems since. If you want, I can put up a exploded view showing where it is.
AleroB888
10-20-2011, 11:40 PM
My car did the exact same thing!! Small world! About a week or so after mine started doing it, it started shifting REALLY hard. Took it to the dealership and it turned out being the "pressure control solinoid". There is a o-ring around it and it goes back and leaks off pressure. When it does, your rpm's will "surge" because the torque converter is locking and unlocking. You can replace it, but it is located in the clutch packs, have to tear the whole thing apart. I just bought a reman, and no trouble since. This is what the GM dealership told me and I trust them, like I said no problems since. If you want, I can put up a exploded view showing where it is.

What did they charge for a reman trans, I'm looking for options now.

I could use a pinout diagram for the electrical socket, too.

Oh, and sometimes I've seen MAFs cause that idle surge up and down under load, if you have a CAI, but could be a few other things.
TaurineMike
10-20-2011, 11:57 PM
Well I guess it could be the problem mmorello. But I also have a CIA too. We are talking about the 3.4 right mmorello?
sleepyalero
10-21-2011, 02:18 AM
idk, all i know is i just want to replace the tranny with one that has more reliable parts. cause i think my trans pump/torque converter is goin out. :(
mmorello82
10-21-2011, 09:01 AM
Yep, we are talking about a 3.4L engine. The tranny cost 1,200 at autozone and it was about 800 in lobor to put it in. I did not pay for any of that though, it was under warranty (thanks JD buyrider). Part of the reason we went with a reman, is the remans they fixed the design flaw with the pressure control Sol. So a reman is going to be WAY more reliable. Again, this is what the GM dealer told me before I took it to JD buyrider and told them to fix it. This was with a 4T45E transmission in my 02 GLS 3.4. I hope this helps! Alero B888, I am going to e-mail you the exploded view as I can't do a .pdf on here.
mmorello82
10-21-2011, 09:04 AM
Alero B888, what's you e-mail address? I'll send what I have to you!
cavaliers60
10-21-2011, 09:09 AM
I don't think it's shifting... I know what you are talking about... My car has done it for the past 4-6 years. It will do it on the highway too if you are on cruise and accelerate. I can get a video of it up a little later today. I don't think it's anything serious... My car has done it for years, and no problems to report.


Edit: Mine does it somewhere around 2000-3000 RPM. fluctuates up and down several times until I either give it more gas or it makes it up the hill.
rocketfast321
10-21-2011, 10:02 AM
Oh, and sometimes I've seen MAFs cause that idle surge up and down under load, if you have a CAI, but could be a few other things.

And a dirty air intake senor.
AleroB888
10-21-2011, 10:56 AM
Alero B888, what's you e-mail address? I'll send what I have to you!

The one from this link?

http://www.amtrans.nl/4T40E-_4T45E.pdf

I have that one, but I wanted to see if there was a pinout of the connector.

Not that I have a chance of fixing it myself, I'd like to know what failed in it, though.

We should start a new thread about a "Performance 4T40E / 4T45E."

Let me do some research and start one, got to make some phone calls.

I think mfuller is the only one on this site that has a built tranny.
TaurineMike
10-21-2011, 03:21 PM
I am uploading a video right now. Will post link very soon!
edit: here's the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZSvheOpl5w
Let me know what you guys think.
mmorello82
10-21-2011, 07:12 PM
Yep. That's exactly the same thing mine did. Same RPM range too
TaurineMike
10-22-2011, 02:17 AM
Well however extremely annoying this maybe, I don't have 2 grand to fix it.
mmorello82
10-22-2011, 08:22 AM
Alero B888, that's not the same one as I have, but actually better than what I have lol! So Thanks! Taurine Mike, I would just drive it till she blows and throw a junk yard tranny in it. Especially if it is ur daily driver. You can usually pick one up for around 3-500 bucks. Just dont make the same mistake as JD buyrider did with me. If it is a v6, it needs a 4T45E tranny, NOT a 4T40E. Do not pull it from a 4 banger! You will hate yourself!
TaurineMike
10-22-2011, 12:45 PM
Well apparently my car is collector edition of the Alero.I got the gold emblem on front and back. Which means I have the gold package, best one you can buy. According to the Olsmobile website, my car is a collectible. So I'd like to put a brand new transmission in it. I guess a junk yard one would work.
Alero B888, that's not the same one as I have, but actually better than what I have lol! So Thanks! Taurine Mike, I would just drive it till she blows and throw a junk yard tranny in it. Especially if it is ur daily driver. You can usually pick one up for around 3-500 bucks. Just dont make the same mistake as JD buyrider did with me. If it is a v6, it needs a 4T45E tranny, NOT a 4T40E. Do not pull it from a 4 banger! You will hate yourself!
cavaliers60
10-22-2011, 08:15 PM
Mine does this too, although I don't think it jumps as bad as yours.... Like I said, it's been doing that for about 4-5 years and no problems at all... If it does it, I just back off the gas or give it a little more to shift gears.
sleepyalero
10-22-2011, 10:15 PM
its annoying!
TaurineMike
10-24-2011, 01:14 PM
It is annoying but It isn't worth like two grand to fix it. =p
sleepyalero
10-24-2011, 02:52 PM
mine does the same thing, soon i will be getting it fixed or putting a new tranny in
Nate's Alero
10-24-2011, 07:02 PM
Lockup Solenoid going HERRRDURRRRRR. Nuff said. Add some Lucas Trans Tune to the tranny, what fixed mine.
sleepyalero
10-24-2011, 08:09 PM
ive tried that stuff before never helped lol.
guiguilandry
10-25-2011, 06:35 AM
Lockup Solenoid going HERRRDURRRRRR. Nuff said. Add some Lucas Trans Tune to the tranny, what fixed mine.

Finally someone with the same opinion than me... as I said before, IT IS the lockup solenoid...
cavaliers60
10-25-2011, 11:26 AM
And I have no idea what or where that is or how to fix it. :lol:
guiguilandry
10-25-2011, 12:35 PM
maybe there are some exploded view diagram somewhere.. it was doing the samething on my g/f car... a 97 cavalier...
TaurineMike
10-31-2011, 04:01 PM
And I have no idea what or where that is or how to fix it. :lol:

Same, I will try the additive in the tranny fluid to see if that helps.