alero transmission problems

[adog420]

Ok my alero has no reverse or first gear can somone help me please it's a 3.4v6 automatic

[sleepyalero]

Sounds like the trans is shot.

[adog420]

After it gets moving it shifts fine and when you put it in reverse ypu can hear it lock in but it won't go anywhere

[sleepyalero]

Maybe a torque coverter?

[Redog]

Easy Fix, New Trans. Sorry dude, but that's the answer. Reverse is the first gear to go out when the Trans is going. I know that's not the answer you want to hear

[zzyzzx]

Did you check the transmission fluid level?

How many miles are on the transmission?

Seriously, I never understood why so many people would do things like a head gasket, would just shrug and replace a transmission that maybe needed more fluid, a fluid change and filter, or maybe has a transmission pump issue.

[adog420]

Trans is shot sadly but I found another one but it's coming out of a 3.8 will it bolt up to the 3.4?

[01OhioAlero]

Yes but with custom mounts. You have a 4t45e, those come with 4t65e. http://www.milzymotorsports.com/transmission-9/ is your best bet if you want a performance tranny for our cars.

[adog420]

I'm not trying to go performance tranny just found one for $50 out of a 3.8 and I need my car back on the road

[adog420]

The 3.8 is none supercharged to

[01OhioAlero]

For the price of all the custom work for that tranny it would be better to get another 4t45e. Just a rebuilt one from Milzy costs about 2100 with new torque converter. That will be your cheapest choice, for a new/rebuilt one.

[adog420]

There's also a salvage yard here that wants 350 for it with 90 day warranty

[01OhioAlero]

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5601
You need lots of custom tuning, all new brackets and mounts. Custom fabrication and lots of other stuff. A 4t65e is for performance for our cars really. If your not planning on building it, just get a 4t45e. But be sure to get one with the same Ratio, aleros are. 3.05. Ones out of gase's are the same but grand am gt's are 3.29 and would require messing with the shift points and stuff.

[adog420]

Can I take transmission out of my 2.2 cavalier and bolt it to my alero they look exactly the same

[3800l67gam]

Your cavalier probably has the 4T40E

[adog420]

Will it bolt up and work for a little bit the cavalier spun a rod bearing so I can't drive it anymore

[Nas Escobar]

Fix the Cavalier's engine and fix the Alero's trans. An Ecotec isn't that expensive to source, especially an L61.

Use car-part.com if you want too. You can find low mileage things there at a reasonable price.

[[ion] C2]

why does no one go to a shop that specializes in transmission work? no one online is going to be able to magically diagnose the faulty component(s) of an automatic transmission. there are so many different components that are in play here.

there's a place by me (RC Trans & Gear (http://www.rctransandgear.com/)) that is incredible at solving any transmission issues. yes, most auto trans shops seem to be scammers, but there are some out there (check reviews) that know their trade well and won't waste your money.

[Garfield]

I've asked my transmission guy if this is something he has run into before, and I'll let you know when I hear back from him.

[Garfield]

OK, so he said: "Sounds like a broken low/reverse band but there is a small chance that it is the servo which can be accessed by pulling the pan. how does he get it moving to check the other gears does it move in manual low? It really should set codes and go into failsafe which I believe is 2nd gear."

[zzyzzx]

OK, so he said: "Sounds like a broken low/reverse band but there is a small chance that it is the servo which can be accessed by pulling the pan. how does he get it moving to check the other gears does it move in manual low? It really should set codes and go into failsafe which I believe is 2nd gear."

Did you check for codes? Transmission does don't necessarily light a dash light. On my Escort transmission codes definitely do not (light is mostly for emissions)

[adog420]

It pulled up a code for somthing about a 1-2 seliniod when this first happend it has second and the rest of the gears just not 1st or reverse

[adog420]

All its got is 2nd gear

[Garfield]

Is that after replacing the servo? (2nd gear is the failsafe that it should go into when there is a problem, you might want to check for codes again.)

[adog420]

I just went and got the cervo I'm heading back to the car now and see if that helps

[zzyzzx]

On a different car, but replacing the shift solenoid was reasonably easy (except for removing the crossmember):
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/

[adog420]

Easiest way to drop the transmission? I found a hole trans for 150 so I just bought it

[zzyzzx]

It's way easier to replace a solenoid than it is a whole transmission.

[03glgold]

I could be wrong, but IIRC the solenoid on the alero is inside the transmission which is why people usually just swap them.

[adog420]

I swapped the solenoid didn't fix it so now I'm swapping the whole transmission

[Redog]

I could be wrong, but IIRC the solenoid on the alero is inside the transmission which is why people usually just swap them.

Yes it is, It's a $700-$900 job at a shop, for another $500 I put a used 2003 GAGT tranny in my car with 23,000 miles ;)

[zzyzzx]

I could be wrong, but IIRC the solenoid on the alero is inside the transmission which is why people usually just swap them.

Yes, which is why you have to remove the transmission pan to get to them, like I did here:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/
Read it and tell me what was easier.

[03glgold]

Yes, which is why you have to remove the transmission pan to get to them, like I did here:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/
Read it and tell me what was easier.

Not everything is built the same as your escort that you always try to make an alero. Look it up, it isn't in a spot where it is quite as simple as dropping the pan. It is at the top of the transmission on the 4t45e transmission. While there is a cover, it appears as if you would have to remove the cv shaft, and the splash shield as a minimum in order to replace it with the transmission in car, and that is if you are willing to work around the strut and everything else.

[adog420]

What's the easiest way to get the trans out of the car?

[Nas Escobar]

Usually dropping the whole subframe is the easiest, but that basically requires you to prep the whole engine for removal. You also need to find a way to lift the car from the subframe once the subframe is on the ground.

That is the way another member on this forum is removing his trans.

[03Alerosil]

Usually dropping the whole subframe is the easiest, but that basically requires you to prep the whole engine for removal. You also need to find a way to lift the car from the subframe once the subframe is on the ground.

That is the way another member on this forum is removing his trans.

Yep that's the easiest way. Remove the whole subframe.

[adog420]

How long does it usually take to remove and replace?

[Nas Escobar]

I assume this is your first time doing this, so I assume it will take a day for you to drop it and a day and a half for you to replace it. The "half" portion is because of the time it will take to swap the transmission.

[zzyzzx]

Not everything is built the same as your escort that you always try to make an alero. Look it up, it isn't in a spot where it is quite as simple as dropping the pan. It is at the top of the transmission on the 4t45e transmission. While there is a cover, it appears as if you would have to remove the cv shaft, and the splash shield as a minimum in order to replace it with the transmission in car, and that is if you are willing to work around the strut and everything else.

That would still be easier than removing and replacing the whole thing!

I see someone here replacing a solenoid:
http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthread.php/44617-1999-OLDS-ALERO-3500-swap/page12

They did remove the transmission to do that, but it still would be easier to do in car. I'd rather remove one axle instead of two!

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o262/O1gagt/DSCF0033.jpg

Plus if you know it's just a solenoid and you want to replace a solenoid, why buy a whole new (or used) transmission when you can just buy a solenoid? I even used a junkyard solenoid I paid $6.50 for, and it's been working for over a year. Yes on some cars you have to remove the transmission valve body to get to some of the solenoids, but I'd still rather do that then replace the whole thing. If you already know what's wrong with it, why not fix the problem when you are taking a chance on a used transmission that might not work.

[03glgold]

You also have to consider that with it in the car and it being a side access that you are almost asking for any dirt or other particles that you missed in cleaning to end up inside the transmission. In the time it takes to replace the solenoid you could be most of the way through installing a newer, lower mileage transmission. Any material I can find calls it an 8 hour job.

[Garfield]

I think the point is that he doesn't know what is wrong. My transmission guys said it was probably a broken low/reverse band. (With a small possibility of it being the servo that can be access by pulling the pan.)

[adog420]

I got the new transmission in have to hook the steering colum back up because as we lowered the jack the cradle fell to the ground after all I've decided I'm never doing this again

[zzyzzx]

I think the point is that he doesn't know what is wrong. My transmission guys said it was probably a broken low/reverse band. (With a small possibility of it being the servo that can be access by pulling the pan.)

The bad servo may throw a code.

[adog420]

Ok new transmission is in but now my cruise control isn't working and help?