Transmission issues Chevy Malibu

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FL-400S

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2002 Chevy malibu 3.1L V6 4T40e transmission 69k miles

I've had this car since new. I had a shop drop the pan, change filter, and put on a new pan with drain plug back in January 2010, with about 60k miles on it. First time the transmission had been serviced since new. The shop replaced the fluid with Kendall Semi synthetic. About 6 weeks ago, I jacked the car up on stands and drained the pan. I replaced what came out with Valvoline Dexron VI. It seemed to shift like butter for a couple of days. Since then, its gotten steadily worse. I'm getting an engine "flare" coming around corners a lot of the time. It also seems to slip when hitting the gas after coasting a bit. Its still under 69k miles. I havent heard about this being a weak transmission. Is it on its way out, or could it be something simple like solenoids? I really dont know too much about transmissions.
 
Based on what you said, the Dexron VI is more suspect than the transmission dieing. You should know Dexron VI is thinner than Dex III.

Did you check the ATF level while the car is idling?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Warstud
Try replacing with Dex III... a quart at a time until it starts working properly again.



+1
 
ok I can try that. I understand Dex VI is thinner, but if that is the spec'ed fluid instead of Dex III, why would my car act up? Wouldn't all older GM's act up then?
 
Originally Posted By: sciphi
My Buick's 4T65 didn't like Dex-VI either. It did like Maxlife ATF...


how so (what symptoms?) is it all better now that you changed it out for maxlife?
 
According to the new Maxlife spec sheet it is almost as thin as Dexron VI.

MAXLIFE™ DEX/MERC ATF

Viscosity @ 100°C, cSt 6.11
Viscosity @ 40°C, cSt 28.18


Valvoline DEXRON®-VI ATF

Viscosity @ 100°C ASTM D445 6.0 cSt
Viscosity @ 40°C ASTM D445 29.5 cSt
 
There have been a couple posts on here over the past few days that say a similar story: transmission was fine, changed the fluid to Dex VI, now it isn't fine. This is why I only put OEM fluid in my transmission when I change it, and of the specific type it calls for.

I'd do two or three drain and fills (considering you have a drain plug now) a week or two apart using Dex III (I know it isn't liscensed anymore) spec fluid. It seems from reading this board Valvoline transmission fluids wear quickly, so you might want to try a different brand (like Castrol). I'd say use GM Dex III fluid but I do not believe they make III spec fluid anymore, I think they just make Dex VI and "say" it is good for previous models, but as you've learned it doesn't necessairly work that way all the time.
 
What type of shop did the oil pan change?
If you took the car to a transmission specialist..they most likely made some adjustments.
never take your car to a transmission shop..unless your buying a transmission and their warranty.
 
I've used Dex VI in that transmission any others with no issues. Are you sure the level is correct? There's no dipstick so you have to remove the check plug and check as it is running. Typically a pan drain requires about 7 qts refill. Another posssibility is that if the the filter o-ring is not installed before installing the filter the filter can fall out. Unhooking the battery for awhile, or if you have a scanner doing a clear code reset, can reset the shifting memory learn and help. Your symptoms sound like low fluid level or the filter is possibly dislodged.
 
Originally Posted By: XCELERATIONRULES
What type of shop did the oil pan change?
If you took the car to a transmission specialist..they most likely made some adjustments.
never take your car to a transmission shop..unless your buying a transmission and their warranty.


It was not a trans shop, in fact I think they refer out actual trans work. They do tires, oil, fuel filters, trans filters, mufflers, and they even repaired the intake on a friend's malibu. I'm pretty confident in the work they do.

I will drain and fill 1-2 quarts at a time and see how that does.
 
Before you do anything, double check the fluid level.
Check while idling in park, the vehicle must be level.
I know they are a pita, on these cars, no dipstick, check plug.
If the fluid level is low, you will experience the symptoms you have.
 
Like cronk says, a proper level check should be #1. I *thought* the 4T40's of this vintage still had a dipstick, but stickless is all too common. The 4T40E and 45E are great ATs and a problem with one in a mali at 69Kmi would be unusual. I doubt it's the ATF. These boxes will run on just about anything with lubricating properties. Like said, sucking air through the filter neck on an improperly installed filter would be my next guess.

Joel
 
Originally Posted By: FL-400S
Originally Posted By: sciphi
My Buick's 4T65 didn't like Dex-VI either. It did like Maxlife ATF...


how so (what symptoms?) is it all better now that you changed it out for maxlife?


The smoother shifting went away in 10k miles. It was back to being hard into gears. That was with a shift kit meant to correct the problem of being hard into the next gear.

After 10k miles on the Maxlife it's shifting as smoothly as the day it went in. No shudder into/out of OD, and no hard shifting. The Buick has 88k miles on it now.

I've used a lot of ATF in this transmission. Regular Pennzoil Dex/Merc, Coastal Dex/Merc, SuperTech Dex/Merc, SuperTech Dex-VI, and finally new formula Valvoline Maxlife Dex/Merc. Every different ATF has been at least 6 quarts out of 12 total system capacity. The Dex-VI and Maxlife were 14-quart flushes. Out of all those readily-available ATF's, the Maxlife has been the smoothest-shifting.

That's been my experience with Dex-VI and Maxlife.
 
Again, first I think you should check the fluid level. The trans has a check plug on the tailshaft facing the passenger side halfshaft. Vehicle needs to be level and running and ATF should just dribble out of the level check hole. And also unhook the neg battery cable for a bit or reset the codes if you have a scanner as that might help reset the shifting memory.

I think this will fix your problem but if the level is correct and still shifts bad, I would drain and drop the pan and check the the filter is secure and that the seal that the filter goes into is in the transmission. I really doubt the Dex VI is causing a problem but if you want to refill with Dex III that's your call. If checking the fluid level and checking the filter installation doesn't fix it then you most likely have some other serious trans issue.

One other thing that will make this transmission shift funny is a weak electrical system, say your battery, alternator voltage is low or there is a bad ground, the car will run but since the trans shifting is electrically controlled it can shift bad if system voltage is low. I don't know that you have any electrical system symptoms but just wanted to add that.
 
I borrowed a couple more jackstands, so tomorrow I will go under there and check fluid level again, on 4 jackstands this time. Im pretty sure the level is ok. Ill get a couple quarts of Dino DexIII and maybe a couple quarts of M1 ATF and drain and fill with test drives in between. I would like to think that the filter is fine, but if changing in some Dex III doesnt help, then I guess I might have to investigate further.
 
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