Am I looking at major repairs????

[Eric Wettschreck]

My wifes rig is a 2000 Olds Bravada.

The other day she said it stopped shifting into overdrive. I took it out for a spin and noticed when you put the shifter into drive, it doesn't down shift into first or second. If you put the shifter into first it goes right in, same with second.

It's got around 85,000 miles on it, we bought it used about 10,000 miles ago. I put a filter kit in it but didn't do a trans flush. Just filter and fluid. No change.

Without trying to sound like too much of a tight wad, (I'm a tight wad) is there something else I can look at before bringing it in to a pro???

I've not been having the best of luck with autos lately. When it rains it pours I suppose.

[Macgyver55]

After 30 years turning wrenches, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that automatic transmissions of today have just plain gotten away from the reach of my knowledge. I still do some minor repairs on them, but it progressed to the point that buying a GM reconditioned unit with a warranty is cheaper than trying to fix many problems in our shop. Aside from that, what you describe sounds like it could be a sticking solenoid problem on one of the shift solenoids. Or, as on some other models, there were sevice bulletins and an update for a bad ground at the computer that could cause similar problems. Possibly one of the guys here with an Alldata source could check for you. Unfortunately I cant!

[Eric Wettschreck]

Thanks Mac. You've been a ton of info for me.

I don't turn wrenches for a living, but I've done my share. I don't know the inside of a turbo 350 let alone this puppy.

Stupid question, sticking shift solenoid? Where is that? Inside the trans? I noticed a couple of electronic devices at the connection of the shifter linkage to the trans.

Sorry to be a pain.

[Macgyver55]

The solenoids are mounted to the valve body. A Mastertech or Tech 1 scan tool will read if they are get getting a signal to shift and what gear the transmission should be in. The solenoids are not that expensive (under 40 bucks) You may have to bite the bullet and have it checked.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Sounds like it's time to get it looked at.

Thanks a ton for the info, Macgyver.

[upnorth]

Sound similar to when I lost 3rd gear on my ranger, cost me a total rebuild.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Macgyver, I've been waiting for a warmer day to work on this. I dropped the pan and started putting power on the solenoids until I found one that wasn't "Clicking." I replaced that solenoid, new fluid, and it's good to go.

Thanks for the help. It saved me a couple hunderd bucks.

[Macgyver55]

Glad to hear it! Transmissions are one of those things I'd rather help someone save some money fixing themselves, than me earning it doing for them. More times than not they are a pain......glad yours wasnt one of them!

[chickeywing]

Dumb Question: Is your right foot on the gas and the left on the brake? If there's ANY pressure on the brake, the tranny thinks there's a problem and act accordingly. The left foot isn't supposed to touch the brake pedal. Drive is more of a 'manual' gear. It will act different than it does in OD.

[Jeremy airjer W]

That wouldn't cause the lack of down shift into first gear. The lack of down shift into first gear, other than manually down shifting with the gear select lever, indicates that there is a fault in the transmission. When the computer sees there is a problem it goes into limp mode to help preserve the transmission as a whole.