Intermediate shifting problem in my 97 GT

So I've recently purchased a 97 GT with 160k for $1500 and haven't really had any problems with it that weren't an easy fix. While driving the trams seems to slip or shutter a little and it only happens after the motor and trams warms up while driving for some time. I've checks the fluid and it was a quart low so I added a bottle of Lucas hoping it help it out and or hopefully fix it. It still does it but not as bad ,but regardless it's still happening. It seems to be happening from 2nd to 3rd or maybe going into over drive?

Thoughts on What could be the problem ?

Chi_town

Drop the pan and change the filter

I'll try that, updates to come .

if its slipping now, take it easy on it after the pan drop and new filter, dump another bottle of trans medix in it when you re fill the trans.

good chance its on thin ice already.

Yea ive been babying it , just seems like it does it once the teams fluid gets thin while heating with driving.

What should I add after the trans pan? I was thinking of taking it in tmrw and getting it changed and having them put lube guard into it. Otherwise just wait until i am home and do it myself .

you can do it yourself for about 50 bucks and your time, maybe 1 hour tops. we talked girls into doing this themselves. its quite easy.

and any kinda of trans stop slip, lots of people here like the lucas products. you'll need 8 quarts to refill the tranny, so buy 7 Q's of dex 3 and 1 quart of trans medix and hopefully its holds together for another year or so.

these a how to here somewhere. if you cant find it post back.

and wal mart tranny fluid is cheap and also a good product, same with tractor supply tranny fluid, same maker. tractor supply sells it in 2 gallons jugs too, about $30.

oh, if you take it some where do not have it flushed, only do the pan drop and filter.

if you flush it now its dead for sure.

I've done it myself since i learned too almost 7 years ago, I'm just not home this weekend that's why. And should I just you Lucas again or maybe lube guard ? If there is another product I should look into I'll try that , the trams medic your talking about is a liquid like TransTune from the makers of seafoam.

And as for a flush , I know how deadly that is to a trans with over 100k , actually was going to bring it into the shop i used to work at.


Chi_Town

Do yourself a favor and try replacing the damn vacuum modulator first. If they start to leak it can cause fun shifting/line pressure issues. They're typically pretty cheap and require almost no loss of fluid.

Just unhook the vacuum modulator. instant shift kit lol

X2 change filter and go from there!

How hard is it to replace that module? Maybe I'll look into it if the filter and fluid change doesn't wrk.

The modulator would be my FIRST step before pan drop. It's held on by one 10mm bolt that holds kind of like a horseshoe bracket. When they start to fail they cause the same kind of symptoms you're dealing with. It also doesn't require losing any fluid.

How difficult is it to replace though?

Remove the vacuum line, remove the bolt, remove the bracket, remove the modulator. Literally that easy.

And where exactly is it? I will buy the part tmrw and do it tmrw , just wan to know exactly where it's at .

it's on the front of the trans...has a plastic vacuum line that goes to a rubber hose to a check valve to a rubber hose to the modulator. It's circular and canister looking about the size of a baseball.

Alright I'll have to take a look, and see if I can find it and see if any local part store even has one in stock .

Thanks for the help

Does ZZP have that part ? Local parts stores seem to not carry it and I've gone to Napa and advanced with no luck.

Chi_Town

Here you go.

Buy Pro-King Automatic Transmission Vacuum Modulator MD-28 at Advance Auto Parts