2000 GPGT No Gears

[MN GPGT CLS]

Looking at my daughter's 2000 Grand Pix GT 3.8 Auto. About 3 weeks ago I replace both front wheel bearings with MOOG from Rockauto. At the time I checked several things for her including the transmission fluid level. The fluid was discolored and probably on the low side of the "full" level. I didn't have any fluid at the time so I didn't add any. Fast forward to today, she was a couple blocks from my house when the car quit driving. She got it off to the side of the road and when I got home we towed it back to the garage.

I asked her about noises with the transmission before it quit working and she said it only really had issues with slipping over the last day or two and the engine would wind some. She gets her diagnostic ability from her mom though (what did it smell like? "It smelled hot").

I have done a little reading here and probably know the answer already, but I just want to get some support for my thoughts before I just start pulling the transmission.

Here is what I have:

1. No gears forward or back even at high RPM will not hook up.
2. There is a grinding noise coming from the transmission area, didn't try to totally pinpoint where specifically. Its low enough that inside the car you really have to know its there to hear it but with the hood open its definitely there.
3. Fluid is still discolored (go figure that didn't fix itself ) and the level is actually high now and there are some larger bubbles on the dipstick, just a few so I am not sure this is important or not.


I know this transmission is computer controlled, I can't think of any reason why a bad wheel speed sensor would cause this problem though. There are no traction or ABS lights indicating an error like that anyway, so my guess is that I don't have a bad sensor there. No check engine light but I didn't try to pull codes, my only experience with a bad auto recently I couldn't access transmission codes with the loaner from O'Reilly.

Is there enough info here to absolutely say its transmission time? What is the logical guess, pump?

Thanks for your help.

 

[dsmuts]

I'd say trans time. You should have done a pan drop and filter change when you noticed the dark fluid.

 

[Jevik]

Something in the trans broke. Could be the input shaft or oil pump shaft. Don't think its a solenoid because of the grinding noise.

Definitely trans time.

 

[GMR Badass]

Something in the trans broke. Could be the input shaft or oil pump shaft. Don't think its a solenoid because of the grinding noise.

Definitely trans time.

Although I definitely agree that you will be needing a used/rebuilt trans I don't agree with input or oil pump shaft based on the symptoms prior to failure. With an oil pump shaft failure it's not something that typically goes out over time or gives any warning, and when it fails the trans is done. Not something that would slip over 2 days of driving before the ultimate failure. Input shaft....yes it could happen but on a stock 3.8 N/A motor I would highly doubt this would be the case.

Right now because of your description of the fluid I would be leaning toward a clogged filter. If the transmission had not been serviced on a regular basis there is a chance that excessive debris could have clogged the filter. When there is a restriction with a clogged filter over time you will see elevated trans temps which will lead to burnt clutches, and ultimately the failure of the transmission.

Other thing in the running it torque converter failure.

 

[MN GPGT CLS]

Although I definitely agree that you will be needing a used/rebuilt trans I don't agree with input or oil pump shaft based on the symptoms prior to failure. With an oil pump shaft failure it's not something that typically goes out over time or gives any warning, and when it fails the trans is done. Not something that would slip over 2 days of driving before the ultimate failure. Input shaft....yes it could happen but on a stock 3.8 N/A motor I would highly doubt this would be the case.

Right now because of your description of the fluid I would be leaning toward a clogged filter. If the transmission had not been serviced on a regular basis there is a chance that excessive debris could have clogged the filter. When there is a restriction with a clogged filter over time you will see elevated trans temps which will lead to burnt clutches, and ultimately the failure of the transmission.

Other thing in the running it torque converter failure.

I know this is stupid, but any chance that if the filter is clogged, that would be enough to cause the symptoms? Any chance it will recover with a new filter?

 

[Sven the Sexman]

IF changing the filter helps, you're on borrowed time.

 

[BillBoost37]

"Was a little low, now it's reading high with bubbles"... this says it all. Likely what occurred is the channel plate aka case cover gasket let go and you are bleeding pressure past. This keeps the fluid from going where it needs to and churs it as well adding the air bubbles.

The trans sounds like it needs to be replaced. There is a shot that you could spend all the labor to pull the subframe, lower the drivetrain a bit to get the side cover off, get elbow deep in there to find a bad channel plate gasket and fix it. However for the cost/time/effort I'd suggest slapping a different trans in.

Car-part.com or being in MN, Andrew may have a trans or two that would fit for you. Home | Bonnevilles Unlimited

 

[GMR Badass]

Just now saw the comment about bubbles in the original post. And like Bill said, it's a sign that the channel plate gaskets have failed. When the channel plate gaskets fail another symptom is to have fluid leaking from the top vent of the transmission as fluid is being pushed into areas where it shouldn't be.