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Buick Century Transmission

29 messages,  Last post on Apr 11, 2013 at 6:28 AM

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What is this discussion about? Buick Century, Transmission, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 3

#20 of 29 2001 Buick Century Slips in First when cold by oceanside_joe

Oct 20, 2010 (9:02 am)

I had my transmission rebuilt and they corrected numerous issues. A new failure has shown up recently (still under warranty, but repair shop is not trying to fix my issue). When the car is cold (ie overnight, or sitting at work on parking lot for 8hrs), I frequently notice that when in 1st and when I need a fast takeoff (ie blind curve exiting work parking lot) that the transmission will slip, then I can begin to feel the clutches start grabbing and moving me forward. It's a bit unnerving to have that happen if you really need the power. The repair shop says I need to let the transmission warm up before going. Never did that before and he's had the transmission out 3 times after the rebuild. Can you say 4 times? I've already been to BBB on the last repair, I think it's time for Dept of Consumer Affairs and small claims. Anyone have a clue as to what is wrong with the transmission? I'm ready to take it to another shop that knows what they're doing. Thanks! Joe

#21 of 29 2005 Buick Century Transmission Problems by pipestonesimon

Nov 16, 2011 (3:54 pm)

I bought this car when it had 22K on it and it now has 140K. Been very happy with it as the engine runs great and is very quiet and smooth--I often get 30mpg or sometimes even higher on the highway but have recently developed a hard shifting problem. When it upshifts I get a hard clunk as if the shift is delayed and then finally catches. I had the transmission fluid changed at a national quick service chain. Shortly thereafter the problem, which is intermittent got bad enough to take it to a local repair shop. Of course they couldn't get it to do anything out of the ordinary on their test drive but they did recommend that I put a new filter in the tranny thereby wasting the 100+ dollars I spent at the national chain as they only flushed and changed the fluid. Problem is still intermittent and mostly after the car is warm. I am just trying to get an idea of what cost the repairs might be as I may just trade the thing off if it likely going to be a major repair.

#22 of 29 Re: 2005 Buick Century Transmission Problems [pipestonesimon] by gmcustsvc

Nov 17, 2011 (11:08 am)

Replying to: pipestonesimon (Nov 16, 2011 3:54 pm)
pipestonesimon,
I apologize for your frustrations. Thank you for taking your time to explain your experience. If you would like to work with a GM dealer for your concerns please feel free to email me. If you have any questions comments or concerns please feel free to email me.
Christina
GM Customer Service

#23 of 29 transmission? by century_2001

Feb 12, 2012 (7:01 pm)

I have a 2001 buick century and I have lately been having a problem where at around 30-35 mph, it feels like the car won't shift into the next gear and then after it speeds up it won't slow down or anything without me putting on the breaks, even when on hills, and sometimes it even feels like it speeds up on its own without my foot on the gas at all. Does anyone know what this could be and/or how much it would cost to fix it. I am poor and in college and I have had soooo many problems with this car that I am thinking of trading it in to a dealer and getting a different one that hopefully won't have as many problems. If this repair would cost too much I would just trade it in for something else.

#24 of 29 2005 Buick Century transmission by carfunmich

Sep 30, 2012 (9:53 am)

My 2005 Buick was absolutely perfect until I had the trans fluid flushed, then it began to intermittently shift hard, mostly 2nd and 3d gear, usually when warm. The quicky oil change place I had it done at says they did everything right, put in the right fluid, and didn't use any cleaner, just extracted the old and replaced with new fluid. I had to have the dealership diagnose and fix the problem, it cost me $1,100 to have the PC solenoid replaced.
 
The oil change place uses DM3, which they said is the right stuff. But when I looked this up online, it said it was not approved for use by GM cars that called for Dextron III. My owner's manual says it needs Dextron III. Should I go after the oil change place?
 
Thanks for any advice

#25 of 29 2005 buick century transaxle harsh shifting by nappa

Jan 30, 2013 (4:19 pm)

The car will shift harshly at times, slip at times like many other Buick Centurys. The problem lies in the transaxle position sensor (on the opposite side of the throttle position sensor on the throttle valve after the air intake )
It will stick. You can either replace it, instead of all the other crap they try to sell you or pump the gas pedal a few times before you start it. best when engine is cold.

#26 of 29 Re: Buick Century transmission 2001 [juliewhitney] by abouttowne1

Feb 06, 2013 (10:44 pm)

Replying to: juliewhitney (May 06, 2008 5:26 pm)
I have a 2000 Century that had intermittent transmission trouble. The check engine light would come and go. It would start to surge and hard shift. Sometimes would not go into 1st gear and would stay in overdrive. I did some research and found that the cars tend to have electrical shorts in the wire harness that plugs into the transmission, drivers side above the tranmission housing. There is a plug that has about 20 wires. They can break internally. You can try unplugging it and cleaning the connections. I did that and it corrected for a short period of time. Eventually it no longer worked. A new harness runs about 70 bucks. I went to a junk yard and cut one out of another Buick for $5 bucks. Was a pain to splice all of the wires, but I have driven it for 2 days with no surging, no shift problems and no check engine lights. The wires on the old plug were smashed and twisted where they go into the plug.
 
Try that first, I see that the fix the repair places want to do is rebuild or replace the transmission and the problem seems to come back. The real problem was the connection. Good luck and try that, it is better than replacing the transmission if it is not the problem.

#27 of 29 1995 Buick Century Transmissio Stuck by lakesidekev

Feb 08, 2013 (7:54 pm)

1995 Buick Century 3100 v6 145,000 miles
My 95 Buick Century acts like the parking gear is stuck no matter which gear you shift it into even neutral. It feels like it shifts into gear but wont move. I had to rev the engine in neutral and drop it into drive and it popped, then I could drive it, but as soon as i shift it into reverse or park then it sticks again. I checked the fluid and it looks fine and is at the proper level.
I ran my scanner on it and it didn't show anything. Any ideas?

#28 of 29 Re: transmission? [century_2001] by abouttowne1

Mar 18, 2013 (9:25 pm)

Replying to: century_2001 (Feb 12, 2012 7:01 pm)
Need to check electrical connector at transmission on drivers side. Wires go bad. Picked up one out of a junker and spliced in. Took care of mine. That is why people who have the trans replaced are having the trouble recur.

#29 of 29 Buick Century 2000 Transmission by deedeej50

Apr 11, 2013 (6:28 am)

Friends replaced transmission about a year ago. Today the transmission won't shift into any gear. Dip stick is dry! Saw transmission fluid leaked out under car. (Just drove over 100 miles yesterday!) Since replaced a year ago it still whined, shifted roughly after warmed up at around 35 mph, so my question is do we replace the transmission or check for other things first? (Like wire harness gone bad, filter, transaxle position sensor, 4 solenoid switches and use seafoam transmiss. treatment with dexron VI) My son and ex are willing to go at it again!

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