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Buick LeSabre Transmission

93 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 2:51 PM

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

Messages Page 10 of 10

#84 of 93 1995 buick lesabre problem by i10dopezone

Sep 07, 2011 (3:13 pm)

1995 buick lesabre, when i start to drive when it goes to second gear, it feels like it kinda jumps then the whole car vibrates till it shifts again then drives fine, it only happens when i start to drive and when it shifts to second, any ideas

#85 of 93 Re: Lasabre transmission won't engage [imidazol97] by buick7

Sep 27, 2012 (2:58 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Aug 13, 2009 11:27 am)
I have a 1992 it has 230.000 miles factory everything except battery and brakes!! I know this cause my grandpa bought it new it shifts good runs good looks good its almost 21 a Buick transmission lasts a long time if you take care of it we did the car never been over 80 at 22 my tranny is starting to feel weak but its smooth so my guess is oxygen sensor or tranny sensor ( and being old!!) Anyway its a dependable car its been running everyday fir 20 years I'm afraid the parts are gonna die completely at once real soon LOL my Buick is named the Buick that wont break down

#86 of 93 Transmission Shift Hard by majordadsage

Nov 10, 2012 (7:34 am)

I have a 2000 LeSabre that I bought a couple of weeks ago. It has 23K miles on it and looks almost new. The previous owner had the transmission serviced prior to listing the car. It drove fine when we picked it up and does great most of the time. However, sometimes in the morning it shifts hard when I leave our housing addition. It does fine backing out of the driveway but, when I pull out on the highway, it sometimes shifts hard. After we drive it for a while, it is fine and we really don't have any issues. Occasionally it will downshift kind of hard but not very often at all. I checked the fluid level and it was a little low. I added Lucas Transmission Fix to bring the level up to where it is ok on the dipstick. I thought it was doing better but, this morning it shifted hard leaving the addition. I really think it has something to do with sitting over night and the cool temps. Anyway, I am considering taking it back in to my mechanic, having the transmission serviced again but this time, I am going to have him add some Sea Foam additive.
 
Any thoughts out there on what might be the problem. I am thinking a sticky valve??

#87 of 93 Re: Transmission Shift Hard [majordadsage] by imidazol97

Nov 10, 2012 (1:18 pm)

Replying to: majordadsage (Nov 10, 2012 7:34 am)
What fluid was added when the service was done. I assume the service was a drop pan and change filter and refill with 6 quarts? It wasn't a "flush"?
 
I personally would use the Mercon/Dexron fluid of a name brand from Walmart. Some would suggest using the Dexron VI which is more synthetic in nature. I did that and took it out after some months and refilled with the Dexron/Mercon which replaces DexronIII.
 
Rather than adding additives, I would let the fresh additives in the new fluid dissolve what it was to free up anything that is being affected by sludging or sediment. I would run about 5000 miles, use the hand pump from Harbor Freight that's on sale for 6.99 at times with coupon or use the 20% off coupons they put out. Suck out 6 quarts through the diptube. Then refill to the mark warm idling with the Dexron/Mercon. And I'd repeat that over and over as long as it doesn't get worse.

#88 of 93 2000 LeSabre Transmission by majordadsage

Nov 12, 2012 (5:03 pm)

It is a 2000 LeSabre with only has 23K miles on it and it runs great and shifts smooth. The only issue I have is in the morning (usually a cool morning) it hesitates when I leave our housing addition. There is no problem leaving our driveway but, when pulling out on the hwy it sometimes hesitates. If I let it warm up and go through the gears before leaving the house, no problem but, if I don't, it will hesitate pulling out on the hwy. There is a bit of a slope at the hwy. The fluid level is in the XXX area and the fluid was just changed about a month ago. I have owned the car for about 2 1/2 weeks. I added some Lucas Transmission Fix about 1 1/2 wks ago.
 
I don't think I have a serious problem but, I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem and what they did, if anything, to fix it.

#89 of 93 Re: 2000 LeSabre Transmission [majordadsage] by wheeldeals

Nov 22, 2012 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: majordadsage (Nov 12, 2012 5:03 pm)
I had this problem on a 1994 Le Sabre and the transmission failed but it had 89K miles on it. If I were you I would not hesitate taking it to a reliable mechanic. Better safe than sorry. A rebuilt transmission is $1,800 to $2,200 depanding on who you take it to.

#90 of 93 Re: 2000 LeSabre Transmission [wheeldeals] by majordadsage

Nov 22, 2012 (9:37 pm)

Replying to: wheeldeals (Nov 22, 2012 8:46 pm)
I appreciate your response. It has been 10 days since my first post. I have driven the buick a lot the last week and a half. I let my vehicles warm up in the morning and that seems to make a big difference for this buick. The problem has gone away. I think it just needed to be driven. The Lucas Transmission Fix seems to have done the trick.
 
The car is running great, looks great, and the transmission is working fine.

#91 of 93 Re: 2000 LeSabre Transmission [majordadsage] by imidazol97

Nov 23, 2012 (11:45 am)

Replying to: majordadsage (Nov 22, 2012 9:37 pm)
I would assume the original transmission fluid, Dexron III, is in there. I assume there is some sediment or sludge giving some stickiness. I don't like additives unless it's a do or die effort.
 
If it were mine, I'd buy some Dexron/Mercon at Walmart, any major brand, and suction out the six quarts of fluid through the dipstick with a hand pump from Harbor Freight. Then replace the six quarts with the same fluid as original. This would take out half of whatever the Trans Fix dissolved and half o the Trans Fix. It would put in fresh additives in the fresh Dexron III fluid you put in. I'd drive it 5000 miles or more and then drop pan, and change filter, and refill with 6 quarts. You'd have only about 1/4 of the original fluid left in the transmission.
 
I would not use the Dexron VI fluids.

#92 of 93 Re: 2000 Buick Le Sabre transmission slips [imidazol97] by carmike10

Apr 09, 2013 (8:23 am)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Mar 26, 2010 9:32 am)
sounds like your car may have a carbon build up in the throttle body .take off and see ..that causes those problems of going into second engine is trying to stay alive so it idles ..also check your EGR sensor and egr tube ..it does not sound like transmission...

#93 of 93 2002 LaSabre Problem by dbaurer

May 20, 2013 (2:51 pm)

I have a 2002 LaSabre with 181,000 miles. It has the original 3.8 liter engine and the original transmission. I’m hearing a thud sound (it sounds like hitting a bump in the road) and it feels like there is a loss of power for just an instant. This has happened at slow speeds, highway speeds (70 mph) and while accelerating. The cv joint “seems” OK as there is no unusual sound or feel when shifting from park to reverse or forward.
 
 Many thanks for any ideas.

Messages Page 10 of 10

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