Sign In Join 



Buick LaCrosse Transmission Problems

15 messages,  Last post on Nov 04, 2008 at 2:46 PM

You are in the Buick LaCrosse Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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


Messages Page 2 of 2
1
2
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#6 of 15
Re: Transmission Troubles [rick151] by madburydon
Mar 30, 2008 (4:16 pm)
Reply

Replying to: rick151 (Mar 25, 2008 1:05 pm)

I have a 2006 La Crosse that has what sounds like the same problem. However, I do have an additional bit of information: Recently my car sat in a florida parking lot for the better part of a day. When I started up from the parking lot the shift problem occured and contiued all the way home (about 60 miles.) Inthe morning everything was ok. Yesterday I was driving in very heavy stop and go traffic and the problem reoccured. About 3000 miles ago the dealer said the fluid was like "sludge" and replaced it. The problem has continued. Have you gotten any satisfaction?
#7 of 15
Buick Lacrosse Transmission by miles9
Apr 09, 2008 (1:12 pm)
Reply
I have read were there those ou there experiencing transmission problems with Buick. I purchased a new 2005 Buick Lacrosse ledftover in March of 2006 so mt car just celbrated it's second birthday of ownership! Unfortunately I am also about to have the dealership install the fourth (4) transmission so don't believe for a minute that the transmissions are NOT a problem with the Lacrosse's at least. I began to have minor slips & a couple hard knocks similar to those described here in Edmunds at 25,000 miles, pulled in to a gas station to fill up, turned the car off, got gas & got back in, started the car & no forward gears! believe me the same thing will happen at 50,000 miles & now at least for me again at 76,000 & when the transmission goes there are very few warnings, no check engine lights, no information from the little computer, just a hard shift & nothing. Buick has stepped up to the plate and replaced the second with the third at no charge (pretty big of them) becasue the 36,000 mile warranty had expired & it is now in the shop awaiting the fourth transimission! Consider lemon law action as soon as possible if it makes sense in your state, I can't even let my wife drive the car any more because of reliability issues & I thought I bought the car for reliability! Should have kept my 1998 Chevy astro van with 270,000 miles on it!
 
Signed,
 
GM Family Member
#8 of 15
Re: Buick Lacrosse Transmission [miles9] by hitman1970
Apr 09, 2008 (5:52 pm)
Reply

Replying to: miles9 (Apr 09, 2008 1:12 pm)

I am suddenly nervous as my 2006 CXS is sitting at 23,000 miles. Time will tell. So far my car has been pretty much flawless. I enjoy driving it quite a lot.
#9 of 15
Transmission problems by imidazol97
Apr 09, 2008 (6:20 pm)
Reply
This sounds odd. I haven't seen it mentioned before. The transmission is the THM65E I assume. Those are used in the Chevy and other cars with few problems. Now if you were talking Accords that might be different about repetitive failures. I have to sympathize with the person on their 4th transmission!
#10 of 15
Re: Transmission problems [imidazol97] by lcbj
Apr 16, 2008 (11:51 am)
Reply

Replying to: imidazol97 (Apr 09, 2008 6:20 pm)

My 2005 Buick LaCrosse with 33K has exactly the same problem of recurring hard shifts that come and go. It is very annoying and worrisome. It always seems to be in stop and go traffic. I am off to see the dealer tomorrow.
#11 of 15
Re: Transmission problems [lcbj] by fordfan_17
Apr 16, 2008 (12:04 pm)
Reply

Replying to: lcbj (Apr 16, 2008 11:51 am)

harsh shifting in 4T65E transmissions is a common problem it is caused mostly by a failing EPC (electronic pressure control solenoid) and normally returns a code p1811 Maximum shift adapt or p0741 excessive torque converter slippage. either code can be fixed but either will require transmission removal. if its a p0741 code the dealer will probably want to replace the transmission since dealerships are not to keen about aftermarket fixes to thier transmissions. if code 1811 is recovered the epc solenoid should be replaced.
#12 of 15
Re: Transmission Troubles [rick151] by quezalnn
Sep 23, 2008 (1:08 am)
Reply

Replying to: rick151 (Mar 25, 2008 1:05 pm)

I can not get this web site to work with me. However, I would like to read what the dealership informed you of due to the fact I have been having the same issues. I am taking my car back to them Wed. I got a feeling it just might get really ulgy.
#13 of 15
Replace transmission filter or flush by mrrogers
Nov 04, 2008 (2:59 am)
Reply
My wife has a 2005 LaCrosse CXL which we intend to keep for a long time so we maintain the car carefully. She only has 20,000 miles in almost four years of driving, but there is a lot of stop and go driving in those miles. I purchased a transmission filter at my dealer with the intention of changing the fluid also.
      I learned that the new Buicks come through with Dextron VI transmission fluid rather than Dextron III. My car has Dextron III, but Dextron VI is compatible with Dextron III. I wanted to upgrade to synthetic Mobil 1, but it only meets the Dextron III spec and not the Dextron VI spec. I found that Valvoline makes a synthetic which meets the Dextron VI spec.
       My Buick dealer recommends their power flush for $119, but that only gets me regular Dextron III as he claims that GM get $30 a quart for Dextron VI. Also the trans filter does not get replaced in a power flush. I am leaning towards the synthetic Valvoline Dextron VI and a filter change, but I would be happy to hear someone else's thoughts.
#14 of 15
Re: Replace transmission filter or flush [mrrogers] by imidazol97
Nov 04, 2008 (4:23 am)
Reply

Replying to: mrrogers (Nov 04, 2008 2:59 am)

It's nice that your dealer is wanting to pad the weekly profit with your flush charge and Dexron VI bill!
 
Walmart Dexron VI is $3.89??? Check it out. Your can has only 20,000 and 3 years. Perfect timing for high level maintenance change. Buy a Purolator transmission filter, buy 7 quarts of Walmart Dexron VI, and have a quality local shop change it for you for a fee. He won't make any money off 40% of the filter and the fluid he charges, so expect to pay almost as much as he provided those parts, but use yours. Take back the GM filter or use it. I'd save it till the next change myself.
 
Or find a friend or neighbor who has done drains on GM transmissions and has the ability if you aren't into doing it yourself. It requires jack stand for safety and ability to crawl under the car and hold up a transmission pan with part of the weight held by loosened bolts as you let the fluid pour into a large, flat pan.
 
The process is simply, remove about 20 little bolts, drop the pan slowly holding it above a large catch pan for the fluid that comes out as you tip it. Gently pry the old filter straight down; slide the new filter neck into the old seal tapping it with your hand to push it up tightly. Replace pan using the original GM rubber seal that's meant to be re used for the lifetime unless it's torn somehow.
 
Myself, I left the original filter in place until my second drain at 60,000 miles on my 03. The filters should be good up to 100,000.
 
You drain out half the fluid in the process and replace it with the synthetic blend Dexron VI--that's the advantage to the new Dexron. It's recommended for any car that came with Dexron III and later.
 
If you didn't have 3 years or more, I'd suggest waiting until 30,000 or 36,000 to do the drain and refill but you seem to want to take good car of the car with preventative maintenance, so do it somewhere in between that suits you.
 
Don't do the flush. Just regularly keep changing the fluid by draining and refilling.
#15 of 15
Re: Replace transmission filter or flush [imidazol97] by mrrogers
Nov 04, 2008 (2:46 pm)
Reply

Replying to: imidazol97 (Nov 04, 2008 4:23 am)

Thanks for your detailed reply. I think I will buy the synthetic Dextron VI and change the fluid and filter myself this weekend. As you say the process is not difficult. I have done it before on my four previous Regals before the LaCrosse.

Messages Page 2 of 2
1
2
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement