[Lade in AK]

Changed auto trans fluid at 110k miles. Old fluid was murky and not a shade of red, filter was extreamely dirty. Changed trans fluid and filter. Day one went good. Next day the engine revs all the way up until about 30 mph without power and shifting. Once car reaches 30, vehicle shifts fine. Problems only at take off. Assistance greatly appreciated.

 

[odthetruth]

Check rad line. Sounds like its leaking fluid or low on fluid.

 

[Lade in AK]

Problems have gotten worse. Now the vehicle is stuck in drive, and does not have reverse. Once speeds reach 40 or higher and we let off the accelerator, the vehicle dramatically slows down, as if we are braking really hard. That condition gets even worse at higher speeds. My wife was on the highway and it did that at 65 mph, almost getting rear-ended.

No leaks on this POS. Drove fine the first day, then took a s***.

 

[itsgoodtobekenny]

Sounds like tha transmission has seen its last days bro.
Hit the junk yards and take it off another cts. Probably run you somewhere around $1200

 

[Lade in AK]

Took it into a reputable transmission and gear shop. They told me there was an incorrect 3rd gear ratio. I don't know, I am not a transmission specialist. I am still wondering about the drive problem. Every gear was in forward drive...

Anyway, this all happened after I changed the transmission fluid. The fluid was murky brown. Used Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc. Any chance that had anything to do with it?

 

[odthetruth]

Didn't Jimmy call this? he said if someones never changed the trans fluid, its better to just leave the fluid in instead of changing it because the trans would go.

 

[Lade in AK]

My CTS has been in the shop for the past several days. Checked in on it yesterday and looked at the tranny taken apart. Lots of heat and scoring damage on it. The mechanic told me the fluid change probably had a little to do with the failure, but it was on it's way out. I have pics and will post soon. They contacted the dealer to only find out that there isn't a rebuild kit for the transmission. This is the first attempt, at least here in Alaska, to rebuild a CTS transmission...weird...but there isn't a trans rebuild kit available? I will have to do some research...

Anyway, it's not like I am a transmission specialist; a little above my qualifications. I will let you all know how things go with this. It should be done by Friday.

 

[curtc]

When doing a fluid change on a high mileage transmission you should NEVER do a flush, just an exchange (drain/refill+filter). The transmission gets used to the buildup over time and dislodging it with a flush can cause sudden failure afterwards. Look for a used one and just swap it if you're strapped for cash otherwise it could get spendy.

 

[JimmyH]

Didn't Jimmy call this? he said if someones never changed the trans fluid, its better to just leave the fluid in instead of changing it because the trans would go.

yup. seen it several times. you need to change the trans fluid regularly from when the car is BRAND NEW. if you don't, better off letting it go until the trans dies.

when you change fluid at a high mileage, there is so much muck and metal shavings in the case, that moving that much fluid around causes it to get up in the gears.

 

[Lade in AK]

Only did a fluid/filter change, not a flush.

The shop quoted me $3500 for a rebuild. Unfortunately, as stated before, there aren't any rebuild kits available yet and all my internals were so worn that they couldn't be used again. A donor was found down in Arizona though with 80k miles on it.

So the mechanic called me and let me know of the setback. I had three options:

Option one:
Use the 80k mile trans as a donar for parts for a rebuild. Quote: $3500

Option two:
Bolt the 80K mile trans right in and run it. Quote: no quote, but assuming it would cost less than the previous option due to less labor.

Option three:
Purchase a new trans from the GM dealer with a 3 year warranty, and have the shop bolt it in. $2900 (including $700/core charge) + $900 for R&R and labor.

I went for option three for the sole reason that I will get a new transmission. Once I get my core charge back, The total will be $3100. It's a better value for my dollar.

A couple of the pics from the worn trans gears coming up soon.

 

[Lade in AK]

Trans gear pics.

 

[JimmyH]

Are you sure that $2900 is for a new transmission? If so, that seems like one helluva price.

 

[Lade in AK]

To the best of my knowledge, it is. I went straight to the dealer. Even if it is a Reman, I can hold the dealer responsible instead of chasing down the shop that rebuilt it. This was going to be the first 03 trans rebuild GM has ever heard of...

gmpartsdirect.com is selling them for $1800, but frieght to AK is horrendous, and I'd still have to pay the core charge and return shipping of the core trans...this was my best bet...a completely assembled trans ready to be bolted in instead of waiting for it to be rebuilt and the possible problems that could follow

 

[JimmyH]

good luck with all of it. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[simkofab]

So when I replaced my radiator after the tranny line blew I screwed up by just having the fluid refilled in the tranny?

 

[X Rolls-Royce]

It doesn't mean that. The line blowing is what screwed you. Even if you catch it quickly, its usually fried already.
There's still a big debate going on here about transmission maintenance. I made myself the guinea pig.
My fluid was a little dark and the Caddy dealer recommended I get it flushed, I told them OK but you are on the hook if it fails because of the flush and the whole Cadillac owners forum is watching. So we did it, and we'll see what happens. If mine fails, the dealer has to fix it.

So when I replaced my radiator after the tranny line blew I screwed up by just having the fluid refilled in the tranny?

 

[odthetruth]

It doesn't mean that. The line blowing is what screwed you. Even if you catch it quickly, its usually fried already.
There's still a big debate going on here about transmission maintenance. I made myself the guinea pig.
My fluid was a little dark and the Caddy dealer recommended I get it flushed, I told them OK but you are on the hook if it fails because of the flush and the whole Cadillac owners forum is watching. So we did it, and we'll see what happens. If mine fails, the dealer has to fix it.

How many miles do you have Rolls? The big flush thing is if you have higher miles.
I flushed mine, then had it refilled shortly after cuz I saw the trans line was crap when I was looking at it about to do the external cooler, and then i was FORCED to do the external cooler because the line crapped out.

 

[Teedoe]

It doesn't mean that. The line blowing is what screwed you. Even if you catch it quickly, its usually fried already.
There's still a big debate going on here about transmission maintenance. I made myself the guinea pig.
My fluid was a little dark and the Caddy dealer recommended I get it flushed, I told them OK but you are on the hook if it fails because of the flush and the whole Cadillac owners forum is watching. So we did it, and we'll see what happens. If mine fails, the dealer has to fix it.

Rolls I'm doing the same tomorrow.

 

[M5eater]

yup. seen it several times. you need to change the trans fluid regularly from when the car is BRAND NEW. if you don't, better off letting it go until the trans dies.

when you change fluid at a high mileage, there is so much muck and metal shavings in the case, that moving that much fluid around causes it to get up in the gears.

Draining and changing the filter is usually safe as long as we're not talking burnt (brown) fluid, I've done it many times, what I wouldn't do-- and what seems to have happened is they flushed the fluid with a machine on a trans which clearly should not have been done so. New fluid alone doesn't seem to be enough to cause failure, but pressurized, heated fluid with active cleaning solution that's normally used Does cause failure. if it were my car, I would take it somewhere else for the new trans.

It doesn't mean that. The line blowing is what screwed you. Even if you catch it quickly, its usually fried already.
There's still a big debate going on here about transmission maintenance. I made myself the guinea pig.
My fluid was a little dark and the Caddy dealer recommended I get it flushed, I told them OK but you are on the hook if it fails because of the flush and the whole Cadillac owners forum is watching. So we did it, and we'll see what happens. If mine fails, the dealer has to fix it.

I would have to agree.. unless you catch a major line failure within the first 3-5 minuites you bet money you're talking about permanent transmission damage. If the fluid was acutally brown *and* murky when it blew too.. that's pretty much a roasted transmission-- ie one NOT to do a flush-- or even a drain and refill on.

 

[Speejus1990]

My 2003 CTS has 140k on it, and about 15k ago, I went to my Caddy dealer and they suggested a Tranny flush. They showed me my fluid chart and the tranny fluid was brown. I took it next door to my mechanic, who did it for half the price, and my car has been running fine. I had a few issues, but that was due to another mechanic doing some really messed up repairs. Or in my case, damages.

The only thing I've noticed, is when I set at a red light, my gauge shows I'm revved up to 500-600 RPM's. However, my car isn't revving. I always thought my car was rev'ing high, but it's just off by 500 rpms. Still need to get that checked out.

But other than that, my tranny seems fine.