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[bbacon]

First thing thanks again to all who have given opinions and insights into the several trials I have had.
To recap bought car from some young kids who hammered it. Had to do valve cover gaskets, clean breather new wires plugs etc.  Then on to failed oil cooler.  Next had the PO455 code and stall while driving which led to replacing the crank sensor and then fuel pump and filter.  Interesting to note when i pulled the lid off the gas tank fuel line hose came right up with it leading us shade tree mechanics to wonder if the code and stall was due to the fuel line working itself off the fuel pump nipple?  We replaced the pump, screen etc since we were there.  We also did the rear end maintenance recommended in the guides as we were experiencing the low speed shift bump.

Now the automatic transmission will not down shift without an extended pause at say a stop sign.  When you give it gas it thumps and bumps into gear than takes off.  At speed shifting is not an issue.  My guess is I hope a band solenoid or transmission solenoid. From the   Catera shop manuals - which are poorly written and photographed - this would seem to be an easy job if the solution was that simple.  Currently I have no codes posting which worries me.

As to the past maintenance we were not able to swap the thermostat due to the infamous b@$t@& bolt.  Any good suggestions for breaking this loose?  The previous owners stripped the stars down to a nub.  In trying to deal with it we now have a coolant leak and power steering fluid leak that I need to address mostly due to buggered old age  hoses.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated as the old car is still a good daily driver in spite the lack of proper care.

Happy New Year to all and many safe miles in 2009.

[feeutfo]

well, first place to start with gear box is the Automatic transmission fluid.Dont drive it until you have confirmed the atf fluid is in good condition not burnt and up to level. Damage may result if not already.
 
 Either top up or service atf depending on the mileage(or kilometers) i serviced mine at 70,000 miles(ill leave you to convert) as is the general opinion on here. The factory treat the box as a sealed unit, so you probably wont get any service info from a dealer over there i guess.

From memory. Need,
2 sump gaskits for large and small sump on box. Or loctite 598 black goo.
6 or 7 litres of dexron 3 atf. Maybe more/less depending, 5.5 for mine iirc.
Clean filter/ or fit new if in poor condition.

Remove all sump bolts except one near a corner, then gradually undo the last bolt with a suitable container ready on the opposite corner to let the fluid poor/spill into.

Clean filter/ or fit new if in poor condition.
Clean magnet in sump.
Check/pray for no pieces of thrust washer, if so then stop and replace as guide in maintenance section(i think) not an easy job.

Re fit sumps/gaskits etc and top up atf through the level hole on large sump to the rear on drivers side, 13 mill bolt iirc.

 When atf starts to fall back out of the level hole, start the engine and continue to fill as the box sucks up the atf until once again the oil poors back out of the level hole. At this point the level should be correct if up to temp. You can use that last paragraph to just top up. Make sure the car is level within reason. Personally i like to check the level again after a quick drive, just to be sure.
 
Bear in mind this is a very messy procedure so suggest getting the car on a lift and you will need some method of pumping the fluid up as you wont be able to poor from above with floor pan/exhaust so close to the level hole. Some run a long pipe down from the engine bay and poor from there if the car is on the floor.Also you wont get all the fluid out, some will be left in the torque converter, cant be helped.
Failing that, only leaves the selector switch/electrics/breaked box of which i have no experience.
 
The coolent pipe bolt is fixed with a torx head bolt, try the next smallest size torx socket and hammer the tinker on... maybe. Previous owners probably used a normal hex tool which is ok(ish) until some muscle is needed and it slips.

Hope helps.

[mkaminski100]

Chris is right - first top up transmission oil, but I would suggest to try it this way and change it if it will cure the problem. Otherwise, you may have to change oil twice.
As per your transmission problem. A band solenoid will not always give any fault code, especially when it just sticks.
Which gears are causing problems?
Band (or band solenoid or band adjucements) will only cause problems on 1 & 2 gear. Try to use in winter mode and check if there is any difference.

[bbacon]

Thank you for the response.  I had a local quick lube do a pump of the system and replace the atf at 80,000 miles.  It wasn't in poor condition but did need to be done.  The trany shifted beautifully for about three days than the 1st - 2nd bump came back.  Using the weather button seems to help but as I have been driving the car it is happening even when it is engaged.
Typically in the am the car backs up fine but has a wicked pause when put into drive.  Once the hard bump shift takes place it will then take off but struggles to shift from first to second.  Once second engages your off and running and she behaves just fine.  As I have delt with this for a couple weeks it does now feel like it is slipping a bit as it struggles to shift up.  Also as you first drive the surface roads it struggles to down shift from 1st - 2nd.  That behavior continues as you come off the motor way as well.

In reviewing your comments I will go by the Jiffy Lube to make sure it just doesn't need to be topped off after driving since the service of the atf.
I apologize for using the UK forum but the lot over here seem to be mostly nuggets and I have always been steered in the correct direction from the OOF.  GM buggered the car making it a Cadillac which adds its own nightmare as most dealers never supported the car in the short time it was sold here. Parts are hard to come by although I am finding better sources and aftermarket performance upgrades are impossible to find.  Its a shame as they are a fantastic little car and a great sleeper in any trim.

I am still wondering about the solenoids and if I pull the pans should I replace all for to be proactive?  

Cheers  [smiley=beer.gif]

[ngrainqey]

if its been hammered then it could just be your torque convertor thats buggered!

[cbowditch]

Thank you for the response.  I had a local quick lube do a pump of the system and replace the atf at 80,000 miles.  It wasn't in poor condition but did need to be done.  The trany shifted beautifully for about three days than the 1st - 2nd bump came back.  Using the weather button seems to help but as I have been driving the car it is happening even when it is engaged.
Typically in the am the car backs up fine but has a wicked pause when put into drive.  Once the hard bump shift takes place it will then take off but struggles to shift from first to second.  Once second engages your off and running and she behaves just fine.  As I have delt with this for a couple weeks it does now feel like it is slipping a bit as it struggles to shift up.  Also as you first drive the surface roads it struggles to down shift from 1st - 2nd.  That behavior continues as you come off the motor way as well.

In reviewing your comments I will go by the Jiffy Lube to make sure it just doesn't need to be topped off after driving since the service of the atf.
I apologize for using the UK forum but the lot over here seem to be mostly nuggets and I have always been steered in the correct direction from the OOF.  GM buggered the car making it a Cadillac which adds its own nightmare as most dealers never supported the car in the short time it was sold here. Parts are hard to come by although I am finding better sources and aftermarket performance upgrades are impossible to find.  Its a shame as they are a fantastic little car and a great sleeper in any trim.

I am still wondering about the solenoids and if I pull the pans should I replace all for to be proactive?  

Cheers  [smiley=beer.gif]

Little   One of the biggest cars available in the UK  

Certainly very nice to drive and can be reliabale. Touch wood; I've not had to do much to mine in the 2 years that I've owned it  

[feeutfo]

maybe re check the level again ? may have dropped.

pump lube place...?? what exactly did they do? :-?