Hard Shifting

[scubapirate13]

So I've had my car (99 camaro) for three years and it runs great. That is until I drive at 70 plus on the freeway for more than an hour. As soon as I'm off the freeway and doing the stop/go thing the shifting from 1st to 2nd is hard. I mean it really jolts you. After I turn off the car for 30 min it stops. This is the only time it happens but for my job I have to make this drive once a week. Any thoughts?

[vanbibber]

Re: Hard Shifting

is the car throwing any codes?

[97rs4life]

Re: Hard Shifting

sounds like you need to get a valvebody upgrade. The sonnax kit is a good one. My brother's 99 just got it replaced after his 1-2 shift was doing the same thing as you when he went on long trips. Eventually he threw the p1870 code or whatever it is. This is a common problem with the 4l60e trans. Do some searches in the drivetrain section for a ton of info on the sonnax kit and the vavlebody upgrade

Oh yea and it costs around $300 to get the upgrade, you don't need your whole trans rebuilt which is nice

[BobbyZ72]

Re: Hard Shifting

I had a 99 and it had EXACTLY the same problem. I sold it about 2 years ago. Every day something on that car would act up and need repair, i sold it before i ever fixed the transmission problem. Every one told me it needed some kind of a larger valve.

[scubapirate13]

Re: Hard Shifting

Thanks for the info. No codes yet but I'll look into the sonnex kit. It is a relief that I don't need to fork out $1500 for a new tranny

[slow6]

Re: Hard Shifting

used trannys go for as low as $75

[scubapirate13]

Re: Hard Shifting

Yeah but, A:where to find them and B:How much to restore them. Thanks for the heads up though

[T-Mill]

Re: Hard Shifting

What's the fluid look like, My g/f just had a similar problem in her sebring, and her fluid was shot, once the tranny was warmed up, because the fluid was so broken down, it would shift hard and whine a little.