Hello Mr. Kilmer.
Long (long, long) time listener, first time caller. Hope all is well with you.
My father’s work van, a 2008 Express v8/4.8 with 123k miles, just threw a new trick at us today. At highway speeds (50/60 mph), a few seconds after entering into limp mode, the car really loudly and violently jerked/kicked/clanked for about 20/30 seconds, once every 4-5 seconds - my father described it as feeling like someone rear ended him, then again a few seconds later. The (obviously automatic) transmission was crying to change up a gear but not doing so. This 20/30 second “clank fest” repeated once again a few hours later before he made it home. Limp mode also seemingly came and went a few times during today’s driving (not only at the same time as the clanking).
We’ve owned the car since new and had the transmission rebuilt about 4/5 years and 40-50k miles ago. As further background, the car had other issues/codes a few weeks ago that had me change out his brake control module, an upstream O2 sensor and one of the speed sensors on the transmission - those codes all went away.
After today’s experience experience, I ran the codes and got the following:
“3 confirmed Codes” as follows: 1) P0700 Transmission Control System (MIL Request); (2) P0973 Shift Solenoid "A" Control Circuit Low; (3) P0976 Shift Solenoid "B" Control Circuit Low
“3 Pending Codes” as follows: (1) P0700 Transmission Control System (MIL Request); (2) P0973 Shift Solenoid "A" Control Circuit Low; (3) P0976 Shift Solenoid "B" Control Circuit Low
And “6 Transmission Control Module Codes” as follows: (1) P0711 Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance; (2) P0713 Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit High; (3) P0961 Pressure Control Solenoid "A" Control Circuit Range/Performance; (4) P0973 Shift Solenoid "A" Control Circuit Low; (5) P0976 Shift Solenoid "B" Control Circuit Low; (6) P2764 Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Solenoid Control Circuit Low
My code reader (Blue Driver) suggests possibly changing a shift solenoid or the tranny’s fluid temp sensor. They seem relatively cheap, so should I change these out one at a time and see what happens or is there something else I should do?
(Parenthetically, I’m an attorney who grew up wrenching on our cars with my father and continue to do so with him and my son on some of the issues our cars throw at us. Know that there’s an attorney out in CA that has your videos playing in the background of his morning showers. Before I leave, I also have a mustang and a wrangler that you are welcome to drive and critique if you’re ever in the Los Angeles area.)
Rock on Mr. Kilmer!
had the transmission rebuilt about 4/5 years and 40-50k miles ago.
not surprising. Rebuilds rarely last. If you plan to own a vehicle a while, It's always better to get a whole new fully remanufactured, dyno tested, and guaranteed transmission from a major supplier.
Why did you have it rebuilt in the first place?
You can check the basics. Make sure the fluid is up full. Put a good dollop of it on some white paper and look closely at it. If it's pretty dark then the transmission is not happy. Drop the pan and inspect the inside. If it's pretty sludgy then it's done. Sometimes fluid gets into the connectors and makes problems. That's about all you can do without removing it. A transmission shop could run some diagnostics for you.
The problem with rebuilds is they only change a few parts that absolutely need it. Meanwhile all the rest of them cold be on the verge of failure. It's just a band-aid solution to get a few more miles out of it, and not many people know to do the job properly. It's very technical.
I've never heard of a temperature sensor going bad.
You definitely shouldn't be driving it in this state. It's basically eating itself up inside and will eventually leave your stranded.
Understood. Who would be a good source for a remanufactured trans? I see that autozone has them remanned from “NuTech,” “National Powertrain” and Moveras; are they any good?
Who would be a good source
In order for the trans and labour to be guaranteed, it has to be installed by a professional. They will source and install the transmission for you. So you need to find a reputable, professional transmission shop near you.