I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire GT with 2.4 ltr. engine. About a week ago my trans. took a crap. Does anyone have any idea how I can find out what transmission is in this vehicle so I can get a rebuilt trans. or get a rebuild kit to rebuild this one? I heard from someone that this trans. has a different bolt pattern than the trans. in a regular Sunfire. So, I don't think I can even go to a junkyard and get a trans. from a regular Sunfire. Any help would be appreciated.
2000 Pontiac Sunfire GT Transmission trouble
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richardgriese
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EaOutlaw
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I am guessing you have a Automatic transmission.
How many miles on your car?
What are the symptoms other than it took a crap?
Have you checked the transmission fluid?
Did you check to see if you have a broken CV joint or axle?
Do you have any check engine lights on?
If you have any check engine lights has the computer been scanned?
What codes are present in the computer if any?
Please provide the entire VIN number so we can help you source a transmission and or rebuild kit.
The more information you provide when asking for help the easier it is for us to help.
Any transmission can be sourced from a salvage yard, most salvage yards have a connected network they call out to any other salvage lot with in a reasonable distance if they do not have it they will find it.
It is time consuming to install a used transmission, buying one from a salvage yard is risky.
They will give you a warranty yet if you have a problem you will have to take out the transmission and bring it back to the salvage yard you purchased it from.
This is a waste of time and any money you spent on a new fluids and filter. Provided you serviced the new to you transmission before you put it into operation.
So if you go the used route pay the extra money to have them install it.
This way if it doesn't drive or acts up, it is their responsibility to find and install another one.
Yet you may find it hard to find a Salvage yard willing to install it for you.
Rebuilding a computer controlled trans axle requires specialty tools and equipment and a very clean environment.
it may also need hard parts that do not come in kit form. everything has to be precisely measured and tested during the reassembly process, if your not in an environment where you have these tools at your disposal you will have to hope and pray that the work you did was done correctly.
If there is a problem once you have the Trans axle back in the car it may have to come back out to repair.
One piece of lint from a shop towel or grain of sand is enough to stick a valve in the valve body wasting your time and money.
How many miles on your car?
What are the symptoms other than it took a crap?
Have you checked the transmission fluid?
Did you check to see if you have a broken CV joint or axle?
Do you have any check engine lights on?
If you have any check engine lights has the computer been scanned?
What codes are present in the computer if any?
Please provide the entire VIN number so we can help you source a transmission and or rebuild kit.
The more information you provide when asking for help the easier it is for us to help.
Any transmission can be sourced from a salvage yard, most salvage yards have a connected network they call out to any other salvage lot with in a reasonable distance if they do not have it they will find it.
It is time consuming to install a used transmission, buying one from a salvage yard is risky.
They will give you a warranty yet if you have a problem you will have to take out the transmission and bring it back to the salvage yard you purchased it from.
This is a waste of time and any money you spent on a new fluids and filter. Provided you serviced the new to you transmission before you put it into operation.
So if you go the used route pay the extra money to have them install it.
This way if it doesn't drive or acts up, it is their responsibility to find and install another one.
Yet you may find it hard to find a Salvage yard willing to install it for you.
Rebuilding a computer controlled trans axle requires specialty tools and equipment and a very clean environment.
it may also need hard parts that do not come in kit form. everything has to be precisely measured and tested during the reassembly process, if your not in an environment where you have these tools at your disposal you will have to hope and pray that the work you did was done correctly.
If there is a problem once you have the Trans axle back in the car it may have to come back out to repair.
One piece of lint from a shop towel or grain of sand is enough to stick a valve in the valve body wasting your time and money.
EaOutlaw, Thanks for your response.
Yes, it is an automatic transmission. The car has 77,000 miles on it. Except for the transmission, for 16 years old, the car is in excellent shape. There are no engine lights at all. I had a friend, who is real good with cars, briefly look at it and he says it sounds like the splines on the shaft of the torque converter sheared off and went through the transmission. Basically what happened is, I was driving along and the all of a sudden the engine revved up like it popped out of gear but was still in drive. Then it caught and about a mile down the road it did the same thing but this time it started bucking. So, I pulled into a parking lot. From that point I couldn't move the car. When I start the car it makes a horrendous noise and I can't shift into any gear. I couldn't move car at all. Won't go into neutral or anything.
VIN#1G2JD12TXY7222459
Yes, it is an automatic transmission. The car has 77,000 miles on it. Except for the transmission, for 16 years old, the car is in excellent shape. There are no engine lights at all. I had a friend, who is real good with cars, briefly look at it and he says it sounds like the splines on the shaft of the torque converter sheared off and went through the transmission. Basically what happened is, I was driving along and the all of a sudden the engine revved up like it popped out of gear but was still in drive. Then it caught and about a mile down the road it did the same thing but this time it started bucking. So, I pulled into a parking lot. From that point I couldn't move the car. When I start the car it makes a horrendous noise and I can't shift into any gear. I couldn't move car at all. Won't go into neutral or anything.
VIN#1G2JD12TXY7222459
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EaOutlaw
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OK you say the transmission doesn't have 77k on it, why was the transmission replaced?
was it replaced with a used or rebuilt transmission?
If you need help, please do not leave anything out that you know about the car.
If someone did replace the transmission your friend may be correct about the converter
especially if the torque converter was not properly engaged when it was installed.
but the same could be said with the axles if they didn't get either one installed properly it would do the same thing and possibly not leak fluid all over the floor.
So if this is the case and the transmission has been out of the car double set each axle to insure they both are fully engaged.
the torque converter should be easy to check as well by removing all the nuts or bolts that attach it to the fly wheel the torque converter should be able to move back slightly if it is jammed in place and cannot be moved back at all I would say your freind is on to something.
Again provide ALL the information that you know about your car.
Doing otherwise is like going to the doctor for help telling him your foot hurts but forget to mention the 200 pound anvil that you dropped on your foot. LOL
here is a link to a rebuilt transmission for your car, http://www.carid.com/2000-pontiac-sunfire-automatic-transmission-assemblies/
If you find you need another transmission or expensive parts, why not buy a low mileage wrecked car that you can road test and strip the car of all the parts you need.
this way your car will last you a lot longer and beat the system
I will see if I can find one near where you live but I need to know where that is at.
this is just an example of what you need to look for https://www.easyexport.us/vehicle-finder/lot-34639175/2001-pontiac-sunfire-salvage-title-co-denver
was it replaced with a used or rebuilt transmission?
If you need help, please do not leave anything out that you know about the car.
If someone did replace the transmission your friend may be correct about the converter
especially if the torque converter was not properly engaged when it was installed.
but the same could be said with the axles if they didn't get either one installed properly it would do the same thing and possibly not leak fluid all over the floor.
So if this is the case and the transmission has been out of the car double set each axle to insure they both are fully engaged.
the torque converter should be easy to check as well by removing all the nuts or bolts that attach it to the fly wheel the torque converter should be able to move back slightly if it is jammed in place and cannot be moved back at all I would say your freind is on to something.
Again provide ALL the information that you know about your car.
Doing otherwise is like going to the doctor for help telling him your foot hurts but forget to mention the 200 pound anvil that you dropped on your foot. LOL
here is a link to a rebuilt transmission for your car, http://www.carid.com/2000-pontiac-sunfire-automatic-transmission-assemblies/
If you find you need another transmission or expensive parts, why not buy a low mileage wrecked car that you can road test and strip the car of all the parts you need.
this way your car will last you a lot longer and beat the system
I will see if I can find one near where you live but I need to know where that is at.
this is just an example of what you need to look for https://www.easyexport.us/vehicle-finder/lot-34639175/2001-pontiac-sunfire-salvage-title-co-denver
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EaOutlaw,
Sorry for the wording in my response. The transmission is the original transmission. It has never been replaced. I just meant that except for the current transmission issue, the car is in excellent shape. Sorry for the mix up. So, yes I will need a new trans or at least rebuild the existing trans. Thank You for your response and the links.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Sorry for the wording in my response. The transmission is the original transmission. It has never been replaced. I just meant that except for the current transmission issue, the car is in excellent shape. Sorry for the mix up. So, yes I will need a new trans or at least rebuild the existing trans. Thank You for your response and the links.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
EaOutlaw
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Ok that changes everything, at 77,000 miles I wouldn't expect the transmission to need to be replaced. does the fluid look brown and smell burnt?
The torque converter should have nothing wrong with it, I would more suspect a axle or CV joint. just put the car up in the air have someone put their foot on the brake start the car put it in gear and apply a little gas while holding the brake, watch the inner Constant velocity joints to see if either side is moving with the tire or axle not moving.
the outer joints will fail way before the inner ones. I have only seen a hand full of inner joints fail but that is normally from improper service procedures performed while working on the outer ones.
check all the basics before you take out the transmission- trans axle
I re read your last response I guess I read it wrong, Has this trans been or car been abused? neutral drops etc? the way you describe it it does sound like it self destructed.
The torque converter should have nothing wrong with it, I would more suspect a axle or CV joint. just put the car up in the air have someone put their foot on the brake start the car put it in gear and apply a little gas while holding the brake, watch the inner Constant velocity joints to see if either side is moving with the tire or axle not moving.
the outer joints will fail way before the inner ones. I have only seen a hand full of inner joints fail but that is normally from improper service procedures performed while working on the outer ones.
check all the basics before you take out the transmission- trans axle
I re read your last response I guess I read it wrong, Has this trans been or car been abused? neutral drops etc? the way you describe it it does sound like it self destructed.
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EaOutlaw
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here is some information on your transmission you should know, I was surprised to find out the fluid should be changed every 25K which might explain the early failure. also if your rebuild or replace it they recommend a secondary transmission cooler.
if you read the short article it explains all of this.
http://etereman.com/blog/general-mo...-need-to-know-about-the-gm-4t40e-transmission
if you read the short article it explains all of this.
http://etereman.com/blog/general-mo...-need-to-know-about-the-gm-4t40e-transmission
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EaOutlaw,
The car is not at my house right now its at my friends house. I will have to look at the axle and CV joints. I have not checked the trans fluid to see if its burnt. The trans. and car have not been abused. I never did a neutral drop in this car. The car is in excellent shape for a 16 year old car. That's what I cant understand as to why it failed so soon. I talked with a trans. specialist over the phone and he said these transmissions were noted for this. Who knew. One thing I did not do is change the trans. oil. I had no idea it was supposed to be done every 25,000 miles. I do appreciate all the helpful information. I will have to look into the axle and CV joints but my gut feeling says transmission. Anyway, Thanks again rrd.
The car is not at my house right now its at my friends house. I will have to look at the axle and CV joints. I have not checked the trans fluid to see if its burnt. The trans. and car have not been abused. I never did a neutral drop in this car. The car is in excellent shape for a 16 year old car. That's what I cant understand as to why it failed so soon. I talked with a trans. specialist over the phone and he said these transmissions were noted for this. Who knew. One thing I did not do is change the trans. oil. I had no idea it was supposed to be done every 25,000 miles. I do appreciate all the helpful information. I will have to look into the axle and CV joints but my gut feeling says transmission. Anyway, Thanks again rrd.
EaOutlaw
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one thing I was confused about, does the shifter move or is it stuck?
your choice of wording made it seem like the car was fine, then had a major event now the car will not move, nor will the shifter.
I got out of what you said the car cannot be put into neutral or rolled around.
Please clarify the post where you explained what happened.
your choice of wording made it seem like the car was fine, then had a major event now the car will not move, nor will the shifter.
I got out of what you said the car cannot be put into neutral or rolled around.
Please clarify the post where you explained what happened.
EaOutlaw
The shifter is not stuck. I can move shifter but it does not change gears. The car itself is stuck in gear and will not move. When I had it towed to my friends house we had to use a tow truck to lift the front end. If we would have used a roll back we would of had to drag it on because even though shifter moves car is stuck in drive.
The shifter is not stuck. I can move shifter but it does not change gears. The car itself is stuck in gear and will not move. When I had it towed to my friends house we had to use a tow truck to lift the front end. If we would have used a roll back we would of had to drag it on because even though shifter moves car is stuck in drive.
EaOutlaw
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it may just have a bad shifter cable, will the linkage move on the trans axle when you shift the gear selector? with the engine off key on and parking brake on?
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Zimgxp
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An Automatic should roll freely with the engine off.