I just bought my '02 3.8 in july and the tranny slips when I go from a dead stop to hard acceleration (not flooring it, just hard accel). It only does it about once a day and I'm not even sure if "slipping" is the correct term. My RPMs don't skyrocket like a normal "slip" but the car does kinda freeze like it has to think about when to move, then a second or two later it kicks in. Aside from that, it shifts fine and has no problems. I checked the fluid and it's burnt really bad, almost a clear color. A mechanic told me NOT to flush/change the fluid or it will seize and the tranny will just crash right then and there.

I really don't want to spend an ungodly amount on a new tranny for a v6, I'd rather find a good deal on a 5.7 with a tranny. BUT, that brings me to my question, anyone know if there is truth to the seizing after flush comment? Anyone have this happen to them?

I used that seafoam transmission treatment and it seems to have served is purpose.

 

I nevr heard of the tranny seizing because of a fluid change. On high milege units changing fluid can dislodge gunk and make things worse, but at other times a change of fluid can help. Being that the transmission is already bad I would change the fluid and filter & see if it helps. Use plain GM Delco DEXTRON III.

 

thanks

 

Hate to tell you this but,.... we had a red 02' Z28 that had two rear-ends and one transmission put in within a year of purchasing. The car was not driven hard--only occasionally but apparently it was built on a Friday because the thing was a lemon. I loved that car but had to trade it in( another bowtie of course-Silverado). It turns out there was a broke sprag and it caused the whole thing to lock up while I was pulling out into traffic. It threw me foward in my seat and sent the RPM's up. I was able to put it in a lower gear and make it to a gas station. I hope yours doesn't do the same.

Chris

 

i know its an old thread but you never change out trany fluid when you have trany slippage problems... i used to work at speedee and i couldn't tell you how many people used to complain about trany failure and flushing the fluid... it got to the point where we stopped doing trany flushes on cars with over 100k miles or that haven't been changed regularly