Trans shutters at shift points

Clubbs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Location
Blounts Creek
With diesel prices I've been commuting in my wife's old Dodge journey. 170k miles. Trans is beginning to shutter in the 4 to 5 and 5 to 6 shift. I'm assuming the converter is locked in these gears and unlocks for the shift and it's not locking as it should.

Changed the fluid and filter for the first time and the usual gray dust was present. No change in shudder. About to change the solenoid pack as it's a couple hundred bucks, but trying to diagnose if that could be the problem.

Any ideas?
 
It sounds like the filter was already getting clogged which would mean the line pressure was not maintained high enough to properly lock the torque converter clutch or other clutches. That starts excessive wear on the clutches from slippage so it will continue to go downhill from here. I had a 1500 Silverado suffer that fate after the dealer repeatedly ignored my service requests to change the transmission filter (fleet vehicle) and by about 145k it started showing those same symptoms. I ended up changing the filter myself, there was a bunch of crap in it, put new fluid in it, and used the tow/haul function to keep the computer from locking the torque converter clutch. Limped it another 15k or so before it was turned in for a replacement vehicle. Clearly a Journey does not have a tow/haul function but maybe there is a way to disable the lockup clutch to see if that improves the driveability.
 
Yes definitely heard some pump whine before changing the filter, hence the filter change.

So it's probably cooked... I'll see if the friction modifiers will increase the chance of survival. And not waste money on solenoids
 
Clubbs said:
Yes definitely heard some pump whine before changing the filter, hence the filter change.

So it's probably cooked... I'll see if the friction modifiers will increase the chance of survival. And not waste money on solenoids
Click to expand...
Same symptoms in my 17 Silverado. I’d give the friction modifier a shot..wouldn’t spend the money on solenoids.
 
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