Question about transmission function in my Grand Prix?
Question about transmission function in my Grand Prix? Just wondering about something. I just picked up a 2000 GP GT (I know it's not an LS4 but figured you guys would be the ones to ask) for the girlfriend and I noticed on the hwy that when I step on it it only seems to downshift one gear? It just seems like it's not being kicked down enough to get the car up and hauling. Is this a tranny problem, or is it that I've been driving my Firehawk too much and maybe am expecting a little too much outta the poor girl.
Thanks for any help and I apologize if I'm posting in the wrong section here. I was thinking the "transmission" section but thought this made more sense?
Thanks for any help and I apologize if I'm posting in the wrong section here. I was thinking the "transmission" section but thought this made more sense?
about 50-60. I think maybe I'm expecting too much 
SHould these cars spin on take off (A4 tracion control off, 3800series II on streets) a lot? Or again, am I expecting too much. Iirc they run low 15s high 14s stock don't they?
SHould these cars spin on take off (A4 tracion control off, 3800series II on streets) a lot? Or again, am I expecting too much. Iirc they run low 15s high 14s stock don't they? 
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, NY
It's been years since I have driven one but I recall them being not shabby at all when it comes to nailing the pedal.First things first, what does your hot tranny fluid level read? Does the fluid look burned or dirty? Low fluid in the transaxle may cause what you are describing.
What does the shifter on that car look like? If you can manually select 3 or 2 by pulling the shifter down and she drives okay, it may just be the TCM calibration. On my GXP it rarely downshifts to 2nd on the highway unless I select it with tapshift.
Lastly, it is known that the trans axle in these cars is not up to the challenge of too much abuse or running hard. It is possible that the previous owner sold the car when they noticed the tranny starting to act funny.
To sum up, I would check the fluid level, then see how the car behaves. Try "manually" selecting the gears. If those things do not help you then it may be in your interest to get a mechanics opinion. I am not expert but hopefully this helps.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 1
if ur low enough elevation u should have enough power to spin the tires for a second or two. Did u buy the car from an old person. Maybe they never floored it so the TCM is trying to figure out what ur doing lol 50-60mph it should down shift into second only if u floor it though.
Nah bought it off my gfs brother. But he babied it since he has the gsxr1000 for the fun stuff! 
But either way I'd still like to make sure the tranny fluid at least looks clean. Thanks guys.
But either way I'd still like to make sure the tranny fluid at least looks clean. Thanks guys. Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Getting a tune will get rid of this dead spot...I am so slow in second. I almost got pulled by a vw jetta...bad day. Can I get a programmer to tune this out(diablo predator), if so i'm getting one right now!
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
In my GXP I notice the same thing (annoying as hell) I miss a manual so much because of this. It's like robbing you of 80HP because it doesn't downshift two gears.
My buddy had a 1998 Grand Prix ten years ago and I remember it always shifted to the proper gear when you floored it (I think they used to call it the passing gear if you floored it really fast) I guess they wanted to keep warranty problems from happening so they tuned the tranny to shift WAY LESS aggresively.
My buddy had a 1998 Grand Prix ten years ago and I remember it always shifted to the proper gear when you floored it (I think they used to call it the passing gear if you floored it really fast) I guess they wanted to keep warranty problems from happening so they tuned the tranny to shift WAY LESS aggresively.
In my GXP I notice the same thing (annoying as hell) I miss a manual so much because of this. It's like robbing you of 80HP because it doesn't downshift two gears.
My buddy had a 1998 Grand Prix ten years ago and I remember it always shifted to the proper gear when you floored it (I think they used to call it the passing gear if you floored it really fast) I guess they wanted to keep warranty problems from happening so they tuned the tranny to shift WAY LESS aggresively.
My buddy had a 1998 Grand Prix ten years ago and I remember it always shifted to the proper gear when you floored it (I think they used to call it the passing gear if you floored it really fast) I guess they wanted to keep warranty problems from happening so they tuned the tranny to shift WAY LESS aggresively.
