Hello, I've been reading several posts on 'shudder'. I'll try to explain the problem I'm having. On normal acceleration up to about 50 MPH, the car is fine and shifts ok. When I approach a slight incline in 4th gear, the car sometimes starts to shudder. If I punch the accelerator, it quickly downshifts and behaves normally(no shudder). Its seems to be the worse on slight inclines. It doesn't shudder going 65 or 70 on the highway. I replaced the plugs(GM) and wires(autolite pro) about a month before this started to happen. I have swapped out/exchanged 4 of the 6 plug wires thinking it was one of those and its hasn't helped. I am going to try swapping the other two plug wires one at a time as I only have one long enough to reach the back plugs. I don't feel its the wires at this point.
Its just a regular 3.8 in a 2003 SE that just turned 100K miles. Based on what I've read on the shudder posts, I'm going to clean the MAF sensor next. I plan to also have the transmission fluid and filter replaced. Are there any easy things to check for this problem?
thanks in advance for any replies...

almost always ignition related, 99 out of 100 times. take the wires back and get them replaced. since it started after you replaced them you either have a bad one or you busted one. I would also pull all the plugs and inspect. you could have even cracked a plug.

You may also want to check your coil resistances as shown in the techinfo section.

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1683

Can you see the tack jump up and down when this happens? Like 100-300rpm?

Make sure everything on this list is taken care of, and that will be a good place to start.


Also, it COULD be a TCC issue, as it sounds like this issue is only occurring when the converter is locked up going up hills. I could very well be wrong, however.

Brand Suggestions are in the parentheses.

1987-2005 Bonneville / Buick 3800 Maintenance List

Run Seafoam through gasoline and intake every 5,000 miles. One pint of Seafoam in a half tank of fuel is a good mix. The intake is optional, but recommended.

Grease: Ball Joints, Tie Rods Every 8-10k ( Green Grease recommended)
Air Filter Every 15k (Amsoil EaA, Purolator PureONE)
PCV Valve Every 30k
MAF Sensor Element Cleaning/TB Cleaning Every 50k viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1661
Fuel Filter Every 15-25k (Purolator, AC Delco, WIX)
Spark Plugs Every 30-50k (NGK TR55 or Autolite 605) (Never Bosch)
Ignition Wires Every 30-50k (Napa Belden, AC Delco, Autolite Pro, NGK) (Never Taylor or Bosch)
Oil & Filter Every 5-6k or Every 6 months (Mobil1 or Amsoil)(Mobil1, Purolator PureONE, Amsoil EaO or WIX) (Never Fram) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=214
*Conventional Oil Every 3k/3 months(Pennzoil with a WIX (Napa), Delco or Purolator filter)
Transmission Flush Every 15-20k (Always make sure filter is changed when flushed)
Cooling System Flush Every 25-50k or 3-5 Years (Peak or Prestone Green Coolant Only) (Never Dexcool)
Oxygen Sensor Every 80-100k (30k for non-heated) (AC Delco or Denso) (Absolutely never Bosch) viewtopic.php?f=48&t=794
Accessory Belt Inspect every 15k, replace every 100k, or as needed
Cabin Air Filter Inspect and Replace every 15k, or as needed in dusty conditions. (Note: 00+ Only)
Evap Core Cleaning Whenever Needed (Note: 99 and older only) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=2432

*Special Considerations*
All 3800s, LG3, LN3, L27, L36, L26, L67 & L32, especially important on vehicles factory installed with orange Havoline Dexcool Antifreeze/Coolant: http://www.dex-cool.net/
Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement, every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your engine oil, this happening can cause irreversible lower engine damage, requiring replacement of subject engine)

Series II, Naturally Aspirated, RPO:L36:
Upper Intake Manifold Plenum Replacement, Every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your intake manifold, possible damage to occur can be hydrolock, irreversible damage to emissions devices, misfires, etc. Most times, engine replacement is required if ignored long enough.) viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1061

Series I, II, III RPO Code L67 & L32:
Change Supercharger Oil; Every 30-50k. (Intense Racing or GM Dealer) viewtopic.php?f=56&t=1690
Supercharger Belt (Series II and III only); Inspect Every 15k, Replace Every 100k or as needed.

Rev. 6/26/09 By 00Beast

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Ok, I did a few things this weekend and still have the problem.

I measured the resistance on the secondary of the coils:
1+4 = 1.768
2+5 = 1.757
3+6 = 1.745
The primaries were all .001

I cleaned the MAF sensor.
I changed the plugs again(autolite this time).
The tack does not jump at all when this occurs.

I guess I could get another set of plug wires. Rockauto has AC Delco for 27$ plus shipping.
On one hand, I am kinda reluctant to buy the Delco ones since I had such a terribly hard time
getting them off. As I stated in a previous post, I put four of the old plug wires back on and
was in the process of swapping out the 5th and 6th wire one at a time and could not get the AC Delco
wire off and had to put the Autolite ones back on.
I realize when pulling off the AC delco wires off, they had 100K on them, but in this wire
swapping process, The AC delco wires were very hard to get off.
I didn't have this problem swapping the autolites out. Are the AC delco wires known
to be this difficult to get off?
I'm not going to be working on the car for about 2 more weeks.

Are the AC Delco's that you're referring to the original plug wires? I would not re-use them. Get Beldin Premium wires from NAPA, they have a lifetime warranty, and are some of the best plug wires you can get, period.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Last night I put 8 ounces of Seafoam Trans tune in prep for changing the transmission fluid and filter today. After putting the Trans tune in the tranny and driving it for a while, I noticed the shudder was no longer there. Today, I took part of the day off and changed the transmission fluid and filter and also put in 24 ounces of Lucas transmission fix as part of the change. The problem is definitely resolved now. Someone sent me a PM the other day suggesting this and I was going to change the fluid/filter anyways.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and suggestions

Glad to hear it was fixed. Was probably a gummed up solenoid that the TransTune cleaned out.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

wow, the one time it actually was the tranny. I swear by the Lucas tranny juice. I attribute it to my original tranny going 300K.

I have the same thing, def trans related. Just waiting for mine to blow up so i can pop another unit in. Im gonna say ur PCS is starting to go, ur shudder will probably come back in about 10,000-20,000 mi. Just saying.

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I was wondering that too. Is this seafoam a perminent fix or are you just making a worn out part work a little longer by cleaning the sludge off it?

If the PCS is starting to go, then install a mild shift kit

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Current: '12 Audi S4 Quattro Prestige 6MT

Previous: '06 Audi S4 Quattro 6MT (for sale!)
'06 Chevy Cobalt SS, Stage II: 2.0L Supercharged, 16psi boost, G85 Package; Recaro Racing Seats, Limited Slip Differential, 5 Speed Manual
'00 Pontiac Bonneville SE ( 4 years, 197,000 miles)
'99 Dodge Intrepid ES (1 year, 2 engines)
'95 Chevy Lumina (2 years, 164,000 miles)

I had the EXACT same problem. Got a tune-up using AC Delco spark plugs/wires and the baby is back. Felt much better then before.

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
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Nah its not fixing the prob though, and im sure my clutches are pretty worn so ill just wait till it really goes and then throw in a rebuilt with some hop-ups.

Probly gonna get new trans from here....
http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com/New_Home_Page.html

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