PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

If it is a trans problem, you will probably have trans codes that can only be read by a GM TechII or other indepth scanner, such as a snap-on unit or the like. A good shop should be able to check that out for you. Id start there. They should see if you O2 is working properly with a scanner as well.

SLEking wrote: for these cars only having 260 horsepower or so their seems to be a lot of trans problems. you wouldnt think the amount of horsepower and torque on these cars would hurt the transmission so significantly.

If anything it's the high torque that these engines produce that could causing some tranny issues. In my opinion the trans on 2000+ are pretty solid. I heard (around here anyway) of only a few people having complete rebuilds and I can imagine that in some cases out there that the problem may have only been a PCS or TCC issue.

BTW bdqJoe, aside from my torn motor mount, the only other times I experienced "chugging" was with a bad fuel injector; note however my chugging was during any form of acceleration and individual injector and cyl misfire codes were thrown in both instances. In the first instance I had the bad injector replaced with immediate success, and in the second chugging instance a few weeks ago I decided to add some Seafoam to my fuel and the chugging went away almost immediately. Just throwing that out there.

SLEking wrote:for these cars only having 260 horsepower or so their seems to be a lot of trans problems. you wouldnt think the amount of horsepower and torque on these cars would hurt the transmission so significantly.

Only have 240hp

Most of the trans problems are just design flaws, not power issues. The broken part issues come in once you're well over 350 ft/lbs on a stock trans.

Ok, I took the car in yesterday, but they were pretty busy and wanted a few hours with the car. Didnt wanna wait in the waiting room that long, so I made an appointment. Dropped it off this morning at 11am. Around 6pm I was getting worried. Was thing they were doing a crapload of work to the car (had some questions about noises coming from under the front end, especially when turning left, or backing out/in of the driveway etc), so I told them to look it all over.

I called at 6pm wondering what was up, and the lady was shocked that the manager who took the car for a test drive didnt call back. Apparently he forgot to call back. Good thing I got in touch or I would have had to wait until tomorrow since they close at 7. Anyway she was very sorry about all that, and told me they cleaned the throttle body. Took it for a test drive and the manager said it drove really really nicely. She said I have 10 pounds of boost now, so I suppose I lost some boost for some reason. Guess that TB really needed a good clean.

I took the car home and on the way I still ran into the surging issue, but the car does seem to run better, more powerful. Acceleration from dead stops is a lot quicker it seems, forgot how much this car can pull. They also said everything was nice and tight in the front end, and its simply age of the car that explains the noises (note: the intermediate shaft clunk was fixed months ago). The particular noise I get has been with the car ever since I got it really, so whatever.

Because they forgot to call me, they waived all charges. I paid nothing, so that was nice. Wish the surging was gone, but I just mash the gas pedal a bit, or drop her into 3rd and it goes away. And like I said it can pull pretty *dang* nicely now, sounds great when I hear the SC kick in.

I might take it to a different mechanic to get another opinion. My sister knows a mechanic she says she trusts with her car, although she lives about 2 hours from me. I do think getting new motor mounts/rear trans mount would be a good idea. Doubt it would fix the surging, but when I changed the front trans mount myself last month it was torn up, so I can only imagine what the other mounts are. That, and I will be replacing those stupid regulators in the back windows (both are shot). But as long as the car doesnt stall or leave me stranded somewhere, I'll just put up with the surging till I get a new car next year.

I just read through this whole thread. You have a surge. 99% of the time, it's ignition related. You have already replaced the plugs and wires (with what)?

You should finish testing the coils, and if they test ok, you should replace the ICM, its the only other component in the ignition system.

Your MAF is fine, its a junk yard part because it has yellow paint pen on it, thats how they determine whether its their part or not when you return it.

Just be aware that your coils can test fine and be bad. Mine did...