Does anyone know if a failing trans pressure control solenoid will turn the check engine light on? I'm experiencing the symptoms but have no record that the CEL was ever tripped. Im hoping its just a problem with the PCS and nothing else. :banghead:

Hard shifts, trans whining, the common symptoms, code 1811 will eventually pop up, if that is the problem, in the future post year and engine. 2001 Monte ?

Yeah it's a 2001 SS so it has the 4T65 trans. I changed the fluid/filter once but it smells like it's burned up again. When I changed the fluid the first time it didn't really look too bad, nothing in the pan; however, it did smell burned up. The car has 169,000 miles so I really hope it's the solenoid and nothing else. The problem is very random which leads me to believe it is a problem with the PCS.

Check my previous thread at http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=712573 on this issue. There are a few others here as well if you search. Mine has not turned the light on yet and I even scanned it while it was happening and there were no codes. I don't drive the car much and it hasn't happened to me in a while anyways because it's cold now, so I never figured out if that was definitely the problem but I am 90% sure it is. It started happening about 2 weeks after I got my fluid flushed at 95k miles.

Unless you know someone who does trans work or take it to the dealer you will likely be told your transmission can be entirely replaced for $1800 and that the PCS couldn't possibly be it (as many people have done here in Detroit when I had them look at mine). Ask questions, let them lie and then laugh and leave with your business.

Aaron

Thanks for the reply. I had a transmission shop put it on their scanner (cost me $35 just for that!). They want $150 to drain the fluid. cut open the filter and inspect it to pinpoint the problem. I checked the fluid in the filter and pan last time I changed it and there wasn't a single trace of any metal shavings or any other foul play. They told me something about the transmission slipping thats why it goes to full pressure like that. There is absolutely no noticeable slipping at all! The problem is so inconsistent that there's no way I would believe it to be a mechanical failure. It would have to be electronic.