Hi everybody.
I have a problem and need some help. I have a 2001 Chevrolet Lumina with a 4T65E Transmission. It has 134 K miles. Runs good no other problems,well kept. I am having a transmission problem. After driving a few minutes and while idling it won’t go into any of the gears and just before it stops while idling it starts to make a winding sound. Then the engine just revs up when you step on the gas pedal and the car doesn’t move. I turned off the ignition and restarted it and it runs OK so I drove it straight home which was less then a mile. I just changed the transmission fluid and filter the weekend before. This is my wife’s car and she tells me that it did that to her a couple a times a while back. I do all of my own repair work. I have rebuilt a couple of turbo hydromantic transmissions before, but that was better then 15 years ago. This one is electronically controlled and front wheel drive. I don’t seem to be able to find any trouble shooting and or repair manuals on this car or transmission other then the Haynes Repair manual. I may have to go to the dealer and purchase the service manual for this vehicle, which is not a problem. I have done this before. When I changed the fluid I checked to see if it was ok as I always do. It was a little dark but not burnt. In the bottom of the pan there was some black residue what looked like graphite, but no metal or copper in the pan I also checked the magnet for metal there was none. So the transmission is not burnt. I have the procedures to remove the transmission in my Haynes repair manual, but I want to trouble shoot it first and see what the problem is and if I can repair it myself. I don’t trust repair shops they rep you off. I have friends that worked of dealers and have heard some real stories. I also had a bad experience with a transmission shop when I was a lot younger where they where going to rip me off by stating that I had a transmission that must be rebuilt. All that was wrong was the shift linkage needed to be adjusted correctly. I would rather do things my self and know that it was done right.
Question can I purchase a hand held transmission code scanner similar to the OBD2 scanner for this car and see if there are any codes. Like at PEP Boys. Then where would I hook up to read the transmission codes. I don’t have any trouble light codes on the dash that indicates any transmission codes. The only code I had was for low radiator water which wasn’t very low so I erased the code with the OBD2 scanner and added 50/50 to the reservoir.

Any help is greatly appreciated Thanks.

A regular no trans function scanner will not access the trans info you want, but, based on your description of the problem, assuming the fluid is full and the filter seal is not pulling in air, the unit needs internal repair.

I was checking out auto xray scanners i believe 6000 this is capable to give vehicle specific codes for gm obdII. go to web site and call for clarifaction on transmission codes. sounds like you have some electrical problems maybe wiring/connector issues as your fluid looked normal....

Search for an ATSG manual for your transmission. They are about $15.