Buick Transmission Troubles...

Hello all,

I've got a 91 Buick LeSabre Limited 3.8 V6 that has a 4T60-E (or a 4T65-E) tranny. All of the sudden I lost all forward gears (1,2,3,D,OD). Reverse still works with full pull. I've checked the fluid level and it is OK (No burnt smell, looks fine; no black/gray residue in the fluid after rubbing it between my fingers). I've checked the cable linkage and the tranny switch lever has full motion. The car had been slightly sluggish when switching into drive from reverse for a few weeks. Was able to get to full speed (50+) the day it died. It seemed to "slip" into neutral when accelerating around a corner and hasn't had forward gears since. There was no noise; no hesitation when this occurred. Other than a full rebuild (i.e. repair shop) is there anything else that I should check? And if it requires a rebuild what should that cost?
(ballpark figure?)


Thanks for any feedback,
-Nemesis][

Welcome to AF, it has to come out for repairs, no other way here.

Your tranny is likely shot, but I can't say for sure. Anyhow, as to your cost question, in no way would it be economically feasible to repair, rebuild, or replace this transmission unless you could do the work yourself. If not, replacing the car is the only reasonable option. The cost to take it to a shop to fix would probably be in the $2,000 range. This car is worth less than $1,000. Replacing the car with an identical car would be better than fixing it money-wise.

Now, if you can do the work yourself you can do a few things:

1. Get a tranny from a pick and pull. I did this for one of my cars and the tranny cost $60. The negative is that you don't know the condition of the tranny and even with a warranty you'd still have to uninstall, find another at the yard and then reinstall. It is risky.

2. Get a rebuilt tranny off ebay from a tranny rebuild school. I've seen them for around $300 before.

3. Get a rebuilt tranny and put it in yourself. I've seen them for as little as $700 and up to about $1900. (For your car I can't see how this would be a good option as so many others systems the car has either already have or will break down.)

A caveat: there are many varieties of the 4T60E (you do not have the 4T65E for sure as it was introduced in 1997) and they are not mix and match, mostly due to two things: the gear ratio and the wire harnesses (the inside part, not the look of the physical connection.) If the one you get matches yours in these two areas you are generally good to go.

Lastly, it would be wise to replace your torque converter if any repair or replacement takes place.

Hi I have a 1995 Buick LeSabre limited and started having tranny trouble after picking it up from the shop and having the water pump replaced,(too cold to do it myself in Iowa). I brought it home through town so I didn't notice anything wrong until I was heading out this morning on the highway, it will go into 1rst no problem but suddenly won't shift into the upper gears. I haven't had any trouble until now and was wondering if there is a modulator or something that could be causing this.

Just a quick update:

Looks like I lost the pump, and it would be $1950 to get it replaced (rebuilt).

Thanks for replying.

[']Just a quick update:

Looks like I lost the pump, and it would be $1950 to get it replaced (rebuilt).

Thanks for replying.


$1950 to replace a water pump?

You may want to change mechanics.

I had my water pump replaced last summer and it only costed me someewhere between $350 & $400.

$1950 to replace a water pump?
I think he is talking about the transmission pump!:rolleyes:

I think he is talking about the transmission pump!:rolleyes:


Oh, Ok.....I was reading about him replacing the water pump earlier in the thread and linked it together. My bad:evillol:

I've got a 91 Buick LeSabre Limited 3.8 V6 that has a 4T60-E (or a 4T65-E) tranny.

Just to clarify and cut down on confusion for future viewers technically you do not have either one of those autotransaxles. You should have the GM RPO Code ME9 which is the THM440-T4 aka or loosely dubbed the 4T60 not the 4T60-E which is GM RPO code M13. Definitely not the 4T65E, GM RPO code MN3, M15 or MN7. :grinno:

The major difference between the 4T65E fully electronic and 4T60-E is in a 4T65E there is a pressure control solenoid (PCS) which via the PCM module controls line pressure. On the 4T60-E there is a vacuum modulator that helps controls line pressure which the 4T65E does not have. Plus there are internal hardware differences too numerous to mention.