2002 malibu Transmission problem

A couple months ago I could feel my car kind of jurk a little when I was driving like it had a miss in it. So I changed the plugs thinking that might be the problem, but it was still doing it. Then I tried putting fuel injector cleaner in thinking that might help, but again it still did it. I tried running better gas, still no help. Then yesterday I got in my car and started to drive and it was really jerking a lot. When I got on the freeway it would stay in 2nd gear and wind out at 4,000 rpm and then go into 3rd. When it would kick into 3rd you can feel it jurk real hard. I know with all of the electronics now days that might be a problem. So if anyone has had this problem please let me know what it was.
Was it micanical or electrical? :banghead:

sounds to me like it could the the ever so common IAT sensor wire. If any of the 2 wires are broken in the least bit it will cause the tranny to shift like a missle impact. I had to buy a new pigtail connection and wire it in and all was good. its the 2 wire sensor after the MAF sensor on the rubber air intake tube. Check this first as its a $5 fix. Look very closesly at the 2 wires.

Thanks I will check that out. I just came back from the transmission shop and they drove my car, and right away he said it is a fuel problem. He said it is a plugged fuel filter or the fuel pump is going out. I hope it is just the wires that are bad, $5 is better then $300 for the fuel pump, but $300 is better then $3000 for a rebuilt transmission.

Ok I changed out the fuel filter and it is running a little better. Filter was clogged. The problem I have now is when I first start it up and drive, it wants to buck a little like it was before, but then after about 5-10 min it will run smooth. It looks like I will need to take it to the shop and have a dyno done on it. Unless there is any more ideas that someone might have?

its possible that your egr valve is clogged as well. on my beretta with the 3100 it would buck like crazy because the egr was clogged only when it was in open loop. after the car warmed up and it went into closed loop it ran like normal. They can figure that out by plugging in a scantool. did you check the IAT wires like i said previously?

Yes I checked the wires and they looked OK. I guess I need to go and get a book so I can find the egr valve. It sounds like what you were just talking about. After I drive it for a little bit then everything is OK, but once I turn the car off and start it back up it will start all over again. Even if it is turned off for 2 min or 20 min.

I have a 99 Malibu with the 4 cyl. engine that seems to have the same problem, change all ignition parts, map sensor, fuel filter. This all helped, but still does it some. Paid 75 bucks at tranny shop to scan and they found noting and didn't seem to think it had a problem. I've had the car for 3-1/2 years and drive it 100 miles a day I know it hasn't always shifted the way it is now. It started doing it about a year ago and I have been chasing it since then. Anyone who has any more thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jason

Well that does not sound like good news for me, but if I do get mine fixed I will let you know.

when looking at the intake plenum (where it says 3100 sfi) its the cylinder shaped "tower" connected to the plenum on the upper right hand side. the connector is connected to the very top of it. However if you take it off (2 bolts) you will have to get a new gasket.

Thanks I will check it out.

Well I took my car to the shop and had it checked out. The code that came up was for the EGR valve, just like berettaman200 said it might be. But after they put a new one on it did the same thing. So after they checked into it a little more they found that the cat. converter is pluged. So the EGR valve is getting back pressure from the pluged cat. I was getting ready to go and spend 300 bucks on a new one when someone told me that cats are uder warrinty wor 10 years. I called my local chevy dealer and it was not 10 years but 8 yr's or 80,000 miles. Before replacing it they need to look at it and make sure that is what it is and and if they find out that it is the cat I will get it replaced for free of charge. Just thought this would be some good info if anyone else has problems with there cat converter. One thing though, before taking you car down you need to call your local chevy dealer and make sure it is covered. I do not know if all cars are covered. My car is at the dealer right now, so I will let everyone know what happens.

I got the call from the dealer and they said it was the cat converter. They put a new one on for free. The car runs like a dream. Just want to say thanks to everyone that replied and tried to help me out. Maybe one day I can return the faver.

Hey no problem. Glad to help. Anything related to exaust creates havoc. Basically we both went through the same thing only your system was clogged further down the line at the cat whereas my beretta was clogged right at the egr valve. I remember thinking the same exact thing you did when my car would jolt like crazy thinking "Oh god not the tranny". Its amazing how little things can cause huge problems.

Ok, PLEASE SOMEONE GIVE ME SOME INSITE ON WHAT IS GOING ON AND/OR WHAT I CAN DO. I have a 2002 Malibu, and of course i have seen all the complaints about the car, i just fixed this past week the Intake Gasket and got a full tune-up, so he said, you know-the fuel filter, air filter, pvc valve, cleaned the throtle, spark plugs and wires and even changed out the coolant cause of oil in it from the intake leak, well as of today i went to the store with no problems,and when leaving the store i noticed when i put it into reverse it basically SLAMMED into gear, hard, and every other gear i put it into , i have a automatic-3.1, well while driving home it is actually jumping into gear harder than it should be when changing gears too, so sitting still going into gear, and shifting into gear while moving automatically it slams pretty damn hard, is it straight up the tranny or could it be something smaller that has to do with the tranny that can be fixed for way less than an actual tranny itself, please someone help me. RJ... email me at with answers if can at 2007rj@comcast.net

i havea similar problem on my 99 cavalier transmission feels likeits stuck in 2nd gear but also atthe same time it starteddoing this the ABS and BREAK light came on if anyone finds out exactly what this is are the 2 related or just ironic