Hard shifting

Tiny
SLIMCUTE
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 51,000 MILES
Hello. When my car switches gears, there is a hard thrust/jerk in which I can feel and hear when doing so. It is more obvious when switching from first into second. It does not do it all the time, just on occasion. Especially when commuting to work in the stop and go traffic. However, when I turn the car off for a minute or so, the thrusting/jerking stops. Also, no dashboard lights come on to detect a problem. Do you know the reason for this?

Thanks!
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 AT 10:18 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,014 POSTS
Has the trans been serviced reciently? Is the ATF full?
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
ADAMD1980
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  • 7 POSTS
Ive just recently started having the same kinda of problem did u ever find our what was causing it. Im going to change the filter and oil myself to see if that helps
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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That was a suggestion. It could also be a bad shift solenoid. Has the check engine light come on?
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
ADAMD1980
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
The check engine light has come on a few times then gone out. It normally will come on when the car will go into final gear and thats were it seems to slam the hardest
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,014 POSTS
Take the car to a parts store and have them scan the computer for codes. Chances are the code will identify the sensor that is bad. Also, most stores will do it for free.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
ADAMD1980
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Cool thanks for the advice im heading towards autozone today if u ever need advice on computers im the man for that lol
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,014 POSTS
Let me know what you find. And I'll remember the computer thing. Mine drives me nuts!
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
ADAMD1980
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Code P7042 BBTCC stuck on
BBTCC commanded off by the ECM TCC slip detected
BB after off command

then it gives some things to check for. I spoke with the manager of a autozone and he called a friend of his and advised me to take it to a AAMCO for service and not to change the filter and oil myself something to the lines that over 100000 needs something special done to it.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,014 POSTS
Let me know what you find.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
ADAMD1980
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I took it down to a tranny mechanic local here and he said that it is most likely the valve body or selinoid he said he could replace those and could fix the problem. He recommended doing a small rebuild which would replace those parts and some others. He did say that there was still a chance that it was the torque converter and that might need to be replaced also all in all he said anywhere from 7/800 up to 1300 im guessing that seems fair I know the tranny is a side mount FWD and would need to be droped to do the replacment.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,014 POSTS
Let me know what happens.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
ADAMD1980
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Just go back from seeing a tranny mechanic we went for a test drive to see if it would do and of course it did. The guy said that the issue seems to be with the valve body and selinoid. He said that there was also a chance that it was the torque converter also. He said he believed that it was the valve body bc of known issues with that year. He said that the error code was due to the torque converter being electronics and the valve body being mechanical so the computer system wont pick it up. He said he could do a light rebuild which would replace the valve body and also allow him to see the torque converter to see if it was bad. He said this would start at around 895 he said he could replace just the valve body without the rebuild for around 6-7 but if it was the torque converter I would be charged atleast another 400 in labor no including the part to drop the tranny again to change the torque converter (the guy I spoke with at AAMCO said that he could do it for 6. He also seemed to think it was the valve body also by what I told him over the phone) all in all I think I know what needs to get done could use your input to see if you agree with pricing and solution again cars are not my thing if it was a computer it would be a diffrent story thanks again
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Actually if they are replacing the converter and the valvebody for around 6, that isn't a bad price. In fact, most of that is part pricing and not labor.

IF they are confident, I would go with it. Make sure you get a warranty, and rather than paying double labor, have the converter replaced at the same time as long as they are willing to assure you the problem will be fixed.
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
BOGAN59
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I have a 2004 Impala and was having same problem. No mechanic ever found problem as no error codes were present. Have posted and donated for a response with my problem. Now have spent over $4000 on it having ignition switch, BCM contol cluster, and new transmission (with 100,000 mile warranty). Car started shifting hard again predominently with multiple stop and goes and sometimes has trouble from dead stop going into first.

Don't intend to interfere with your post, but would be extremely interested in exactly what your mechanic did to fix your problem, so please post specifics back if it works as I and I'm sure others would be very greatful!
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
BILLTHECAT
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hard shifts from reverse to drive, traction control light on for several sec, skipped in stop and go traffic. 168,000 on vehicle, started skipping at 157,000. I am only a novice here so the result was that the mechanic, at the dealership I deal with showed me a plate and some bearings, taken off the tranny, also some filings in the filter. $1,600.00 later problem solved. Cannot solve my over heating problem though(annother posting)
Thanx
scrappy
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
Excellent addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 AT 4:23 PM

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