Transmission issue first to second delayed shift

NICK O

MEMBER
2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU
3.9L
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
145,000 MILES

This car is the Maxx SS model with 4t65e transmission problem. Earlier this year I replaced the heater core on the car which required disconnecting the battery. After I had it back together my wife complained about the transmission. Currently when I leave from my house the transmission will either stay in first gear or it will shift out of first and is very delayed shifting into second. I typically pull up to a stop sign within a block of my house and once I start going again everything is fairly normal. Sometimes there is still a bit of a delay in shifting into second. Shifting into third and fourth is working just fine. Any help on this is appreciated as I do not want to start swapping shift solenoids just to see if it helps.

3 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,018 POSTS

When was the transmission last serviced? The 4T65E really do not like dirty or burnt fluid.
Have a scan tool that can read the transmission controller? If so or you can get one take a look at the line pressures and the shift adapt numbers. If they are maxed out it is likely that the pressure solenoid is sticking.

What I would probably do is to drop the pan, replace the filter and clean any crud up, then refill with new fluid. Remove the battery cables and hold the two cables together for about thirty seconds. That will erase any learned transmission adaptive settings. Then start it up and go for a normal drive for twenty to thirty minutes.
See if it improves. If not you may want a transmission shop to run a pressure test and see what they say.