Why is my 1989 Park Ave. Shaking, jerking, when I accelerate

REDBUICK

MEMBER
1989 BUICK PARK AVENUE

I have a hand me down automatic transmission 1989 Buick Park Ave. That was very well maintained even though it has over 500,000 miles on it. The transmission has, since I have owned it, every now and then "kicked" into gear, but now as I gently depress the accelerator, the car loses power and shakes as if it were driving over a deeply grated roadbed. If I press harder, it will chug and jerk but then usually even out. If I floor it, it vibrates as well. This all seems to happen mostly while going up inclines, but not exclusively. The “grating vibration” is very fast and evenly spaced. If that makes any sense. Like a drum roll. The car shakes as if it were going to fall apart. Any help? It is my only mode of transportation!
THANKS!
Mark

2 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Sounds like clutches are loosin it. Did you say 500,000 mi on a GM?

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Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 AT 11:13 AM

REDBUICK

MEMBER
1 POST

Thanks for responding. I know 500,000 miles on a GM sounds crazy, but my brother in law (a great shade tree) kept it up for his kids. They all had a turn at it and then he "sold" it to me for a buck. I don't know a thing about working on cars and it is my only source of transportation presently. My bro in law doesn't live nearby and I was wondering if it was fixable and just how expensive it would be to take to someone. It has gotten worse and I really don't know what direction to take. On top of it all, it looks like I am going to be taking a job cross country and I'm afraid I wouldn't make it. Could bad transmission fluid cause anything like this?