Tranny drain and refill, now 1-2 hesitation

**kain** · 01-19-2010, 06:46 AM

Performed a tranny drain and refill this weekend on my 01 (using Mobil 3309); fluid in there was dark, there were no metal pieces on the drain bolt magnet other than a film of metallic slurry that was the consistency of silt which I assumed to be from normal wear and tear.

Prior to the drain and refill the only shift issues I saw were rough shift from 2-3 when the engine was cold. I attribute that mostly the noticable delayed shift sequence from 1-2 and 2-3 when the engine coolant temperature is low.

2 days after the work was done and I am noticing slight hesitation in the 1-2 shift. I don't get a flare (no RPM rev), just a 1/4-1/2 second delay between shifting out of 1st and into 2nd. Everything else is shifting fine. I did check the fluid level to make sure it is good.

Is this the symptom of a failing valve body? Can this have anything to do with adaptations or does that not apply on a drain and refill? Did I do more bad than good?

**JRL** · 01-19-2010, 07:20 AM

I don't know how many times I have to say this.....
When the fluid is changed you really need to reset the adaptions and do a drive cycle.
The tranny is now "different" with new fluid and needs to learn all over again

**kain** · 01-19-2010, 07:59 AM

Will do.

Two dealers I talked to so far said that they will plug in the computer, make sure all the software is current and then will reset the adaptations. I asked about the proper drive sequence that needs to be performed while the car is in adaptation mode and both dealers told me they do not perform the drive sequence. So my question is if they don't do the drive sequence what are they doing to reset the adaptations? I know that the tranny is constantly learning but what happens if that drive sequence is not performed? 1 dealer told me it could take up to 1000 miles for the tranny to be fully adapted, the 2nd told me it could be 350 miles.

Either way at this point I would feel more comfortable if they would just put the car into adaptation mode and I will take it from them and perform the drive sequence myself; at least I know it will be done right.

**billr99** · 01-19-2010, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by JRL

I don't know how many times I have to say this.....

Well you know, if you didn't have the frickin' attitude more people might listen and remember. Jeez man, getting old doesn't give you a god-given right to be a prick.

Another old guy,

Bill

**sjonnie** · 01-19-2010, 10:13 AM

I did the same thing as you this weekend, dumped out the old fluid, flushed with 3309, installed a Magnafine filter. Now tranny shifts okay, but it will take a little learning, it has the same 2-3 bump that you describe, most notable when cold due to the higher rpm. I have the B4 servo kit, I'll let you know if that makes a difference. I wouldn't concern yourself about the adaptations, if you reset them the TCM has to relearn everything, and while faster in adaptation mode, it will still need to relearn your driving style which will take a few hundred miles? And IMHO, unless you totally neglected it, new fluid doesn't make that big a difference.

**billr99** · 01-19-2010, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by sjonnie

I did the same thing as you this weekend, dumped out the old fluid, flushed with 3309, installed a Magnafine filter. Now tranny shifts okay, but it will take a little learning, it has the same 2-3 bump that you describe, most notable when cold due to the higher rpm. I have the B4 servo kit, I'll let you know if that makes a difference. I wouldn't concern yourself about the adaptations, if you reset them the TCM has to relearn everything, and while faster in adaptation mode, it will still need to relearn your driving style which will take a few hundred miles? And IMHO, unless you totally neglected it, new fluid doesn't make that big a difference.

Keep in mind that the AW software is setup to pull higher revs before shifting when its cold (emissions related function). Most autos I've ever driven give you a bit heavier shift when the revs are high and all the fluids are cold. May account for the harshness more than any kind of hardware or software problem.

Cheers,

Bill

**kain** · 01-19-2010, 12:29 PM

Yea I always understood why I had the bump from 2-3 when cold, and it always went away once everything was warm. It is the 1-2 hesitation that is the issue now.

I am getting the adaptations reset first thing in the AM and then will perform the necessary drive cycle when leaving the dealer. Wish me luck.

**PierreC** · 01-19-2010, 01:05 PM

I had "rescued" my '02 tranny thanks to this forum at around 112.000km (70.000 miles) by doing a Gibbons-method flush with T-IV ... At the time I already had quotations for a "auto specialist" rebuild, dealer tranny replacement etc. and had decided that the flush was such a small cost compared to tranny replacement that it was worth a try. I subsequently also installed a Magnefine filter.

To get straight to the point: I did not do the reset (as JRL recommends) and it took almost 5.000 km (3.000 miles) before the tranny shifted smoothly. The tranny fluid was horribly dirty but not burnt, so I suspect there was no damage done to the tranny - it was just that the tranny fluid no longer did its proper job. Why it took so long to "normalise" I did not understand, but I suspect now that it was due to the long relearning cycle?

So my advice - don't fret. Just drive it and it will most likely improve

.

PS About 25.000 miles after the tranny flush it is still shifting perfectly. I had a dealer situation - documented elsewhere in this forum - but that is another story and fortunately no damage was done. Next flush - with T-IV - coming up in about 20.000 miles! Oh, and I will replace the Magnefine ...

**JRL** · 01-19-2010, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by kain

Will do.

I asked about the proper drive sequence that needs to be performed while the car is in adaptation mode and both dealers told me they do not perform the drive sequence.
.

Tell them tough sh*t and to READ THEIR OWN MANUALS.
It states right there that the drive cycle is IMPORTANT.

If you drive away "normally" it may or may not learn properly.
The drive cycle requires agonizingly slow driving (VERY low RPM) for about 15 minutes.
...and yes it can take up to 400-500 miles to learn, 1500 mi. is a stretch here!

**JayPinNC** · 02-01-2010, 08:22 PM

Is it just me or do the phrases "Gibbons Method" and "Drive Cycle/Reset the Adaptions" seem mutually exclusive in these threads?

Maybe I'm missing what MY is being talked about in the specific threads - I don't know.

If I have a MY01 and change the fluid via the Gibbons Method, where does resetting the adaptions and doing a drive cycle fit in? The Gibbons method doesn't mention these things at all. It's not like I'm in the dealer's parking lot with a bucket and a case of 3309 ready to have them re-set adaptions and do a drive cycle after I'm done.

Are there two schools of thought on post-Gibbons Method transmission care?

If the weather calls for a s**t storm, let me know and I'll 86 this and start a new thread with it.