I have an 03' Cavalier and the transmission is shiftting hard, the check engine light came on and the code said it was a air heat sensor in the intake. So I changed out the sensor but tranny is still shifting hard, should I change the tranny fluid car has over 80,000 miles on it. How do I change transmission fluid?
First, I would check the fluid to see if it is low.
how do I check if fluid is low has no dipstick for tranny?
I would change the fluid anyway. I have a 2003 sunfire and I'm having issues with the tranny whining.
Make sure you know for sure what kind of fluid it needs. Mine is a 5 speed manual, but it takes Dexron III ATF. I tell people I put ATF in it and they say, "no wonder it's whining you idiot!", but that's what the owner's manual and the Haynes manual both say. It whined before I changed it. That's why I changed it, but it still whines.
You take the drain plug out of the bottom of the trans, then you fill it from the top. I just got mine done at the local lube shop for $25 (plus fluid). Good luck.
Hey thanks bro. But do you think thats whats making it shift hard?
Humm, look at the TPS sensor. The PCM thinks the throttle is open more than it is it will shift more agressivly. Changing the trans fluid/filter might also help. I change mine every 40K miles, never had
a trans failure. As far as the manual fluid, my '03 5sp shifts much better after i changed the fluid with Trick Shift Dex-III full synthetic. Very smooth now.
Don
yeah check engine light still on . Where is TPS sensor?
The TPS sensor is on the throttle body. If there is a CEL on, you need to scan it and see what it thinks is causing the CEL. Autozone or Advance will scan it for free, might point you to the problem.
Don
