Hey guys, I've got a 98, Vin X with the 5R55E tranny. Yet again I'm having issues. I had it rebuilt right after I bought it (lost 1st) about 35-40k miles ago, and now it is clunking and just sounds and feels bad. When I leave out in the morning, or pretty much anytime it has set for a little bit, I put it in reverse and it torques the whole thing down on the drivers side. after that it moves fine. Shift to drive and it's fine, then i take off. In drive, it clunks into 2nd, kinda droops then surges into 3rd, and most of the time smooth into 4th and 5th. Once it's going, it's fine, then I come to a stop. When it downshifts into what I believe is 1st(at about 15-20mph) it clunks, and clunks HARD, then we begin again. Well, I checked the fluid, fluid is full and red. Couldn't figure out what it was, and i had to go home for thanksgiving, so I drove it about 120miles, straight highway. Started doing normal city driving, like i experience here with the clunking, and the thing shifted smooth as can be. Went to come back here, it started with the reverse again, then while driving back I ran into bumper to bumper traffic, about 90 miles into it, and it was clunking down again and slight clunking going up through the gears. I know this is a long winded explanation, but thats exactly what is going on. It's got me baffled. Hoping someone has experienced this as well. I really don't wanna do a rebuild, and if i can avoid it, that would be great. I'm wanting to trade it soon, get something a little more economical being that I'm a college kid with no money, and gas is reaching over 3.00 a gallon, looking to trade after the start of the year, but at this rate, I might have to sooner. So if I can get this fixed, that would be great, if not, is there any way to patch it so I can get a good trade-in for it. Thanks guys.

 

It sounds like either the rebuild was botched, or they didn't put in the update parts when they did the rebuild... I'd have a tranny tech take a look at it, do some basic checks... it might be something simple in the valve body, etc. that might not need a rebuild to fix.

 

The best thing you can do up front is change the fluid. It may be a good color, but new fluid has different viscosity qualities, and that may help or clear up your issue.

I do suspect that something was not done right when it was rebuilt. There are upgrade parts, and there is a pressure boost avle that can and should be installed.

 

Take it back to whoever rebuilt it. Even if it is out of warranty they might give you a break on this repair, a trans should last longer than that.

I had mine rebuilt last month. I went to a pricier shop because they offered a 3y/50K warranty.

 

See the weird thing is it doesnt do it all the time come to find out even when it's cold. I drove it to work the other day and it was the smoothest it's ever been, drove home, and it was the roughest, and it was similar temperatures. This thing is confusing the crap out of me, I don't have time to work on it til later this week, but when I do, I'm gonna change the fluid. The clunk also seems to be shifting from the tranny to the rear end, at times it feels like the rear end is coming out, and then the next shift feels like the tranny is dropping out.

 

ill bet the clunk is the clutch engaging late. probably due to minor crud in the solenoid valves--- dirty oil. i agree a good bet would be to change the oil an dfilter and wipe off anything lay on the valve or in the pan.