1997 chevy venture trans problem

[dicks vehicle]

Have 200,000 miles and van is pretty reliable except for the fact that it won't go anywhere when I put it into drive until the engine gets warmed up. If I put it directly into low or drive 1 it will eventually go into gear alittle faster. I've changed the filter and oil no help ANY IDEAS
DICK

[Captain Morgan]

sounds like something is either sticking in the valvebody or its a weird line pressure issue. Im not sure if its a 4T65E trans in that thing or not, but 200,000 miles is quite a bit, its probably time to get it checked out and rebuilt by your local Lee Myles or Aamco transmission shop.

If you just want to "try" something first, stop by your local NAPA autoparts store (perhaps PepBoys or Autozone would carry it too) and buy a $12 bottle or Red LubeGuard.

Shake it up well, dump it into the trans once its warmed up and go drive it around for a while, see if anything changes or improves over the next few days.

[Huney]

I cut and pasted this from another forum: "i am looking at a used venture, but have heard of certain years that have transmission problems, is there any truth to this? It is my understanding that up until 2003, the Venture's 4T65E had the Delphi PCS that was notorious for early failure due to a soft armature riding in a hardened steel bearing. Typically this would cause slips, shudders, and harsh engagements, all of which would eventually require a rebuild if the defective part were not replaced soon enough. Also, some years (I don't know which) had a problem with a shell or something (similar to the 4L60E reaction sun gear shell) that would break and cause the loss of a few gears."

I have a 2000 Venture Van and changed the tranny fluid at 60K miles, GM says it should be flushed AND changed at 100K miles. Fluid change is $60. and flush and change $130. at Mr Goodwrench. Change just replaces the fluid in the pan while a flush and change removes the fluid in the pan AND torque converter. If yours has 200K and the fliud hasn't been changed & flushed on a regular basis the fluid may have totaly lost its properties.

I'd have a pow-wow with Mr Goodwrench because they have all kinds of pressure checks they can do on a tranny and pretty much isolate the problem and they can pull up tranny error codes.

Take a white piece of cloth and check the fluid, it should be nice and pink but if it's not then fluid definitely needs changing. The dip stick should have a typical hydraulic fluid smell to it, not burned smell because that indicates severe overheating which ain't good. Swing by and talk with Mr G'wrench and let us know what he says.