DELAYED, SLOW OR NO SECOND TO THIRD GEAR UPSHIFT. Pontiac Sunfire 1998

SUBJECT: DELAYED, SLOW OR NO SECOND TO THIRD GEAR UPSHIFT (REPLACE THE CASE COVER ASSEMBLY OR TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY)

MODELS: 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40 TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION (RPO MD9)

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL POPULATION MAY COMMENT ON A DELAYED, SLOW OR NO SECOND TO THIRD GEAR UPSHIFT.

CAUSE:

THIS CONDITION MAY BE CAUSED BY A FLUID PRESSURE LEAK BETWEEN THE DRIVEN SPROCKET SUPPORT AND THE CASE COVER ASSEMBLY.

CORRECTION:

TO REPAIR THIS CONDITION THE CASE COVER ASSEMBLY OR THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED.

SERVICE INFORMATION/PROCEDURE: 1. VERIFY THE CUSTOMER CONCERN. 2. CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR PROPER LEVEL. 3. USE THE FLUID COLOR CHART BELOW TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE REPAIR PROCEDURE.

TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKING PROCEDURE:

DIAGNOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID BY COLOR -

STEP ACTION YES NO ---- ------ --- --

1 CHECK THE FLUID COLOR. GO TO GO TO IS THE FLUID COLOR RED? STEP 4. STEP 2.

2 THE FLUID COLOR COULD BE LIGHT BROWN. GO TO GO TO IMPORTANT: TRANSMISSION FLUID MAY TURN STEP 4. STEP 3. DARK WITH NORMAL USE. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS INDICATE OXIDATION OR CON- TAMINATION. IS THE FLUID COLOR LIGHT BROWN?

3 THE FLUID COLOR COULD BE DARK, HAVE A GO TO GO TO BURNT SMELL AND CONTAIN CLUTCH DEBRIS. STEP 5. STEP 4. IS THE FLUID DARK AND DOES IT SMELL BURNT?

4 REPLACE THE CASE COVER ASSEMBLY AND GASKETS PER THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE UNIT REPAIR MANUAL (TURM) PROCEDURES.

5 REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY PER THE SERVICE MANUAL PROCEDURES.

PARTS INFORMATION:

QUANTITY/ PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION VEHICLE

8683911 CASE COVER ASSEMBLY KIT 1 8631914 GASKET KIT 1 12346145 DEXRON(R) III AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID 8 QTS. 8652506 GASKET, VALVE BODY SPACER PLATE 2 OR 24211306 TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY 1 12346145 DEXRON(R) III AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID 8 QTS.

PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE MAY 4, 1998 FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION: K7500 CASE COVER AND/OR GASKETS, TRANSAXLE-REPLACE K7000 TRANSMISSION-REPLACE

USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME.

FIGURES: 0 ATTACHMENTS: 0

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.