Grand Prix Transmission

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
06/09/2015 at 10:27 • Filed to: Car buying

So, the response to my earlier Impala post was immense, namely at the possibility of a bad transmission. But what about a late gen Grand Prix with the 3.8L? I know the engine is good, but how is the transmission? I only ask because I do like them, and have been eyeing them for a while.

DISCUSSION (42)

CalzoneGolem > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:30

What about that vibe you posted earlier? That’s what I would go for.

Sweet Trav > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:31

With the reduction in power to I think 200 hp the 3.8l and 4l60e is a hard to beat combination. My friend had a old park ave with the series 1 3800 and a 4t60e and he put 322k miles on it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:33

The supercharged models get the same gas mileage but have the heavy duty 4t65e-HD as well as a generally beefier car all around. I think in later years, both the GT and GTP trims could have the supercharged motor. It’s worth the extra.

zeontestpilot > CalzoneGolem
06/09/2015 at 10:34

Wife can’t drive stick, which is what’s stopping me. If we have to get rid of the pt, she doesn’t want our sole car to be a manual. Family politics. Trust me, it’s frustrating....

zeontestpilot > Sweet Trav
06/09/2015 at 10:35

So it's a good combo then?

CalzoneGolem > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:37

Well they made them with autos.

zeontestpilot > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 10:38

Wait, so the supercharged 3.8 L has a beefier tranny? Huh. I wonder what the insurance difference is then...

zeontestpilot > CalzoneGolem
06/09/2015 at 10:40

True, I'd have to track one done then...

CalzoneGolem > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:42

Yes, you would.

Nibbles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:45

I’d just like to offer some information here:

The 4T65E is not the piece of shit some have made it out to be. As long as you don’t back-flush the unit, it’ll last quite some time. I’ve personally had three, well over the 150k mark on the original unit.

Also: You wanna know what’s different between the panned 4T65E and the beloved 4T65E-HD? A different differential. That’s it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:47

Grand Prix’s are good cars. They just are.

Also, just found this:

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

zeontestpilot > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 10:49

You’ll have to forgive me, what car is that transmission in?

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/09/2015 at 10:53

Grand blanc, might be pretty far to ask someone for a ride, -_-. I'm leaning towards a prix maybe, they are abundant, cheaper price, and solid...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 10:59

well, like I said above, the Grand Prix is a solid car. I am not anti grand prix in any way.

Take a look at the Buick LaCrosse too, same car. Should have some fancy upgrade bits. I doubt they cost much more.

Nibbles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 11:00

The 4T65E is in that Impala you posted earlier. The HD model is in the Impala SS, Grand Prix GTP/GXP and Bonneville SSEI/GXP (among others)

Nibbles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 11:08

Also keep in mind that the Grand Prix and Impala are sister vehicles. Same platform, same engines (most generations), same transmissions, etc etc etc.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 11:12

Shouldn’t be too much. Especially if you get an 06 or 07 or whatever where the GT could have the GTP drivetrain. You’re in Michigan too, right? There’s a large number of them in the area so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 11:14

Agreed. The 4t60 was a bit of a dog but tough enough. The 65 was a definite improvement.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 11:16

Pretty damn good cars. The 4T65e transmission is a good through 250,000 miles at least, and the engine will run long enough to put a kid through college. The Grand Prix is actually the slightly sportier version of the Impala you posted earlier. If you want nice leather and luxury features, check out the Buick Lacrosse. Same platform as the Grand Prix and Impala, but with even more old-person stigma.

Also, the Grand Prix GXP Comp G is an insanely fun car. Heavy duty differential, supercharged engine, and a heads up display. Vroom vroom.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Sweet Trav
06/09/2015 at 11:24

4L60 is RWD transmission, 4T60/65 is the FWD one. But yes, the 3800 series II treated the 4t65 especially well.

zeontestpilot > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 12:17

How do I find out what the impala I looked at has?

zeontestpilot > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 12:20

So I guess, why are the others complaining about it so much? From what I understand, the HD is good, which is in the prix GXP, but if it's suppose to be in the impala too why everyone complaining about it, :/.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 12:22

It should have the 4t65. If it has 4 gears, it’s a 4t65, 6 gears makes it the newer one. THe one developed with ford.

zeontestpilot > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 12:33

4 gears with overdrive. Does that make it a 4t65 then?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 12:36

My “first” car was a ‘98 Grand Prix GT coupe (I started driving our S-15, then my parents and I went in halves on the Grand Prix... I DD’ed it but we also used it for family vacations, etc.). My dad was friends with the dealer, he knew my folks were looking for a car, so he called when it came in. An old lady had it on a GM 3 year Smart Lease, it only had 20k miles and was immaculate.

I used to drive the piss out of it and it was fantastic. Very comfortable, great for highway drives, adequate power, good brakes, and fuel economy was very reasonable (used to get mid-high 20’s highway cruising).

I only had 2 issues with the car and both were minor. The alternator died so I got a GM replacement and it died a month later. Put a third one in and never had another issue. The other problem was the tensioner pulley on the serpentine belt seized. I replaced the belt and pulley, fired the car up and it sprayed power steering fluid everywhere. Best I can guess is that when the belt snapped it must have whipped back and hit the power steering pump reservior. When I started the car up with the new belt on and the power steering pump pressurized, it blew the reservior out where the belt had hit and damaged it. Honestly 2 fluke issues, neither of which was super serious or expensive to fix.

ly2v8-Brian > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 12:39

They read anecdotal evidence or heard hearsay about some issue a brother’s friend’s uncle had with one.

ly2v8-Brian > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 12:44

I had a lesabre. More or less solid. I had an ignition module fail, but electric parts will do that. Easy fix.

zeontestpilot > ly2v8-Brian
06/09/2015 at 12:50

I just looked up some info on prix transmission problems and they seem similar.

I guess now I'm worried now, cuz I actually found a car I woundnt mind driving, but there's the possibility of the tranh slipping, how it was driven by a elderly lady and had low miles....ugh, too much to take in...

ly2v8-Brian > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 12:54

Keep in mind they cranked out like a half million of this chassis a year. You are going to have failures. It happens. It mostly comes down to luck with everything you buy. Just take the plunge on something you like.

Nibbles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 13:00

What Brian said.

Nibbles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 13:02

The GP never got the 6spd. Only way to tell is by case stamping or model (SS/GTP/GXP are the ones with the HD unit)

Nibbles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 13:03

There’s a chance for slippage on every automatic trans. The 4T65 is cheap and ubiquitous.

Nibbles > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 13:04

The Impala has a 4T65E.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 14:00

But he asked about the impala, which did have a single year with the 4t65 and the 3.9which was2006. 2007 on got the 6t70 or whatever it was.

Nibbles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 14:04

The 6T70 came on the 2012-2013 MY. 2006-2011 are 4T65E.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 14:08

*checks over build sheets and vin codes*

...

You win this round, nibbles.

Nibbles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 14:09

TBH I thought you had won; had to go over various informations myself

I didn’t know that gen Impala ever got the 6T70. Then again I kinda forgot that gen Impala existed at all

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 14:11

It really isn’t a bad vehicle. People go into it wanting to find faults, and they are there, but honestly I think it’s worlds better than a panther. Faster too. And roomier inside. And better handling. And cheaper. And less pretentious. And almost as comfortable (can’t outclass the lincoln and mercury though cause dang that air ride is sweet)

Nibbles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2015 at 14:18

I had a 2001 LS and loved it. Don’t care what people say, it was a great car

I was bothered by the 2006+ models because they looked, comparatively, like Accords.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Nibbles
06/09/2015 at 14:26

I still want an early 2000s impala as as a cheap cruise missile. They eat states like fat guys eat plates at a buffet. Almost 30mpg to seat 4 with 240hp and 300 lb ft on tap? For like 4-6 grand? Yes please!

MyMiata'sNameIsSenna > zeontestpilot
06/09/2015 at 17:09

Make sure the transmission fluid is changed every 40-50k miles. I had one in high school (2002 grand prix gt) and at 85k miles the transmission blew, and I had to junk the car. Besides that, the engine is strong and smooth, the suspension is taught enough to be comfortable and fun. That car made me fall in love with cars.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > zeontestpilot
06/10/2015 at 10:06

I know it’s been beat to death already but I figured you might appreciate shine input from someone who used to own a grand prix. GTP to be exact. Bought it showroom perfect at 160k, it was on its second transmission (GM reman unit) and that was slipping. It was a two owner car with excellent service records since new. I drive it with the failing transmission for a couple months then the in a used one I found on craigslist for $100. That one lasted maybe 6 months. Then I rebuilt the GM reman unit with a bunch of upgraded parts, not for performance but reliability. Started acting up again sometime down the road and I sold it at a stupid loss. I also made sure to flush the cooler and replace the torque converter every time I replaced the trans, as well as reset the shift adaptations and filled with Dex6. No more, I was done.

Anyways, from what I’ve seen the transmissions are usually pretty good, especially if newer than about ‘01 (they made a bunch of internal improvements like hardened splines et.), on the base V6 cars (no supercharger, no V8), as long as they’re serviced regularly. The higher powered cars have been known to kill transmissions in well under 100k.

For more reading check out

http://www.tripleedgeperformance.com/site/84a70bd69…

Those guys know their shit. Website is lame but basically all they do is those transmissions.