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Transmission/Highwy Stutter at 50-60 mph
Sent to Car Experts May 02 12:43 PM

I have a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am. For the past 2.5 years I have not had to drive it very much on the highway. I have been able to just drive it around town. When I do take it on the highway when I get to about 50-65 miles per hour it begins to stutter slightly. It almost feels like it is going back and forth between drive and overdrive at a quick, repeated pace. Usually this happens when I am coasting and only applying a little bit of gas. If I accelerate it stops. It usually is not a problem at higher or lower speeds. I recently brought it to a mechanic, they noticed vibrations but believed that it was tires. So I got all new tires, but that did not fix it. Is my transmission going out or is it something else?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $5
Answer
May 2 7:17 PM (6 hours and 33 minutes and 56 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
 It sounds like you are feeling the torque convertor clutch kicking in and out.Its really not a problem to be concerned about.You will always feel it to some degree on older cars.
Davo -- Master technician99% Positive Feedback on 1940 Car Accepts
ASE Master Technician/Advanced Automotive Diagnostic Technician
Reply
May 3 12:28 PM (17 hours and 10 minutes and 39 seconds later)
         
Reply to Davo/diablo666's Post: So this is something that does not require an immediate repair? I am trying to decide if it can make a cross country drive as I move from California to Ohio. It is not a shake that rattles the whole car, but it is definitely something that can be felt by everyone in the car as we drive. It does have 116,000 miles, so I understand things are wearing out, but I don’t want the transmission to go out on me in the middle of the Arizona desert.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
May 3 5:32 PM (5 hours and 4 minutes and 18 seconds later)
         
 I don't feel that it would cause you to break down.It is a machine and anything could break at any given time.If it were my car and I was going on a long trip the torque convertor clutch would not stop me.I can't remember any time some one broke down from it.Good luck on your trip and hope you like Ohio,winters alot colder around here compared to California.The ocean beaches are further away too.
Davo -- Master technician99% Positive Feedback on 1940 Car Accepts
ASE Master Technician/Advanced Automotive Diagnostic Technician
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