Hi All:

First off I want to say that the GTO ROCKS!!!!

OK. With that said I am trying to determine if I have a real problem or I am just misinterpreting the sounds/feelings of the car. I am new to driving manual and don’t know if I am just making issues out of normal transmission activity. Below is a list of the “issues” that I think I have with the GTO’s transmission. :type:

1. Occasionally when I shift into first gear I hear a sound (like someone is in the trunk and banged on the gas tank)
2. When I shift from 1 – 4 the transmission makes a weird oscillating sound until I get into higher RPMS. I know it has to do with the fact that the engine is in lower RPMS and it happens in any gear. Another example would be if I slowed down to take a turn and shifted into second, however, I was going to slow. When the transmission engages I here this sound again. Is there something that I should be doing to prevent this sound from happening or is it normal?
3. Shifting from 3-4 gives some resistance.
5. I can sometimes hear the gears moving when I shift.
6. Often it is difficult for me to shift into reverse. After shifting into first, the resistance disappears.
7. Under hard acceleration in 3rd or 4th gear I can hear vibration coming from the shifter. If I hold the shifter during the hard acceleration the sound disappears.
8. The clutch appears to engage higher than when I originally purchased the vehicle.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)

sounds to me like you are lugging the engine. if your rpms are low then u should shift to a lower gear. as for the clutch some vehicles have self adjusting clutches and the gto may be one. not sure on it. I would encourage you to go visit with the service dept at your local dealer and see if they can diagnose the problem. Your discriptions are so vague that diagnosing without being in the car is next to impossible.

Thanks for the reply.

Look at your underhood data plate and get the build date of your car. Some of the early cars had a problem with pressure plate bolt torque and caused some of the symptoms you describe.

Originally posted by AntRemo@Nov 24 2004, 11:41 PM
1. Occasionally when I shift into first gear I hear a sound (like someone is in the trunk and banged on the gas tank)
2. When I shift from 1 – 4 the transmission makes a weird oscillating sound until I get into higher RPMS. I know it has to do with the fact that the engine is in lower RPMS and it happens in any gear. Another example would be if I slowed down to take a turn and shifted into second, however, I was going to slow. When the transmission engages I here this sound again. Is there something that I should be doing to prevent this sound from happening or is it normal?
3. Shifting from 3-4 gives some resistance.
5. I can sometimes hear the gears moving when I shift.
6. Often it is difficult for me to shift into reverse. After shifting into first, the resistance disappears.
7. Under hard acceleration in 3rd or 4th gear I can hear vibration coming from the shifter. If I hold the shifter during the hard acceleration the sound disappears.
8. The clutch appears to engage higher than when I originally purchased the vehicle.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)
1. If its when you first accelerate it's probably the spair tire clunking. (dealership will fix it)
2. If its a whiney sound it might be your alternator.
3. How many miles do you have on it? If under 1,500 give it time.
4. What happened to 4? :lol:
5. Once again...give it time. Otherwise...take your Goat to the Vet.
6. That's exactly what you're supposed to do (1st then R). I think the owners manul mentions this.
7. Just keep your hand on the shifter. :lol: Just kidding! Not sure about that one.
8. Once again...give it time. B)

The problems you describe about the transmission making noise when you shift to a lower gear, well I dont think it is a problem and if it is my transmission has it too. You must remember the transmission is always connected to the rear wheels and the lower gear causes the rpm in the transmission to speed up to compensate for the speed of the driveshaft and rear wheels, thus the noise you hear. The sound you hear when you shift from 1 to 4 I do believe all it is, is to low an RPM, I still havent figured out why GM put that stupid 1 to 4 shift in, 1 to 3 would probably be enough for the reasons they state.

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it... :)

I'll post some more information in a little while.

P.S. I don't know what happened to 4. :)

I am going to bring my car in for service on Monday. I am getting more concerned because I can hear the transmission make a clunking metal-on-metal contact sound when I shift between the gears. I also notice that the shifter allows for a small amount of play when the car is in gear. Under hard accelaration I can hear the vibration that the shifter makes, I can make the sound stop by applying a small amount of pressure to the shifter in a direction that is away from Neutral.

I am REALLY hoping it is something simple to fix, but my gut tells me that it isn't. :( Oh well.

~Ant~

The clunk sound on shifting has a fix that the dealer should know about, most have gotten it fixed for free.

I'm hoping so. :unsure:

I'll be sure to post the results of my visit. B)

Thanks for the reply.

Hello All:

I just wanted to give you guys/gals an update on what has been going on with my baby.

I brought the car to a local Pontiac dealership and explained the problems that i have been having, they took a look at it and determined that my shifter was causing the vibration sounds under hard acceleration and needed to be replaced.

Old Questions/Concerns
Responses
1. Occasionally when I shift into first gear I hear a sound (like someone is in the trunk and banged on the gas tank)
This appears to be occurring a lot less.

2. When I shift from 1 – 4 the transmission makes a weird oscillating sound until I get into higher RPMS. I know it has to do with the fact that the engine is in lower RPMS and it happens in any gear. Another example would be if I slowed down to take a turn and shifted into second, however, I was going to slow. When the transmission engages I here this sound again. Is there something that I should be doing to prevent this sound from happening or is it normal?
Apparently this is normal.

3. Shifting from 3-4 gives some resistance.
This has disappeared
4. I can sometimes hear the gears moving when I shift.
Apparently this is normal.

6. Often it is difficult for me to shift into reverse. After shifting into first, the resistance disappears.
I was told this was the correct thing to do.

7. Under hard acceleration in 3rd or 4th gear I can hear vibration coming from the shifter. If I hold the shifter during the hard acceleration the sound disappears.
I was told that the shifter needed to be replaced.

8. The clutch appears to engage higher than when I originally purchased the vehicle.
I do not feel that this is an issue anymore. Perhaps I just got used to it.

I'll be sure to post an update once I get the new shifter installed. All-in-all most of my "issues" that I was having seemed to disappear...this is a VERY good thing. :D

I was pretty upset with the quality of service that my car received from the dealership. When I received the car back I found two pen stains on my seats (which I have to figure out how to remove), residue left on my wheels from the lubrication used to mount the tires, and that the tires were not "optimally" mounted to the rims. (The dot on the tire was not directly at valve stem portion of the rim, resulting in more weight being needed to balance the wheel)

Anyway, thanks all for the all the advice. :)