What's wrong with my 2000 Pontiac Montana?

Question

The service engine soon light comes on. When it switches gears there seems to be a jerk. The engine whines whenever the gas is pressed. Could be transmission? I'm going to take it in, but just wondered if I could get any input before I do.

Answer 1

Pressure control solenoid in trans mabe ,that is if there is no debris in the trans pan,but this is a four hr job to replace the solenoid.

Answer 2

Yes have a free scan done , have a transmission shop do a free test drive and diagnose.The jerking sounds like maybe a transmission fluid and filter changing job is required and the engine whining could be a loose belt or a pulley etc.

Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way don't get anything major done unless you've a few reliable opinions and before trying to do anything much to the transmission have the transmission fluid and filter changed with proper factory recommended filter kit and fluid used.Plus if the vehicle has over 100,000 kms on it and is close to the 150,000 mark get the transmission fluid and filter changed asap bec more then likely that's why it is jerking.Besides that I believe that vehicle is for sure due for a filter and filter change.

Answer 3

Likely the primary problem with the vehicle is that it was made by General Motors Corporation.

It is likely time to recycle the vehicle. AutoOnInfo.net's detailed reliability and durability studies suggest that 7-year-old Pontiac is as troublesome to own as a 36-year-old Toyota and a 51-year-old Honda. Your vehicle is at least 8 years old and I haven't seen any 51-year-old Hondas on the highway, although I have seen an occasional 30+-year-old Toyota.

The Pontiac Montana is also on AutoOnInfo.net's lists of Automobiles with Worst Engine Reliability (a score of -1.00, the worst possible) and Automobiles with Worst Transmission Reliability (-.50 for the regular and -.88 for the extended) and has worst overall reliability. It is also on Consumer Reports' Worst-of-the-Worst list. The vehicle is bad even for General Motors Corporation, although maybe not much worse than GM's average.

Answer 4

"Recycle the vehicle".... yeah ok. Why do people even give answers.

Anyways, You could be looking into replacement of a PC (or Pressure Control) Solenoil inside the transmission. Its around a 2-3 hour job, the solenoid is $50 and you will have to replace the side cover gasket for around $150. You should get them to see which codes are stored in your transmission control module (has to be done at GM) and this will likely lead you in the direction of a solenoid. One more thing, check your trans fluid, if its not a nice cherry red color and more of a light brown, you might have burned some clutches. Just a heads  up for what you might expect.