I have an 02 Buick Lesabre, and the service engine light came on a few weeks ago. I took it to Southern States earlier this week, and they told me I needed about $3000 in repairs on the car, ranging from rebuilding the transmission to brakes, and other various things (draining fluids, rotating tires, and such). I asked what would turn the light off, and they said to replace a soleniod, which was stuck open. So i had them do it, and about 20 miles later, the light came on.

So I went today to a mechanic recommended by a friend and they ran diagnostics for me. It came back with a P0741 trouble code (torque converter clutch circuit performance or stuck off), and they told me to drive it until the light came back on and then call them and bring it back in. Well, driving home from work tonight, again after about 20 miles, the light is back on.

What kind of repairs (and costs) should I expect to fix this problem? Will the transmission need rebuilt, as the dealer initially suggested?

7/15/2006 3:37:06 AM

drive it till it blows

get the light reset and then immediately proceed to the inspection station before it come back on

7/15/2006 9:06:13 AM

why the fuck would an 02 car need a transmission rebuild already? if it's not shifting rough and/or slipping horribly, there's no way i'd pay for that shit.

7/15/2006 12:53:10 PM

how many miles you have on it

7/15/2006 1:48:48 PM

Quote :

"get the light reset and then immediately proceed to the inspection station before it come back on"

You forget the minimum number of drive cycles required before system indicates readiness for inspection.

What's your fluid/filter situation? How about the transmission solenoid pack?

How many miles are on the car? You might seriously consider the transmission to need rebuilding if it's got a lot of mileage...even though it's only an '02 model.

7/15/2006 1:56:57 PM

The car has 77k miles.

I do not think it is shifting rough at all, but what do I know?

Oh, and it's not due for an inspection

[Edited on July 15, 2006 at 4:17 PM. Reason : i]

7/15/2006 4:16:32 PM

I have a car with almost the same exact transmission, that has 175k trouble-free miles. It sounds like they were telling you that you might need a TCC solenoid, not unheard of on a FWD GM car. BigBlueRam and zxappeal probably have more experience in this matter than I do however.


[Edited on July 15, 2006 at 5:05 PM. Reason : How about you scan the estimate from the dealer so we can see exactly what it said.]

7/15/2006 5:04:05 PM

Didn't get a paper estimate from the dealer... my reaction to his suggestion (laughter) I think propmted them not to provide one.

My bill from the dealer says:
Ran tech 2 scanner check - P0440 Checked and found evap vent solenoid stuck open replaced vent soleniod

I do have the diagnostic report scanned though from the 2nd mechanic if that would help.

[Edited on July 15, 2006 at 5:18 PM. Reason : s]

7/15/2006 5:16:29 PM

Yes. Any information helps.

7/15/2006 5:21:57 PM

7/15/2006 5:33:43 PM

damn im good

7/15/2006 11:08:19 PM

Quote :

"TCC solenoid"

So this is different from the solenoid already put in by southern states?

I've been reading a lot online too about the gas cap causing this problem. My cap has been loose frequently (I et the error message a lot) - could this cause the problem?

7/16/2006 4:26:27 AM

yes its different

7/16/2006 12:51:48 PM

VERY different.

And there are probably no less than ten to twenty different solenoids on your car, each with a function totally (or in some cases somewhat) unrelated to each other.

Fuel system, canister purge, vent solenoid...NONE of those are gonna have the least thing to do with the TCC solenoid.

7/16/2006 1:10:53 PM