Success!! Transmission is in and running good! I can not believe how different this car drives. Hardly have to give it gas to shift and it just sails on the highway. I did tear the old one down. Frictions and steels look good. All solenoids tested within specs. I did notice though the intermediate band was worn and had black burn marks in it. I'm suspecting that is the culprit. Did not have a chance to check pistons yet. Also suspecting maybe the torque converter. Doesn't matter, my rebuilt is in and the satisfying feeling of accomplishing a job that normally costs BIG bucks is a great feeling. A lot of work though and pretty sore two days later, lol!!

 

Awesome! Thanks for the follow up

 

Well, been driving car for 5 days now and tonight when going down highway i was doing about 70 mph and the "service traction" light came on along with "service traction" on the odometer. The car didn't seem to be affected by it. I was about 3 minutes from my destination so I proceeded as normal. parked the car and shut if off and went into store. Came back out 15 mins later and started it and no more light and didn't come back on for the remainder of the drive. It did not throw a CEL.

I guess it's pointless to have AutoZone throw their reader on it beings the light went out. It was late when the light came on and AutoZone was not open or I would have stopped. I have not had the alignment done yet. The steering wheel is off center but it's not terrible. I kind of figured after dropping the sub frame and disconnecting tie rods that it would need an alignment. Will front end alignment set off the traction light on an HHR? It is also slightly squirrely over 60 mph and roads were wet.

I'm hoping that's all it is. I don't think anything in the transmission except output speed sensor would set that off. And I used my old one which wasn't that old but who knows. Will have to wait for it to come back on to get a scan but in the meantime what does anyone think about possible causes? And just a reminder this transmission i put in is the same gear ratio.

 

Try checking the ABS wires at the wheel hub speed sensors

 

Same here. But scan it. C code should still be there. Prolly tell you which wheel to look at.

The alignment is prolly worse than you think. Fix it.

 

You’ll need a scan tool that reads ABS brake codes. Easier to look at the connections, see if they are loose or popped out of that bracket

 

And I think it's probably important to have the steering wheel centered.

 

So long as you just disconnected the outer tie rods and didn’t turn them , they should have lined back up. The steering wheel off a little won’t set the ABS lights or Traction Control light, loose wires or bad hubs do. Seeing as the light is out , just check those connections I mentioned earlier. Been there done that. That’s how I know.
as Donbrew has said many times, the only adjustment is the toe .

 

Car threw a CEL last night along with the traction light. Had it scanned at auto zone. Codes are P0113 and C0561-71. I did have the MAF sensor out last week. Only cleaned it. Its the original one so maybe its time for a new one. Could the P0113 be causing the other code and traction light? Had not had a problem with the braking/boost system don't know why it would be throwing a code.

 

Check the wire harness connection for loose or bent pins

https://www.obd-codes.com/p0113

A new sensor should clear the C0561-71 code