My 2006 110,000 mile 2.2 HHR started shifting real hard in first and second gear. So hard it feels like someone rearended the car. Also high pitched whinning noise coming from under the car. No check engine light, no codes. I had the trans fluid changed every 50,000 miles last time at 100,000 about a year ago.

 

The only time I've had a similar issue, I'd thought I was gonna have to shell out for a transmission. Fortunately, with some advice from this forum, I found that it was my VVT solenoid.
Once that was replaced, all was well again.

 

Have your codes checked there might be a pending code. If as you say there's no codes then try s battery lobotomy!

 

yes as stated before pending codes cause the limp mode! If you have traction control the light illuminate and tc will be disabled if a pending code is set. The vvt solenoids themselves don't cause this but they do set the most common code amongst hhrs thus setting off the limp mode due to setting a code. Only time I had a whining noise was when my alternator failed but that's a different story. Have codes scanned even if there isn't a light!

 

A. is the whining noise only when moving
B. is the whining noise engine speed dependent
C. is the whining noise speed dependent

 

I took the car to a transmission shop I have used before, and trust. I ended up needing the trans. When they dropped the pan it was full of metal shavings and other debris(clutch plates). They tried to save it and just do the valve body, but when they found all the damage it was decided to rebuild the trans.

 

Make sure they use Dexron VI. The idiots that change ATF don't always use the correct stuff, that might be the cause of the early death.

If they tell you the book says Dexron III, tell them to look at TSB 04-07-30-037E.

 

Let us know how that new transmission works out, some of us have a shift problem at about 40 miles an hour, did yours have that trouble?

 

no shifting problems at 40 mph. When the problems started it was mainly 1 and 2nd shifted very hard, like I got rear ended, but it went into third with our any problem.

 

The hard shift was probably caused by the Forward Clutch being burnt out by improper lubrication.
When clutch plate material gets loose, it plugs up line filters and can cause a lube problem (among many other things) to the Low and Reverse Clutch circuit.
The gear shavings were probably from the Final Drive Pinions and/or the Input Carrier Pinions.

Clare