Just a thought, did any Dexcool spray or get on the wiring when you changed that thermostat? Could it just be the connections need cleaned!?

 

I didn't change the thermostat; I had a shop "flush" and refill the coolant. My daughter reminded me that during a snowstorm back in January, I got stuck and had to rock it several times to get out. Wonder if that overstrained it and it just took a while to show up?

 

Okie dokie, that coulda toasted the tranny! Took it out for lunch!
I hope not but maybe

 

It's at the Trans. shop; he'll take a look tomorrow.

 

Bad news. Metal in the pan, so it looks like the planetary gear went south. He doesn't rebuild this particular trans, so used or outside rebuilt. Lower mileage than mine used one has a six month warranty, so that's what I'll do, I think. Even after the warranty period, two used ones would be a little cheaper (installed) than one rebuilt. Worth taking the chance, I guess. He's going to check around for a lower mileage, better trans. also. He's a reliable shop and seems pretty picky about his suppliers, pretty wide, not local.

 

Used or rebuilt, you have to ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky?? Well do ya?”

 

Good news is there are millions of 4t45e transmissions in junk yards.

 

Looking up this trans these are the only one's that use the final gear ratio of 3.91 used in an HHR automatic.

3.91:1
Pontiac G6 base
Chevrolet HHR
Saturn Vue XE

Here is the full info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_4T40_transmission

 

So at least almost 1/2 a million

 

Yeah, I am feelin' lucky.