Dropped it off at the transmission shop last night. We'll see what they say today or tomorrow.

 

Okie dokie, we’ll wait and see. I asked at my dealership, yesterday, the service manager and their transmission specialist, said by the codes you posted and the age and mileage, change the pressure sensor, then if the 0700 code is still there reflash the TCM , but it should turn off after the defective part is changed .
That doesn’t mean, that’s the case for sure!

 

Yeah, hopefully it's something like that. But with two separate independent shops coming up with "replace the transmission", I am bracing for the worst and hoping that they will come in with a lower quote for a remanufactured transmission. At least they aren't charging to give an estimate.

 

i would just find a low milage used one and have a shop that knows what they are doing swap it out all years will work 2.4 or 2.2 it don't matter i have changed them all and had NO probs plug and drive , and have them fix any bushings it may need or mounts i change them all the time and find small parts that need replace , for me u can get new or rebuilt but it can still fail just as fast , labor is labor but the parts will kill the deal just my 2cents from changing 100 plus to date same as motors , gl

 

Call from the transmission shop. Codes P0742 and P0842 - torque convertor clutch circuit and fluid pressure system issues, among other problems. He's going to rebuild the transmission for $2700. Should be done in about a week or so.

 

Good choice, better price!

 

Indeed. I had to have him repeat it twice after he said it was bad news, just to make sure it was half of the original quote. He said anyone else would be ordering a rebuilt transmission and installing it, but there's nothing wrong with my case, so it makes more sense to rebuild it in house. I agreed. And the shop comes highly recommended.

 

What they usually mean by "rebuild the transmission" is replace the valve body. Which sounds more like $2700 including labor. I let a shop get away with the same thing several years ago.
A valve body is around $300 (on eBay) plus labor, somewhere around 8-9 hours.

 

An HHR automatic is so loafing. GM even uses that thing in V6’s.

Even if it needs to be rebuilt, and it probably doesn’t, there are enough Ecotecs due to failed chains that their transmissions must be a dime a dozen. I can’t imagine how rebuilding could possibly make economic sense but I could be wrong.

 

Owners choice. A rebuild is way more than just the valve body, the pump and clutch pack, shift solenoids are all parts of it. There’s servos and o rings, seals and gaskets, time and experience.