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2003 Malibu, 3.1L V6, 4 speed auto, 101,450 miles. Am second owner purchased 2004. I accelerate soft & smooth to save gas. Occasionally when I try to accelerate hard from a dead stop the front end will shake violently and barely move until I let off the gas and press down gently. Once it starts rolling, I can hit the gas hard with no problem. Is this a transmission not engaging?
Can't replace car until next year when wife's car is paid off.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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No one can accurately diagnose a car behavior from a written description, but I will comment on it. I have had 4 automatic transmissions rebuilt in the last 15 years. Of those, two did a bit like yours, not violent shaking, but more of a vibration, without moving forward, but then after 4-5 seconds at high RPMs when I let off on the gas to almost idle speed they would start moving. Both were 6 cylinder engines with a 4 speed EOD transmission, a Ford at 138k, and a Toyota at 93k miles. The main difference is that they did it every time. You said yours does it occasionally which could mean going out or could mean some other less costly problem. On a 2003 I would expect there to be a code and light on. For our last rebuild, a 2002 Jeep, the light came on with a transmission code while it still ran and shifted but in limp mode.
No one can accurately diagnose a car behavior from a written description, but I will comment on it. I have had 4 automatic transmissions rebuilt in the last 15 years. Of those, two did a bit like yours, not violent shaking, but more of a vibration, without moving forward, but then after 4-5 seconds at high RPMs when I let off on the gas to almost idle speed they would start moving. Both were 6 cylinder engines with a 4 speed EOD transmission, a Ford at 138k, and a Toyota at 93k miles. The main difference is that they did it every time. You said yours does it occasionally which could mean going out or could mean some other less costly problem. On a 2003 I would expect there to be a code and light on. For our last rebuild, a 2002 Jeep, the light came on with a transmission code while it still ran and shifted but in limp mode.
No light came on. Also, just had the trans fluid changed a few years ago. I generally average 500 miles a month.
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