'97 VT - Transmission Overhaul ??

hc_andy · #1 24-05-2005, 10:19 AM

I drive a '97 Holden Commodore VT Automatic. I'm new to the boards and know very little about cars.

The problem is this:
When I accelerate to 70-80KM the car begins to vibrate and make a loud grinding sound (most notably from the back of the car). When it gets like this the car almost becomes unbearable to drive and you can barely accelerate pass 80KM due to the extreme shaking sensation the car is going through.

I took it to a garage and at first they said the sound was nothing to worry about but I insisted they look again because you need to let the car warm up first before you'll notice anything. So of course they did this and now they're saying I need a transmission overhaul. It's going to cost anything from $1500-$2000. Bear in mind the car has done many KM's (700,000KM ex-taxi) and the transmission may certainly need an overhaul but I will only do this if it's absolutely necessary.

My question is this:
Could it be the transmission that's causing this? Are there any other causes for this vibration and loud thunking sound from the back? I will be taking it to another garage for a second opinion in the mean time.

sweet vt · #2 28-05-2005, 10:00 AM

It doesn't sound like the gearbox to me... A mate had a very similar problem to you in a VR and it ended up being the centre coupling for the tailshaft. It was fine till about 70km/h and over that the vibratin got that bad that it felt like it was going to vibrate it self to pieces. I think you should get a second opinion.

hc_andy · #3 30-05-2005, 12:51 PM

Thanks for that sweet vt. Another friend of mine said the same thing about his Dad's car. I'll get a second opinion.

BowTieGQ · #4 30-05-2005, 07:08 PM

Lay down and reach under, grab a hold of the tailshaft and shake it. If it wobbles, then thats it. May also be drive shafts, try them too, but I doubt it. Where you located. I have spare tailshaft if you need.