2008 Buick Lucerne Car 3800 series engine Transmission Problems V6 CXL Hard Shifting

if you have hard shifting on your transmission from a stop sign or a red light as soon as you go, check your engine mounts first, this is my third time having a mechanic replace the front engine mount and the torque strut. but I'm getting all four mounts replaced from the mechanic. they just don't make good mounts anymore they're made in cheap China crap parts. anything made in China the steel the rubber just does not last as we know. but before you start replacing your transmission or getting it rebuilt check the mounts first to make sure they're good and if they're not replace them then check your transmission from jerking or hard shifting. because that's what I've had every time these mounts go and when they're fixed transmission problems go away

[@robdixson196]

I have one with 90k it drives like a dream after 2 shocks, 2 struts, front engine mount, torque strut. one transmision cooling line, and two axles, two power steering lines, two wheel bearings, one alternator, and a fuse box. When i compare that to my other car a Yaris with 140k that got back shocks, and everything else is looking good. I am not so sure these cars are as reliable as they are hyped to be.

[@joesphschramm3754]

There are so many videos about the Lucerne. Some say they're great, others say they aren't so great lol

[@elcaballopapi]

The ones with the 3800 series 3 are the best cause of the engine, if you take care of the automatic transmission it can last a long time (changing fluid, driving habits). I got one used with 188K and it has now 207K and I’ve haven’t had any issue traveling from the Midwest to Florida or Virginia, just do your oil changes on time and treat her well.

[@omt4873]

I was driving mine for a minute with broken mounts 😂, I was one pull away from it braking off completely

[@aCiD0L2]

I ended up changing the transmission fluid/filter in my last buick when it did this. Fixed my issue. Was doing the hard shift and stuttering sometimes, then it did it very rarely afterwards. Planned on doing another fluid change again after a little while, but someone totaled it :(

[@livelife4228TBAS]

This video was very helpful i have a 2010 and im getting my mounts changed today

[@rm5902]

Really appreciate all your videos. Appreciate your knowledge. Wish u best .

[@chaseww]

Thank you

[@jerrytkaczyk7372]

Well the 3.8 is better than the 3.6 GM replaced it with. So im going to buy one because of the ride and engine.

[@chaseww]

Absolutely I mean I do love the car like I said but I hate it at sometimes. Right now I had the transmission rebuilt and I'm going back three different times because it wasn't rebuilt correctly, the only thing that's a pain is the engine mount in the front of the car. You might have to replace that a few times. Sometimes that makes the transmission do weird things if that's broken or not working correctly or tight. Good luck with your new car then when you get it.

[@marcnissen578]

Check the trans fluid to see if it’s low that will cause a hard shift problem I own 2 of them one has 18000 and the other 11800 both have 3.8 in them

[@augie2486]

Did it help?

[@marcnissen578]

@@augie2486 yes it did on a level surface in park ,operating temperature the dip stick showed 1 pint low I topped it off and no more problem if thoes transmissions are low in any way it will cause hard shifting also if the filter and fluid hasn’t been changed it will act the same way also

[@vincentblue6756]

I just gotten one it had 70 thousand miles on it when I gotten it. Still ride great wit 78 miles now

[@Leggobrandon40bang]

Should go to 300 Grand

[@marcnissen578]

I’ve found out it’s best if you buy dealer parts instead after market sometimes the dealer is cheaper and quality is better I change the oil ever 2500 full synthetic change rad fluid every 2 yrs,trans fluid every 2 years. Y07 has 18000 on it and my 08 has 118 on it

[@chaseww]

You're absolutely right I figured that out a few months ago. It seems like they have the better parts but a lot of times it is higher well in our area anyhow. But you're getting a better part in the last longer. Thank you very very much good luck with yours thank you

[@quintainsjester2600]

knock sensor low voltage 2008 Buick Buick Lucerne CXL Sedan 4D this the problem i got with my car so is it bad ?

[@sxyangeleyez]

thank you-2006 lacrosse and there are 3 grounds off the main harness ( under air box) connected to a tranny mount that go bad and they create all kinds of problems. worse if you are a car wash guy

[@chaseww]

Is that for the 2008 Buick Lucerne also?

[@sxyangeleyez]

@@chaseww First there should be a plastic circle or sensor that your ground cable runs through. This is always the problem, it is a electrical current sensor that sends a signal to the ecm. Problems like battery saver active and high voltage readings while driving mine was 15.3.I blew coil packs, ecm and lights as it went bad

[@sxyangeleyez]

Lights and ecm's are common for all Buicks. one morning she won't start pull the coil packs and replace the ecm

[@chaseww]

@@sxyangeleyez yeah I just replaced all three of them the coil packs. And it looks like from what I read that I have to replace the ignition module. Because I heard that they go also. I have not looked under the air pump about the ground wires yet, but I did see a small ground wire hanging one time in the rear. And you said that affects a lot of different things is the ground wires underneath the airbox. Thank you very much

[@markharris9040]

Wa wa wa. It’s a great car.

[@jbielsen1]

Is there anybody who installed knock sensors on the Buick Lucerne 3.8V6? Let me know

[@andrewhilyard7684]

You are the most incorrect person I've ever heard, the 3800 series 3 is one of the most reliable V6 engines ever produced..it's definitely not "shit" 💯😂 tell me you don't know anything about cars without telling me you don't know anything

[@derosaidit]

My 2008 Buick Lucerne it starts up but won’t reverse or drive

[@maxtechtech7478]

Your transmission valve body is the reason why it's hard shifting from 0 I got a full rebuild and no issue

[@chaseww]

Actually it was the front engine mount for sure, that was the problem, because the engine would rise up and it wouldn't synchronized the transmission. as soon as the mount was replaced, no more transmission issues. It did this before the first time when my engine mount went the first time I had transmission issues. This is the third time and it was doing it again and then that's completed now I have no more transmission issues. But thank you anyhow I'm sure there are cars that need transmission work done. At least I knew what was going on and figured it out without spending a whole lot of money into any transmission work

[@maxtechtech7478]

@@chaseww alright I would still get the transmission rebuilt if it has not been yet. Mine lost 4th gear due to Warn out clutches and I was not able to get home

[@chaseww]

@@maxtechtech7478 how many miles did you have on your car I ask?

[@sxyangeleyez]

hey i have a 2006 lacrosse are you around my year. it is not bad yet but noticable

[@maxtechtech7478]

@@chaseww 100k

[@dafathatictoc9956]

How are you? This is a very helpful video for me. I have a 2008 buick lucerne and it be shifting bad when taking off or even making turns. Thanks a lot for the video, hopefully it is the engine mounts. From yo boy Dafathatictoc, YEAH!

[@chaseww]

Doing ok. When driving, just start out slow when at a start, when taking off from a stop just ease in the pedal until you find the problem. First thing I would check is the engine mounts for sure. If there ok then I would check both cv joints to make sure there good. If it still doing it then its probably the trans. Hopefully it's one of above. If it's the trans add a couple of lucas trans slip or sea foam trans tune to the trans fill, I had very good luck with that in the past, just make sure you take out equal amounts of trans fluid before you add any. You can also do a trans drain and filter then add some lucas trans slip or sea foam trans tune. Alot of times that works they are very good for the trans. Good luck hope this helps, thank you very much

[@chaseww]

Yeah when I change my transmission mounts from the mechanic the shifting hard went away. I'm not saying this is the problem all the time but it would be the number one thing I would look at if you're having this type of problem and if it doesn't go away by changing the mounts if they're bad well then it's definitely the transmission and it's probably a shift sensors or some sort good luck

[@erickaginter]

Sounds like you need a protege! Best one to find is curious kid with a rough life. Pass on the knowledge it’s important. Eat you know is becoming a lost art. The small tricks and tie bit information regarding cars. So many mechanic shops and just mechanics take advantage of customers. It’s so hard to find a trustworthy mechanic. They are all retiring. The integrity generation are becoming endangered species. Lol

[@Eric-um3dc]

How do I change the transmission mount?

[@bangzoom22]

How can you explain why I’ve gone through 2 wheel bearing hub assemblies in the span of three years? I’d it a common problem?

[@chaseww]

These cars never stop on crap not working right. Always something going wrong. Did you buy a good quality wheel bearing? Don't buy any parts on eBay, they are the cheapest of the cheap. I know people will blog at me saying this, but my experience is to buy parts at a Buick car dealer. They might be 3-10 times higher in price but from my experience the parts seem better and a good quality then anywhere else. AutoZone and advance auto sell cheap China and Mexico parts, they don't last. There is also alot of bad new parts that are sold... I also recommend if you change your wheel bearing also change your rotors and brakes, and check your axles. Like I said, these cars are a money pit that's for sure. Whish you luck...

[@ricardo9013]

I've replaced 2 myself (by a shop) in less then 2 years of owning the car and i feel like it could happen again.. I've also had leaks of coolant,oil,gas, ps and atf all within 2 years. The car is currently running fine with 92500 Km total on the vehicle. Car belonged to an old man who was very sick and it just didn't see the road much untill i got it. great car but it's defintly a pain in the ass sometimes

[@erich84502ify]

4t65e alert blues

[@gmove420]

I've had to sink 3 grand into mine in ONE year 🤣🤣 I bought it / and registered it for 4900 saftied .. with 129 000km...have put it up to 151 000km in a year and yea man.... these things fking ANNOYING....would be a great car if it didnt need work ONCE EVERY 2 WEEKS

[@chaseww]

Well it's definitely a car that you need to do work now and then but every two or three weeks that's a little too much I would think I don't do that to my car so maybe there's something definitely wrong on your part with your car I'm not sure but yeah I agree it definitely needs work all the time but I'll put money in it every so often not every two weeks but probably a couple times a year maybe cuz when they hit 100,000 miles any car is due for work. Like I said before shocks tires battery alternator sensors I mean the list will go on and on transmission change rear fluid change radiator I mean that's all stuff that will eventually go after a hundred thousand miles or so but as long as you don't put 678 Grand all the time in it like a new transmission and new engine new rear or it's completely rusted out the frame and etc I guess it's still a little cheaper than buying a new car if it's in decent shape but it depends on your situation good luck thank you

[@gmove420]

@@chaseww I guess I get away with just putting work into it once every 2 3 months...but it seems to make a new noise every 2 weeks...every lil noise makes me paranoid

[@chaseww]

@@gmove420 oh I know me too if I hear a noise I have to find it and fix it that's the brakes of owning an older car that's for sure. But good luck with it like I said they're not bad but we already know what they are about but I think every used car pretty much is that way if it has high mileage all right thank you

[@shykenebrew5950]

My car won’t move in drive. But it moves if I start off in 2nd gear and then go to drive. 😭

[@chaseww]

I'm very sorry to hear that. But the only thing besides maybe major work on transmission but you can also talk to somebody about the solenoids. There's three solenoids in that transmission that control the gears. A lot of people change the transmission oil and filter and that also stops the jerking and the harsh shifting. That's the cheapest job. Then the next step would be the solenoids to replace all three of those and if that doesn't solve your transmission problems then it's a major transmission rebuild. But you can also shop around and people have rebuilt transmissions and they install them for a reasonable price then if you went to a legitimate transmission shop that will might rip you off for big money. I wish you the best and wish you luck

[@clintonm1868]

@@chaseww good call on the solenoids. i did a trans go kit on my 2004 park avenue as well as solenoids. Its still a little funky shifting sometimes, if you dont accelerate the way the buick likes it. but it still feels great at times. 142k miles on it. im also not sure on the service history. so hopefully ill still get a little life out of it.

[@thatseugeneonthekeys4229]

Where’s the tcc solenoid located?

[@gmove420]

So basically have spent 8-8.5k on a 07 lucerne in 12.25 Months 🤮😂😓

[@user-ee3zo7jl8t]

Third to protect your motor genius 3.8 was never a good motor that’s why they never put it in often but small cars because I never had enough power to go to a truck the only 3.8 that was ever good was Ford 3.8

[@user-ee3zo7jl8t]

I hear that that you can’t work on your car anymore brother I wish you lived close by in Michigan or Illinois I would work on your car for you for free

[@jbielsen1]

Damm come to Florida and work on my Lucerne lol