Blue85L98

I took the car out yesterday and had automatic trans problems...no 3rd gear. :mad Luckily, I was close to home and was able to limp home using 1st & 2nd gear.

Here's the scoop....Shift lever in 'O/D', mild acceleration(not WOT)...1st gear was fine(1-2 shift about 3000 RPM), 2nd gear was fine(2-3 shift about 3000), but when 2-3 shift hit, engine just revved with no power to the wheels. Same with shift lever in 'D'. No visible external leaks, fluid level slightly over 'full hot' when hot, fluid doesn't look or smell burnt. When vehicle speed bled down, it would downshift into 2nd gear with power back to the wheels until it would try the 2-3 shift again. If I shift manually, I could hold 1st & 2nd gear as desired, but as expected on the 2-3 shift, the engine just revved with no power to the wheels.

It's an '85 700-R4, that had been rebuilt by previous owner in February 2001. Hopefully I won't have any trouble using his 12 month warranty, as I have his receipt and it is a local shop that did the work. The receipt doesn't say that it is not transferrable, but I won't know until I talk to the shop. I'll get it in this week. Since I have no experience with the shop in question, I am looking for help as to what possible repairs to expect so that I don't get screwed.

All comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.

ralph

sounds like your 3-4 clutch pack is shot. Not uncommon for the 700.

Vic'89

Yeah, the 3/4 clutch pack is burned up. This is the most common failure of the 700R4.

What I don't understand is that you had a rebuild in Feb ? I hope you had your TV cable adjusted correctly. Hopefully they will warrenty it.

What does the Tranny fluid look/smell like ?

Vic

Blue85L98

Yes, the previous owner had it rebuilt in Feb 2001 at a local trans shop, but I have no experience with that shop. I had no reason to believe that the TV cable was not adjusted properly, and I hadn't made any changes to it since I bought it. As I said in original post, the fluid doesn't look or smell burnt...color is as out of the botttle.

It seems like there are a number of other posts out there in the last 2 or 3 days ... members with 700-R4 problems. Mine had less than 4000 miles on it since the rebuild(relatively mild miles). Shouldn't any competent transmission shop be able to get these trans to last more than that, or do I have a life of troubles ahead with the 700-R4? Hope not...

I may have to :boxing with the local shop, they're trying to play that game with me, where they say that I was not the person that the original work was done for. I still have to get the car in to their shop and talk with them face to face. I have the original owner's receipt for the rebuild, and I feel that they should cover the trans under the original 12 month 12000mile warranty. After all, the warranty is for the trans, not the owner... If they are going to screw me around, I'll take it somewhere else to have it fixed.

HighHopes85

I know you said it didn't look or smell burnt. Were there bubbles on the fluid on the dipstick when you checked it? -Matt-

GlockLT4

If there are bubbles, then it's getting too hot. You might also try changing the fluid, sometimes that will losen up a something and get it to work again.. just a thought.

Blue85L98

Matt & Glock....No bubbles on dipstick.

Vic'89

Blue85

It certainly sounds like the 3/4 clutch pack according to the way it drives. But when the 3/4 clutch pack is burned up, the fluid is dark brown and smells like it is burnt. Also , bubbles in the fluid could tell us that it is running very hot.

You don't seem to have any of the Tranny fluild symtoms. I think you need to drop the Tranny pan next, look for material in the bottom of the pan.

Let us know the results.

Vic

Blue85L98

Well, I limped the car to the trans shop today and talked with the shop owner. I didn't have a copy of the warranty, only the receipt stating that one exists(12 month & 12000 mile). He starts out telling me, then showing me, that the warranty says that it only applies to the person that had the original work done. I think that's :bs ...

I bought the car from a forum member...one of the selling points was that it had just had the trans completely rebuilt as indicated on the receipt. The trans shop owner said that this member brings him a lot of work...mostly Corvettes...and he just wants to get them running so he can get rid of them. Owner now pulls out an invoice to show me, and it is for the same forum member that I bought from...he has a 98/99 coupe in the shop now for trans work. :eek: :eek: Now owner says he's willing to work with me and eat the labor costs if I help him out and pay for parts...$400 to $500. He couldn't tell me what kind of work was actually done on the trans the first time. So now I asked the shop owner, "Does that mean that you just 'band-aid' the trans to get the cars out of the shop?" and he started back-pedaling more. He actually said to me that it is easier to indicate on the invoices that it was rebuilt, even if they just made some minor repairs to get the unit operable. What kind of crap is that? Now before I left the shop, owner was willing to honor the warranty...no cost to me... if I can bring the car in just after Christmas, when business is a little slower. Maybe stumbled onto some mis-representation of work accomplished versus work indicated on invoices. Now I'm not sure if I want this shop to touch the car. Maybe OK if I can get everything in writing detailing what is to be done before I leave the car with the shop. I need to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if this shop has had any other complaints and maybe talk to the guy that I bought the car from.

Sorry this is so long, I just had to vent... :mad :mad :mad


[Modified by Blue85L98, 9:44 PM 12/11/2001]

merrick

Sounds fishy. Let him rebuild it but I would make some surprise visits during the rebuild to see if it is really fully disassembled. If it will cost you anything I would go elsewhere.

Mark 84ltblu

Most places will only give a 12 month 12,000 warranty. I would insist on having that in your name and good for the whole term.

Vic'89

I would not use this guy.

Run as fast as possible from his shop.

Vic

Mojo

I've had a lifetime of troubles with the 700R-4. I've destroyed 5 of them in my car. In fact, my 700R4 is broken now!

Also, the fluid isn't always burned when the 3/4 clutchpack goes... My fluid is fine and my 3/4 pack is slipping badly.