I think my transmission (automatic on a '91) is toast. I was driving it to the airport parking lot and about 20 miles out while i was in OverDrive and just maintaining speed it downshifted/slipped into Drive. It would not shift back into OD no matter what I did with the gear selector. When I came upon traffic and slowed to ~50mph the tranny did the same thing going into 2nd. The same slip/downshift would occur at about 35mph into 1st. For accelerating from stoplight etc. the car when in D would not shift from 1 to 2 until about 45mph/4700rpm and same scenario rpm-wise for 2 to 3. I parked the car at the airport lot for 4 days and would like to be able to drive it the 15 miles back to the house but now it will not even engage into Drive or Reverse. Is there anything I can do to DRIVE it home? All I tried was moving the selector into each gear including Reverse a couple of times immediately after starting the engine but the car would move and idled at the rpm it does when in P or N.
What do you think went wrong with the transmission? Its only a little over 3yrs and ~18000 miles old with no drag or roadracing, no manual downshifting or neutral drops etc. The "rebuilder" claimed it was built with HD 3-4 clutches etc and good for 400hp which was obviously a lie.

 

Cluth pack toasty? Fluid Leaking?

 

Sounds like what I went through last year. Toasted it. I had no leaks or indications that anything was going wrong.

Rebuild was in order for me.

Good Luck

 

My 1986 had 98,000 miles when i got it in 2002, 2005 at around 105,000 miles it lost 3-4, i drove it for awile in 2nd gear but never went over 50mph, one day this summer as i pulled into the driveway it started leaking I said well, its time to get it fixed! I did my search and man these gm 700r4 are trouble at about 100,000 miles or less they start acting up and i think it is heat for sure in the vette that kills them fast, anyway i looked at ebay and found one for a $300 dollar "buy it now"
and offered the guy $200 dollars, he said it cam out of a wrecked 86 VETTE, so i said "what the hell" and bought it.
I removed my old tranny and got ready to install the new on from ebay
it arived by frieght and when i saw it on the truck i said no way how can they ship it like this, it was on a pallet not held down with the converter off, i got it home and inspected it, i notice slight nicks on the input shaft, i called the guy and he told me the guy who owned corvette it came out converted his car to manual and that he garanteed all parts to be good. I installed it.
My first drive i didnt no what to expect so i took off slow down the road, then 1-2 shift "bam" put me back in my seat and i was not at wot.
the car pulls very good now 1-2 2-3 shifts are tight, so tight that it will squeal the tires in the 1-2 shift at part throttle, but at wot throttle its much smoother, it looks like the guy but an agressive shift kitt in it.
Ive been driving the car for 3 months and finally decided I would get on it and see what it would do, So far the trans is holding up great and man it will pull hard in any gear.
WTF ( Even the loosers get lucky some time:

 

My sons 91 c4 was stuck in the airport parking lot with the parking meter running @ an unbeliveable rate . Consulted the Forum & read a reply by " the Jr. Rifle Coach." about an additive for Tranny troubles. Got me to thinking . My sons 91 c4 wouldn"t Move in any gear , smelled terrible, blackened fluid .
I figured I"d try an additive ,purchased a can of "Sea Foam" tranny additive . The eng had a knock emminating from the engine rear . As I poured in the additive the knocking slowly disappeared . I then shifted it thru the gears slowly & after a few min. it started to grab . I was able to drive the car 20 miles home . I saved the flat bed charge & got out from the high parking fee.
Thanks , Jr. Rifle Coach ,that was quite a Christmas Gift you gave my family . And thanks to the" Forum " for making it possible
Warren & Son . (Redvette c4 ).
P.S. Pete K , I'm going to try the rebuild on my own , stand by for questions .

 

I had the same problem last July 2005. I lost my transmissoin while driving home from work and had to have the transmission rebulit. Just a word, if you plan on installing a shift kit, make certain this is what you want. I have a shift kit and can't wait to have it removed.

 

shift kits can get really annoying, especially after spilling coffee on the 1-2 shift every morning. Make sure you want that firmness