Transmission = Toast?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Georgia
Transmission = Toast?
So I'm driving into work this morning and the car is acting just fine (1991 C4), no problems at all. Take it through some back roads and out onto an open one, shifts gears without any trouble. Get to a light and come to a stop, then start moving again.
All seems fine until I get to about 45, when I notice it sitting at about 4,500 rpms, with barely any gas. It should have shifted, but it hadn't. So I give it a little gas and it revs very quickly, as if I'm in neutral. I pull into a parking lot right away and come to a stop. Put it in reverse and it works no problem, put it into drive and it makes just a little bit of noise for a moment but goes away, and moving to overdrive gives no indication of any issues. I give it a bit of a gas to the point that it should shift into 2nd gear, but it never does.
I haven't had any indication whatsoever to this point of a potential transmission issue, it's been perfect since I've had it. Only driven 1,000 miles since I bought the car in March, but it's been totally problem free.
It just passed the 70k mile mark, so it's not like this transmission has a ton of miles on it. Anyone have any ideas what it could be?
Thanks in advance!!
All seems fine until I get to about 45, when I notice it sitting at about 4,500 rpms, with barely any gas. It should have shifted, but it hadn't. So I give it a little gas and it revs very quickly, as if I'm in neutral. I pull into a parking lot right away and come to a stop. Put it in reverse and it works no problem, put it into drive and it makes just a little bit of noise for a moment but goes away, and moving to overdrive gives no indication of any issues. I give it a bit of a gas to the point that it should shift into 2nd gear, but it never does.
I haven't had any indication whatsoever to this point of a potential transmission issue, it's been perfect since I've had it. Only driven 1,000 miles since I bought the car in March, but it's been totally problem free.
It just passed the 70k mile mark, so it's not like this transmission has a ton of miles on it. Anyone have any ideas what it could be?
Thanks in advance!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
So I'm driving into work this morning and the car is acting just fine (1991 C4), no problems at all. Take it through some back roads and out onto an open one, shifts gears without any trouble. Get to a light and come to a stop, then start moving again.
All seems fine until I get to about 45, when I notice it sitting at about 4,500 rpms, with barely any gas. It should have shifted, but it hadn't. So I give it a little gas and it revs very quickly, as if I'm in neutral. I pull into a parking lot right away and come to a stop. Put it in reverse and it works no problem, put it into drive and it makes just a little bit of noise for a moment but goes away, and moving to overdrive gives no indication of any issues. I give it a bit of a gas to the point that it should shift into 2nd gear, but it never does.
I haven't had any indication whatsoever to this point of a potential transmission issue, it's been perfect since I've had it. Only driven 1,000 miles since I bought the car in March, but it's been totally problem free.
It just passed the 70k mile mark, so it's not like this transmission has a ton of miles on it. Anyone have any ideas what it could be?
Thanks in advance!!
All seems fine until I get to about 45, when I notice it sitting at about 4,500 rpms, with barely any gas. It should have shifted, but it hadn't. So I give it a little gas and it revs very quickly, as if I'm in neutral. I pull into a parking lot right away and come to a stop. Put it in reverse and it works no problem, put it into drive and it makes just a little bit of noise for a moment but goes away, and moving to overdrive gives no indication of any issues. I give it a bit of a gas to the point that it should shift into 2nd gear, but it never does.
I haven't had any indication whatsoever to this point of a potential transmission issue, it's been perfect since I've had it. Only driven 1,000 miles since I bought the car in March, but it's been totally problem free.
It just passed the 70k mile mark, so it's not like this transmission has a ton of miles on it. Anyone have any ideas what it could be?
Thanks in advance!!
The 2-4 servo & band work real hard in C4 700 R4 & 4L60E transmissions.
Unless you are familiar with Auto trans repair & service,
Might be best to have a competent mechanic / auto trans guy replace & repair the 2-4 servo seals.
They have a problem with the teflon seals splitting in 2 sometimes.
The 2nd gear servo is the large inner servo piston & separate housing that goes inside of the trans case 1st.
4th gear servo is towards the outside of the 2-4 servo cover.
It may all sound Greek to you, but its my diagnosis from here this morning.
BR
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Georgia
Thanks for your response! The car is sitting about 5 minutes from a Chevy dealer, but I'm not sure that that is the best place to take it.
My experience with transmissions is limited to putting a shift kit in a Mountaineer, so I'll certainly steer clear of doing anything myself. Is this something that's a difficult fix? If so, I'll try to track down the best transmission shop near where I left the car. If not, I might let the Chevy dealer look.
Thanks again!
My experience with transmissions is limited to putting a shift kit in a Mountaineer, so I'll certainly steer clear of doing anything myself. Is this something that's a difficult fix? If so, I'll try to track down the best transmission shop near where I left the car. If not, I might let the Chevy dealer look.
Thanks again!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 658
Likes: 7
From: Perth Amboy New Jersey
Thanks for your response! The car is sitting about 5 minutes from a Chevy dealer, but I'm not sure that that is the best place to take it.
My experience with transmissions is limited to putting a shift kit in a Mountaineer, so I'll certainly steer clear of doing anything myself. Is this something that's a difficult fix? If so, I'll try to track down the best transmission shop near where I left the car. If not, I might let the Chevy dealer look.
Thanks again!
My experience with transmissions is limited to putting a shift kit in a Mountaineer, so I'll certainly steer clear of doing anything myself. Is this something that's a difficult fix? If so, I'll try to track down the best transmission shop near where I left the car. If not, I might let the Chevy dealer look.
Thanks again!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Georgia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks for your response! The car is sitting about 5 minutes from a Chevy dealer, but I'm not sure that that is the best place to take it.
My experience with transmissions is limited to putting a shift kit in a Mountaineer, so I'll certainly steer clear of doing anything myself. Is this something that's a difficult fix? If so, I'll try to track down the best transmission shop near where I left the car. If not, I might let the Chevy dealer look.
Thanks again!
My experience with transmissions is limited to putting a shift kit in a Mountaineer, so I'll certainly steer clear of doing anything myself. Is this something that's a difficult fix? If so, I'll try to track down the best transmission shop near where I left the car. If not, I might let the Chevy dealer look.
Thanks again!
They have the best corvette mechanic in the area. He is old school.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
Unless you want to have a new transmission have it towed it will be cheaper than any damage you do driving it. There are a bunch of things it could be why chance it? If they tell you that you need a rebuilt one they are probably parts changers rather than rebuilders and be afraid. The transmission in a Corvette has some things Corvette specific and you don't want it to drive and shift like a station wagon.
Last edited by ddahlgren; Jun 24, 2011 at 11:30 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,765
Likes: 5
If you installed a shift kit in the past,
You know your way around automatic transmissions some.
All in vehicle repairs, Out of vehicle repairs, and sub assemblies are very well outlined in in the Factory service manual.
I can help you step by step if need help from me.
I have become the resident 700 R4 & 4L60 E trans guy most of the time here on C4.
Not what I was expecting 1 year ago when I overhauled & blue printed my own 87 Vert 700 R4 trans.
The 2-4 servo is accessible from underneath your Corvette without removing the transmission pan.
I am gone all day tomorrow / Saturday till 11 pm at night.
Have a sidejob to do.
Install an engine for someone I know.
paying $$$.
BR
You know your way around automatic transmissions some.
All in vehicle repairs, Out of vehicle repairs, and sub assemblies are very well outlined in in the Factory service manual.
I can help you step by step if need help from me.
I have become the resident 700 R4 & 4L60 E trans guy most of the time here on C4.
Not what I was expecting 1 year ago when I overhauled & blue printed my own 87 Vert 700 R4 trans.
The 2-4 servo is accessible from underneath your Corvette without removing the transmission pan.
I am gone all day tomorrow / Saturday till 11 pm at night.
Have a sidejob to do.
Install an engine for someone I know.
paying $$$.
BR
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Georgia
Thanks everyone for your responses!
C409: Yep, all's well there.
jaa1992: Day's Chevrolet is the one that was near the Corvette. Thanks for the tip, I'll keep Jim Ellis in mind for next time!
ddahlgren: Oh absolutely, I never had any desire to try to drive it anywhere.
87 vette 81 big girl: That's great to know, thanks!
I asked just about everyone I know near my area, but no one had a transmission shop that they'd recommend. With that in mind, I had it towed back to my house so we can take our time in getting it taken care of. No point in trying to rush and ending up at the wrong place.
I will let you know what we find, and again thanks so much for your feedback. It's very much appreciated
C409: Yep, all's well there.
jaa1992: Day's Chevrolet is the one that was near the Corvette. Thanks for the tip, I'll keep Jim Ellis in mind for next time!
ddahlgren: Oh absolutely, I never had any desire to try to drive it anywhere.
87 vette 81 big girl: That's great to know, thanks!
I asked just about everyone I know near my area, but no one had a transmission shop that they'd recommend. With that in mind, I had it towed back to my house so we can take our time in getting it taken care of. No point in trying to rush and ending up at the wrong place.
I will let you know what we find, and again thanks so much for your feedback. It's very much appreciated
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Georgia
An update...
I had the car towed back to my house, where it sat garaged for a week while I found a shop to take it to. Had it towed over there and a few days later they called to say... it shifted for them just fine when they test drove it (what???).
They said the TCC solenoid needed to be replaced, but otherwise they could find nothing wrong with the transmission. I had them do that along with a full service of the transmission, and next week I'm bringing it back for a shift kit.
The obvious question is, how could it get stuck in first gear for me, but then work after sitting around for a while? I'm not buying that there's nothing wrong, but they couldn't find anything. I was driving it hard before the issue came up. It was at about 4 in the morning and nice and cool outside.
Thanks as always for your help!
I had the car towed back to my house, where it sat garaged for a week while I found a shop to take it to. Had it towed over there and a few days later they called to say... it shifted for them just fine when they test drove it (what???).
They said the TCC solenoid needed to be replaced, but otherwise they could find nothing wrong with the transmission. I had them do that along with a full service of the transmission, and next week I'm bringing it back for a shift kit.
The obvious question is, how could it get stuck in first gear for me, but then work after sitting around for a while? I'm not buying that there's nothing wrong, but they couldn't find anything. I was driving it hard before the issue came up. It was at about 4 in the morning and nice and cool outside.
Thanks as always for your help!
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
An update...
I had the car towed back to my house, where it sat garaged for a week while I found a shop to take it to. Had it towed over there and a few days later they called to say... it shifted for them just fine when they test drove it (what???).
They said the TCC solenoid needed to be replaced, but otherwise they could find nothing wrong with the transmission. I had them do that along with a full service of the transmission, and next week I'm bringing it back for a shift kit.
The obvious question is, how could it get stuck in first gear for me, but then work after sitting around for a while? I'm not buying that there's nothing wrong, but they couldn't find anything. I was driving it hard before the issue came up. It was at about 4 in the morning and nice and cool outside.
Thanks as always for your help!
I had the car towed back to my house, where it sat garaged for a week while I found a shop to take it to. Had it towed over there and a few days later they called to say... it shifted for them just fine when they test drove it (what???).
They said the TCC solenoid needed to be replaced, but otherwise they could find nothing wrong with the transmission. I had them do that along with a full service of the transmission, and next week I'm bringing it back for a shift kit.
The obvious question is, how could it get stuck in first gear for me, but then work after sitting around for a while? I'm not buying that there's nothing wrong, but they couldn't find anything. I was driving it hard before the issue came up. It was at about 4 in the morning and nice and cool outside.
Thanks as always for your help!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
i dont want to hijack your thread but I wanted to ask 87VETTE 81BIG GIRL a few trans questions. I am pulling the engine from my 88 vette. Before the engine comes out I am going to drop the trans. When the trans is out would it be a good idea to replace the front pump and torque converter? Both are functioning perfectly now but since trans will be out I wanted to replace items that may fail in the near future. THe trans has approx 130,000 miles. Also would you recommend the 2-4 servo repair you mentioned. Thanks for any comments you have.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I have heard those solenoids can be finicky and not act up all the time.
Im no trans guy just repeating what ive heard from having issues not so different than yours. Not a big deal to replace.
Im no trans guy just repeating what ive heard from having issues not so different than yours. Not a big deal to replace.