Serious problems with 700r4. Help!
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Serious problems with 700r4. Help!
hello, I am very new here and joined so I could hopefully find some answers to my problems. First off, it's a 1991 700r4, that I rebuilt and followed the instructions perfectly, to the point where I took the valve body off 3 times because I kept second guessing myself. Anyway. I put a mild shift kit in it, and now that I have it up in my vehicle I have found that it won't shift out of 1st, neutral is a forward gear and so is reverse. When I have it it park it still feels like there is a clutch pack engaged, but park will hold it in place. Does anyone have any idea what I did wrong? P.s. I hooked up the TV cable and set it up to reset or adjust it by pushing the throttle to the floor, which I promptly forgot to do because I was so excited to see if my trans worked. Could this be it?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I didn't just take the valve body off, I rebuilt the whole thing. And I did use a ATSG manual. Thanks for your input though I will definitely try those things!
If ALL you did was remove the valve body, you obviously got something wrong. But you should be able to fix it.
A fairly easy to make mistake for a neophyte is to get the upper and lower valve body / separator plate gaskets transposed. The upper and lower ARE different. One has a "V" cut into it and is the lower, the other a "C" and is the upper.
Go online and find some ATSG manuals for the 4L60. I found one in .pdf form, I have it on my tablet and use it in the shop when I have a 4L60 on the bench. It really helps as I only do one or two a year, and the reference keeps me from making dumb mistakes. The manual will show you how to identify the gaskets, and give you the check ball locations.
If you have the fwd clutch engaged in Park, you have a cross-leak. Studying the ATSG book may lead you to the exact location of the problem, but this will be tough for a novice. Go over the stuff you can fix: The gaskets in the correct location, check ***** in the correct location, TV valve works correctly (its possible to mess up the install of the lever thingy when installing the Valve Body), and fluid level is correct. You could also do a pressure test. This tells a LOT about what is happening.
If you can't figure out what you did wrong by going over exactly what you touched and changed, tow it to a shop and let a guy that's done hundreds of them figure it out. He probably can because he's so familiar with what's "in there". But that experience has a price.
A fairly easy to make mistake for a neophyte is to get the upper and lower valve body / separator plate gaskets transposed. The upper and lower ARE different. One has a "V" cut into it and is the lower, the other a "C" and is the upper.
Go online and find some ATSG manuals for the 4L60. I found one in .pdf form, I have it on my tablet and use it in the shop when I have a 4L60 on the bench. It really helps as I only do one or two a year, and the reference keeps me from making dumb mistakes. The manual will show you how to identify the gaskets, and give you the check ball locations.
If you have the fwd clutch engaged in Park, you have a cross-leak. Studying the ATSG book may lead you to the exact location of the problem, but this will be tough for a novice. Go over the stuff you can fix: The gaskets in the correct location, check ***** in the correct location, TV valve works correctly (its possible to mess up the install of the lever thingy when installing the Valve Body), and fluid level is correct. You could also do a pressure test. This tells a LOT about what is happening.
If you can't figure out what you did wrong by going over exactly what you touched and changed, tow it to a shop and let a guy that's done hundreds of them figure it out. He probably can because he's so familiar with what's "in there". But that experience has a price.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 812
From: Saskatoon Sask.
If ALL you did was remove the valve body, you obviously got something wrong. But you should be able to fix it.
A fairly easy to make mistake for a neophyte is to get the upper and lower valve body / separator plate gaskets transposed. The upper and lower ARE different. One has a "V" cut into it and is the lower, the other a "C" and is the upper.
Go online and find some ATSG manuals for the 4L60. I found one in .pdf form, I have it on my tablet and use it in the shop when I have a 4L60 on the bench. It really helps as I only do one or two a year, and the reference keeps me from making dumb mistakes. The manual will show you how to identify the gaskets, and give you the check ball locations.
If you have the fwd clutch engaged in Park, you have a cross-leak. Studying the ATSG book may lead you to the exact location of the problem, but this will be tough for a novice. Go over the stuff you can fix: The gaskets in the correct location, check ***** in the correct location, TV valve works correctly (its possible to mess up the install of the lever thingy when installing the Valve Body), and fluid level is correct. You could also do a pressure test. This tells a LOT about what is happening.
If you can't figure out what you did wrong by going over exactly what you touched and changed, tow it to a shop and let a guy that's done hundreds of them figure it out. He probably can because he's so familiar with what's "in there". But that experience has a price.
A fairly easy to make mistake for a neophyte is to get the upper and lower valve body / separator plate gaskets transposed. The upper and lower ARE different. One has a "V" cut into it and is the lower, the other a "C" and is the upper.
Go online and find some ATSG manuals for the 4L60. I found one in .pdf form, I have it on my tablet and use it in the shop when I have a 4L60 on the bench. It really helps as I only do one or two a year, and the reference keeps me from making dumb mistakes. The manual will show you how to identify the gaskets, and give you the check ball locations.
If you have the fwd clutch engaged in Park, you have a cross-leak. Studying the ATSG book may lead you to the exact location of the problem, but this will be tough for a novice. Go over the stuff you can fix: The gaskets in the correct location, check ***** in the correct location, TV valve works correctly (its possible to mess up the install of the lever thingy when installing the Valve Body), and fluid level is correct. You could also do a pressure test. This tells a LOT about what is happening.
If you can't figure out what you did wrong by going over exactly what you touched and changed, tow it to a shop and let a guy that's done hundreds of them figure it out. He probably can because he's so familiar with what's "in there". But that experience has a price.
Best constructive guidelines I have seen on here in a long time!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 128
Likes: 13
Matt, go to transmissionbench.com and watch the 4l60E vidoes if you have not. The guy goes real slow through everything as far as the general rebuild goes. Pressure tests are the first step in the ATSG manual, IIRC. That Black and white ATSG manual was hard to see all the detail in the PDF I had. Hiram Gutierrez has some nice youtube rebuild videos also.
I've done ONE rebuild so far, so not an expert here by any means. (4l60E Silverado rebuild soon to follow though)
Good luck.
I've done ONE rebuild so far, so not an expert here by any means. (4l60E Silverado rebuild soon to follow though)
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I always begin with a pressure check when trying to figure out where I screwed up. I didn't used to, I'd just begin taking things apart looking. But I've learned how valuable a pressure check IS. It can really help you look in the correct place. I did a 700 that had no reverse. I never drove it, but I figured it had to come back out. I did a pressure test and found that everything was low. No reverse boost at all, hence no reverse. I pulled the pan and found the pressure valve c-clip laying there. I guess it wasn't seated. I put it back together, and everything worked just fine. The pressure test saved an R&R (in a 4X4 no less) and taking something apart that didn't need to be.
It's REALLY easy to think you got the C clip in the right position when you really don't. This is a VERY common mistake by people who have never rebuilt a 700r4/4L60.
