No First Gear Or Reverse
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
No First Gear Or Reverse
Searched the forums for the last three hours and I can't come up with anyone close to what I have going on. 1990 C4, 87,000 miles, bone stock, With an Automatic- I have the Factory Service Manuals, both volumes.
Took the car out of storage for the summer today. Reversed out of the garage and everything was fine. Drove it forty miles to my condo, went to Reverse into my parking spot- and nothing. The car wouldn't Reverse. The shifter would move into Reverse gear, but the car wouldn't move. I had a sneaking suspicion, so I put the car into First- nothing there either. The rest of the gears work fine, but I noticed two things on the drive home: One, a "shuddering" from the rear of the car at speeds around 47-55MPH. Two, the car seemed sluggish off the line in Overdrive.
I did some research, and I'm wondering if this means the OD unit is toast. The posts that talk about a blown OD unit don't say anything about not having First gear. I'm wondering what the connection is- and why it Reverse worked fine this morning.
Any thoughts would be appreciated- this is only my third year with the car. I'm still new to all of this.
Took the car out of storage for the summer today. Reversed out of the garage and everything was fine. Drove it forty miles to my condo, went to Reverse into my parking spot- and nothing. The car wouldn't Reverse. The shifter would move into Reverse gear, but the car wouldn't move. I had a sneaking suspicion, so I put the car into First- nothing there either. The rest of the gears work fine, but I noticed two things on the drive home: One, a "shuddering" from the rear of the car at speeds around 47-55MPH. Two, the car seemed sluggish off the line in Overdrive.
I did some research, and I'm wondering if this means the OD unit is toast. The posts that talk about a blown OD unit don't say anything about not having First gear. I'm wondering what the connection is- and why it Reverse worked fine this morning.
Any thoughts would be appreciated- this is only my third year with the car. I'm still new to all of this.
Last edited by DefinitelyMiami; May 2, 2020 at 06:46 PM. Reason: Mispoke.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 142
Likes: 36
From: Southern New Hampshire
This is a shot in the dark... Have you checked the linkage at the transmission? There is a bracket holding the cable that is attached by two of the trans pan bolts. When one or both of these bolts come loose, it can do funny things to the shifter as the cable now binds. Just a thought
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
The level was a little low, about a quart down, and I noticed some trans fluid on the ground where the car had been parked. Not a lot, but some. I made sure not to overfill it or use the synthetic stuff, and I added some back in. Still no reverse or 1st.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
The shifter will move through all the gears but the car itself won't budge in D1 or Reverse. I need to check the fluid again while it's running- when I checked it at the garage, it was running and was down about a quart.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Look for the apply chart in your FSM. It will confirm this....the only common item for Reverse and L1 is the Low/Reverse Clutch. Its an internal failure, time for a rebuild or unit replacement.
That is as long as you have ruled out any linkage issues. It is NOT a electronically controlled automatic all old school TV and Governor stuff.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...jUX3Exs_O6UJtG
That is as long as you have ruled out any linkage issues. It is NOT a electronically controlled automatic all old school TV and Governor stuff.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...jUX3Exs_O6UJtG
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
From: MotorCity
Nope, sh** happens, suppose I should have put ”flex plate”
Not a Corvette but mine let loose on a busy road 100 miles from home not funny.
After towing home and assuming something internally was broken I started removing the Trans when sheered bolts from the TC fell out as I dropped the inspection cover.
Looked like a easy fix until I realized the Trans still had to come out because the TC bolts tore up the TC and flex plate. I never heard anything and was not accelerating just loss of power.
Not a Corvette but mine let loose on a busy road 100 miles from home not funny.
After towing home and assuming something internally was broken I started removing the Trans when sheered bolts from the TC fell out as I dropped the inspection cover.
Looked like a easy fix until I realized the Trans still had to come out because the TC bolts tore up the TC and flex plate. I never heard anything and was not accelerating just loss of power.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Nope, sh** happens, suppose I should have put ”flex plate”
Not a Corvette but mine let loose on a busy road 100 miles from home not funny.
After towing home and assuming something internally was broken I started removing the Trans when sheered bolts from the TC fell out as I dropped the inspection cover.
Looked like a easy fix until I realized the Trans still had to come out because the TC bolts tore up the TC and flex plate. I never heard anything and was not accelerating just loss of power.
Not a Corvette but mine let loose on a busy road 100 miles from home not funny.
After towing home and assuming something internally was broken I started removing the Trans when sheered bolts from the TC fell out as I dropped the inspection cover.
Looked like a easy fix until I realized the Trans still had to come out because the TC bolts tore up the TC and flex plate. I never heard anything and was not accelerating just loss of power.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 123
Likes: 18
From: Tupper Lake NY
If I remember correctly 1st and reverse use alot of the same hydrolic circuits and maybe even the same clutch pac so I would say time for a rebuild. I havent rebuilt a trans in over 20 years but I did many when I was at a gm dealership.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Trans
The op states fine then not fine.
i am going to go with a fluid level issue/ filter.
i would change both.
also, the “overdrive unit going bad refers to a stick car with a bolt on overdrive.
do to get back to first/rev, as previously mentioned, they share the same power path.
Thats where i would change fluid and filter, then try it.
i am going to go with a fluid level issue/ filter.
i would change both.
also, the “overdrive unit going bad refers to a stick car with a bolt on overdrive.
do to get back to first/rev, as previously mentioned, they share the same power path.
Thats where i would change fluid and filter, then try it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
No reverse
Have you thought to look under it and make sure the rear end doesnt have fluid everywhere?
shuddering sometime means the rear axle fluid is low, especially on turns
shuddering sometime means the rear axle fluid is low, especially on turns
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 146
Likes: 26
If the tranny was fine when you parked it and now its not I would be looking at the valve body. maybe a check ball is stuck or something the bad thing is if you dont apply fluid pressure you burn the clutches, destroy a sprag etc. what Tranny is this?