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1997 Tranny Questions

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Old Jan 21, 2013 | 03:18 AM
  #1  
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Default 1997 Tranny Questions

I have a 97 with 92kmes now. I noticed the gears would slip when held at 4-6k RPM while getting on the highway. I then thought to check my tranny fluid level but I'm not sure which bolt is the full plug. does any one have pictures of it?? I took some of what I saw when I was under it but am currently on my phone and can't put them up.
I'm pretty sure the fluid would be low because when I got my fluid changed I watched him add it in and he didn't have the car on when he added it. it was off. I didn't know any better back then but it seems like it needs to be running to get accurate measures.

reasons I think I need to add fluid are because of the slippage and also my tranny temp was around 157 I think when I looked earlier tody which seems to be a high temp? so I was thinking low fluid would make a higher temp. opinions and diagrams and pictures will be MUCH appreciated! thank you!!
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Old Jan 21, 2013 | 08:50 AM
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I assume this is an auto that you are talking about. The plug is on the side of the pan and the only one there. It is on the drivers side. Get it up high enough you can get under it, make sure it is level. Don't remember exact temp but between 90 and 125 is probably close. Yeas it has to be running and you need a pump or some sort of long tube assembly to fill it. If you do a search on changing it you will find it. Hopefully not to late to save the trans.
GL
Chris
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Old Jan 21, 2013 | 01:58 PM
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Gears can't slip---just break--I think you mean the "clutches are slipping"
Try to describe better in which gear it slips---Is it in between gear changes ? the 1-2
2-3 or 3-4 gear change? Also if you can feel or hear the converter "lock up" which would feel like a 5th gear shift
Does it slip while cruising after a shift
Does it seem more like it's hanging onto a gear too long before it would normally shift ?
Does it do it at P/T only ?? WOT only ?? Or both ?
Each senario could point to a different solution--some bad some not so bad ---
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Old Jan 22, 2013 | 11:41 AM
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I tried to get it to happen again this morning to give a for sure definition but it didn't slip this time. it's give or take.
last time it happened it was when I was getting on the highway (probably went up to 100, over highway speeds). I had about 3/4 throttle probably. it was a 2-3 slip. it switched to second gear around 6k hit second at 4k then tried to switch to third around 6k again but it didn't hit a gear and just revved up to around 6.5k. then I let off and it caught third gear.
WOT has never slipped on me, however it does stutter for almost a whole second at 6.5k before it switches to second gear.
does this help at all?

on a side note, I checked the tranny fluid on a friends lift and it was perfectly filled and still fairly clean.
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Old Jan 23, 2013 | 12:29 PM
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
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AHHH Ok -- it isn't slipping YEA !!! ! While in 2nd gear as you say it goes up to 6000 RPM and it won't shift------and you let it go to 6500 and still it would not shift--So you lifted off the gas and it shifted--- finally Correct ??
1st the stutter you hear is the "safety rev limiter" that you are hitting (normal)
The trans is NOT "slipping" at shift
The trans is "skipping " the shift and going onto the safety rev limiter
This is a common issue
Most often caused by:
1. Changing rear tire size to other than stock----Can be from getting new tires of a different BRAND but more rare
2. A tuner has entered some WOT shift points that are too close both up and down
to the projected speed at 6000 RPM ( WOT shift RPM)
3. You raised the shift points with a handheld tuner too high
Has nothing to do with fluid level

There can be other reasons for skipping a shift if none of the above apply-- they center around a trans that's been abused or one with high miles-- many times correctable with a full tune or retune---
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Old Jan 23, 2013 | 02:58 PM
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it's probably the limiter on the stutter but it's definitely slipping too on 2-3.
for the stutter, the car is stock tuned as far as I know. I'm getting it tuned on a dyno in the near future though, I was going to change out plugs, wires, and the fuel filter first. the tires may be a little bigger or smaller. I'm not sure, I haven't personally done anything like that to the car yet.

as far as the slipping goes, I got it to slip again this morning. it shifted to second finely then tried to shift to third around 4k but slipped up to 5k then I let off and it switched gears to third. it has 92k miles and has had a fairly good life I think. I'm not rough on it too often and the previous owner seemed like he treated it well. there was one before him though.

Last edited by cole3; Jan 23, 2013 at 04:57 PM.
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Old Jan 23, 2013 | 05:33 PM
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Failure to shift 2-3 if the tuning in the PCM hasn't changed is likely the beginning of a failure of the 3-4 clutch pack.
Common for the 4L60E.
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Old Jan 23, 2013 | 05:38 PM
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Originally Posted by RonSSNova
Failure to shift 2-3 if the tuning in the PCM hasn't changed is likely the beginning of a failure of the 3-4 clutch pack.
Common for the 4L60E.
kind of thought it'd be an expensive issue. I got quoted $2800 to rebuild the tranny.
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Old Jan 24, 2013 | 02:31 PM
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
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Originally Posted by cole3
kind of thought it'd be an expensive issue. I got quoted $2800 to rebuild the tranny.
If you are going to replace it yourself --Performabuilt is good they have various levels for expected HP ranges--and a wonderful gaurantee
And NO worries about a core charge---Also other trannys on the froum vendors list
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