It never ends.. Transmission and TCC Problems

Thanks Everyone.

It does feel like I am still playing with four gears, just the forth one rev's a lot higher than it should.

I'm thinking i'll get this, and the exhaust leak fixed at the same time. I believe it's rusted through on the exhaust by the manifold.

I have also been considering a tranny cooler, would it be worthwhile for these 4t60e's?

If you get the TC clutch fixed, no need for a tranny cooler. If you don't get the TCC fixed, I'd get the tranny cooler immediately.

Keep in mind your fuel economy will suffer as long as the TCC isn't working properly. You're probably taking a 20-30% hit to your hwy MPG.

You'll find many different opinions in this forum regarding tranny coolers. Personally, I'm planning to add one because I live in a hilly area, and the 'best' that a stock cooler can do is keep the tranny down to the coolant temperature. Unfortunately, that means that in slow traffic or climbing hills the transmission is going to be starting at almost 200*, plus the additional heat from it's own operation...

The general consensus on the internet is that you start shortening the life of your fluid and tranny with sustained temps over 175*. I may have a bug in the PCM (bone-stock) but before I went to a 180* thermostat in the engine, I would occasionally feel the tranny go into "hot mode" on cool, non-A/C days - and that's not supposed to happen on a 4T65 until it reaches 266 degrees!

(Hot Mode is when the the PCM turns off all "shift adapts", raises the line pressure, and makes all shifts very firm in order to eliminate slippage and the associated heat.)

I don't know if the '95 is plumbed exactly the same way, but what finally may my mind up was Jason doing the hard preliminary work on his '98 and creating an excellent write-up, with photos, halfway down the page at:
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/series-ii-engine-transmission-f4/write-up-transmission-cooler-t1748.htm?highlight=transmission+fluid

While I couldn't find his Mr. Transmission brand in the States, a lot of research has led me to believe that it is indeed the B&M stacked-plate cooler kit, #70268... Amazon has it with free shipping for less than $50:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000CIGE9G/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Mark,
Let me know what you decide to do and please record all fittings and such needed for install. Also, what about an inline thermostat. Are they available?
Thanks, Rick

Rickw wrote:

Mark,
Let me know what you decide to do and please record all fittings and such needed for install. Also, what about an inline thermostat. Are they available?
Thanks, Rick

Unless I'm horribly, horribly wrong, everything will be included in the kit, and per Jason's writeup everything is used except the 2 alternate-size tubing fittings... Hopefully the only thing I'll do differently is paint the brackets before installation

I've never heard of an inline thermostat, but this cooler has a viscosity-based bypass built into it so that the fluid doesn't pass thru the plates unless is is warm and thin. Plus, the instructions are written the same way that my 30+ year tranny guy told me to install the one on my Caddy 15 years ago: the fluid still passes thru the stock cooler in the radiator, then goes thru the add-on cooler. That way it gets warmed up adequately even in cold climates. I drove the Eldorado in the middle of winter at Lake Tahoe a couple times and didn't feel anything different. (Those original longitudinal-engine front-drivers are GREAT in the snow, by the way... Our transverse '92 LeSabre was crap. )

BTW, those BCS filters get there yet?

Eldo wrote:

BTW, those BCS filters get there yet?

No, Not yet.!!!
Correction: Received in mail today.
Thanks

Yesterday on the way home from work, the transmission shifted into OD, it ran beautifully... until I came to a stop - then it was back to 3rd.

Going to take it back to the tranny shop tomorrow or friday. Hoping for the best.

I've been driving the car at much lower speeds, hoping this will keep it from getting too hot - I've also been checking the fluid. A couple times I've pulled the stick and the upper part of it was either steaming or smoking, but the fluid was still red, and it was still showing full

You should be okay for a little while, as long as you don't take a 300 mile trip at 85 mph in 90º heat. Good idea keeping an eye on the fluid!

Awesome. The most driving I'll have to do is a couple 100km trips, other than the daily 60km to work, 60 back.

Its been around 20 degrees (68 degrees fahrenheit) the past few days, so I guess I'm not being too mean to 'her.

I hope this car stops acting up. I want to start working on the '81. lol.

jamie wrote:

A couple times I've pulled the stick and the upper part of it was either steaming or smoking, but the fluid was still red, and it was still showing full

Wow
I've never seen tranny fluid steam or smoke before... Maybe you should take it for a good ride before you go back to the tranny shop, and show them that little trick as soon as you get there.

any chance your tranny was flooded?

Albertj

When the fluid is really starting to cook, you'll smell it. Then it's time to shut her down & cool off.

AA wrote:

When the fluid is really starting to cook, you'll smell it. Then it's time to shut her down & cool off.

By that time it's already starting to do damage to the friction plates amongst other things.

I got the transmission from a shop in Ontario, I'm not sure of its history, unfortunately.

Today, I noticed one of my vacuum lines were being pulled flat, I applied throttle under the hood, watching how my vac lines reacted. This one is the only one I noticed doing anything sketchy.



Would that one effect my shifting? It does split off and run down to the transmission...

Haha! I think its working properly now ! Excellent

- perhaps it coincidentally just worked when i took it to the store... will see after work.

.... yeah... still acting up. damn.