Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 5:58 pm
I am thinking its time for a rebuild but i wanted to get some expert opinions from those that have delt with transmissions, i have 0 experience with the insides of them. After installing my I/C and dropping down to a 3.2 pulley my tq has pretty much exceed what a 180k mile stock 4T60E can handle. My 1-2 shift is set at 53mph and 5500rpm. It is over revving to 6300 and 60+mph and still doesnt shift sometimes. I have to let off the gas briefly to let it shift and then its fine. When it does shift at WOT its like its neutral revving and slamming into the next gear. NOT GOOD.
So, i pulled the pan and changed the fluid (had 30k on it). Pic of fluid and magnet as it came out. Really not that bad IMO.
Put in a WIX filter and filled it up with dexron 6. I did not flush it.
It shifts much better at WOT now BUT, now i am having an issue where when its really hot out and trans temps get up there it will slip into neutral coming to a light. I can rev it up and get nothing to the wheels. I hear a whistle/whine from the trans when it slips up. Dropping it into 1st doesnt help but if i put the shifter into N and then back to D it will shift back into drive and be ok for a few more lights.
What part is breaking that would cause this? Maybe i just need another shift modulator?? If i get it rebuilt are there any HD internal parts for the 4T60E? Will aftermarket 245mm converters work?
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4314 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:13 pm
I say just rebuild the damn thing and get it over with. There are TONS of parts available for that trans....including a bigger gear with POSI If you're serious bout buildin it, I can point you to the right stuff online.
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:18 pm
im serious about building it but i am a college kid so i must budget myself. I would be ok is it was around $2000 for everything installed and i do have a local shop that is very good at rebuilds. I really dont want to tackle this myself since i dont have a trans jack or a motor hoist.
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4314 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:30 pm
Well hell.....find a trans at the junkyard and have it rebuilt. This way, your car won't be down for so long. When the "new" one is done, swap it out. That's how I'd do it anyway.....
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:33 pm
So what parts would you recommend throwing into it and are the TC's the same as the 4T65's?
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4314 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:46 pm
Dammit, I forgot you have the 4T60E......I'm looking at parts right now for it. The 4T60 shares parts with the 440T4 and the 4T65. Yes, there are HD parts available for the 4T60E. I'll do some research for ya before I get back to you on it.
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:54 pm
That is the delima i have been facing in trying to find performance parts. I know there is a good shift kit for it, but that is about it that i have been seeing. Thanks for the help thus far.
Anyone know what is going bad in my trans? If i know what it is maybe i can prolong the life of it until the rebuild is done and i can be sure to get a upgraded parts.
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4314 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:57 pm
You have a scanner? If you do, monitor the gear selection and the line pressures to see what it's doing. Sounds like the 1-2 solenoid may be shit. Once it's in gear and driving, do all the other gears work ok?
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:59 pm
Never had a problem shifting 2-3 at WOT, and that shift point has been raised. If the 1-2 solenoid is sticking would it cause the car to drop into neutral at idle?
edit: also no problems shifting 1-2 at any throttle position under 95%
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:04 pm
also, i am assuming it is dropping into neutral since when i start giving it gas nothing happens. it could be trying to start in 2nd or 3rd gear. i dont want to jump on the gas too much when its messing up since it jumps into gear whenever it want to. (dont want to launch into the car in front of me at a light lol)
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4314 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:17 pm
I'm just goin by what I've seen. I'm no trans tech....trust me. Aside from diagnosing the electrical side of one, and replacing the solenoids and such, I know dick about transmissions lol. I have a buddy of mine (from the Buick dealer) who's a trans guy. I'll call him in the morning and ask him what your symptom points to.
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:19 pm
i appreciate the help. If you need anything from a junk yard let me know and ill see what i can grab you when i am looking for a used 4T60E.
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
AA Administrator
Name : Aaron Age : 47 Location : C-bus, Ohio Joined : 2007-01-13Post Count : 18452 Merit : 252
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:54 am
Sorry to hear this, Matthew. At 180k with your mods, your trans has lasted longer than most!
It's strange, but there comes a point when you've replaced enough parts, the car seems to feel almost "new again". I think you'll be at that point after the new trans.
'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles ^^^ SOLD ^^^
bigdave Fanatic
Name : Dave Age : 60 Location : Cheektowaga , NY (Buffalo) Joined : 2010-10-17Post Count : 399 Merit : 22
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:36 am
Recheck your fluid level with your car warm. If your loss of power to the wheels condition at idle started after the fluid change, it could be low fluid. I would also think a bad vacuum modulator could cause the shifting problem if letting off the gas will allow it to shift. Hopefully this could buy you some time to find a used tranny and rebuild it. Then swap it out when its convenient. Also a tranny cooler may help if you dont already have one.
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:03 pm
Aaron, I agree that its getting to the point that everything is new. I like to think the car is now re-engineered to be better than factory since the mods and replacement parts are done to fit my needs.
Dave, I will be installing a trans cooler at the rear of the car with a fan when i get the new trans in. Im going to replace the modulator just for shits and giggles today and see if it makes a difference. last time it went bad i had fluid weeping out the front diaphragm, but its dry this time (doesnt me its not broke though). Will check the level again, but i had it spot on after the change and its not really leaking.
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4314 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sat Jun 04, 2011 1:19 pm
I called him. I described what was going on, and that you had done a filter change and the symptoms changed.....he immediately suggested monitoring all the solenoids with a scan tool lol. I said that probably wasn't possible. In a nutshell, you either have a solenoid going bad, or some debris stuck in the valve body somewhere. Either way, the side cover would have to be removed to clean it. I asked about a flush (a real one with a machine), and he said it certainly won't hurt.....
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sat Jun 04, 2011 1:21 pm
Thanks for checking that for me Scott.
just took a video and im still having a problem with the 1-2 shift. Fluid level is OK and i just bought a new modulator that will go in later today. its 85° outside and i was hitting it from a turn so dont hate. just wanted to show what the 1-2 shift was like. Again pcm set to shift at 5500rpm
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
AA Administrator
Name : Aaron Age : 47 Location : C-bus, Ohio Joined : 2007-01-13Post Count : 18452 Merit : 252
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sun Jun 05, 2011 9:46 am
To me that looks a lot like it's hitting the MPH limiter for the 1-2 shift. Try adjusting to a lower value and it might fix:
Calibration Data/Transmission/Shift Point - Normal/1st to 2nd_WOT: ___ MPH
'70 Ninety-Eight Holiday Coupe 455cid • 116k miles ^^^ SOLD ^^^
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:58 am
ok so according to wiki the 4t60e has a 245mm converter while the 4t65 has the 258mm. dont see why i cant use the "upgraded" 245 from zzp, but i may not notice a difference since that was the stock size in mine anyway. zzp claims its 8lbs lighter than stock (referring to a stock 4t65), are they lighter only because it is 13mm smaller or is it because of material too?
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Sat Jul 02, 2011 6:34 pm
Update: I have not had the car slip into neutral in almost 2 weeks. However the car did start making a nasty noise and im thinking its the trans.
It sounds like a chatter/knocking sound and seems to be coming from the driver side. I still dont have any KR to speak of and all the numbers on a scan gauge look great.
It only happens when i am on the gas and seeing boost. At first i thought maybe my s/c rotors were making contact with the housing due to a failed needle bearing, but everything i can see through the TB still has the teflon coating and looks good.
My other though was the front trans mount was chattering because it has somehow worked its way over and the metal mount housing is making contact with the metal mount bracket. I pried it back over and went for a drive. still had noise and when i got home it had worked its way back. Any idea why this is doing that? maybe failed side mount? The rear mount is new btw.
My final guess is that something internally in the trans is going out, like the chain. Maybe i am hearing the chain jump the sprockets or the chain dampener is worn and it flapping around. Whatever it is the car still pulls strong but when i am hearing the noise i can feel a slight surge.
Also it was only doing it when it wanted to, now its doing it almost all the time at rpms over 4k.
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:10 pm
bump. anybody got any ideas on the noise or the trans mount issue?
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
deekster_caddy Master
Name : Derek Age : 52 Location : Reading, MA Joined : 2007-01-31Post Count : 7717 Merit : 109
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:01 pm
Mr.Riviera wrote:
... It sounds like a chatter/knocking sound and seems to be coming from the driver side. ... It only happens when i am on the gas and seeing boost. ... At first i thought maybe my s/c rotors were making contact with the housing due to a failed needle bearing, but everything i can see through the TB still has the teflon coating and looks good.
... My final guess is that something internally in the trans is going out, like the chain. Maybe i am hearing the chain jump the sprockets or the chain dampener is worn and it flapping around.
Also it was only doing it when it wanted to, now its doing it almost all the time at rpms over 4k.
Sure sounds like you are describing a stretched chain.
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:05 pm
So should i get a larger chain for the rebuild? Will the ones zzp sells work on the 4T60?
Any harm in driving it like that until i can take it to the shop? will it break some other expensive component at WOT? thanks for the reply.
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
deekster_caddy Master
Name : Derek Age : 52 Location : Reading, MA Joined : 2007-01-31Post Count : 7717 Merit : 109
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:15 pm
I'm not sure what is interchangable with the 4T60 and 4T65 stuff. My understanding is that a lot of the core components are the same, but I don't know it that actually means they use the same part numbers, or if they are just 'similar'. Triple Edge Performance has a good reputation in our area as being a good performance builder, and willing to discuss issues over the phone. They are also a helluva lot cheaper than ZZP.
I think your worst possibility is to have the flexing chain wear out the case from the inside. Not sure if this will compromise structural integrity down the road or not. Probably should just take the SC belt off until you get that taken care of...
Mr.Riviera Expert
Name : Matthew Age : 38 Location : Florida Joined : 2007-01-17Post Count : 4394 Merit : 101
Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:17 pm
chain finally snapped today. had it towed to the race shop and they are going to rebuild it. We have been looking for aftermarket upgrades but have come up empty handed. i will be going with a performance shift kit, torque converter and better 2nd and 4th gear clutches
_________________ 1996 with 254k miles, L32 4" FWI -> ported N* -> Ported Gen V w/3.0" Pulley, Stage 3 Phenolic I/C, ZZP FMHE, 1.84 RR, Headers and 3" pipe to mufflers, F-body brakes, and lowered on Eibachs. -RIP AMG C400 White on black. Stage 2 w/E30 - 11.9@117 -daily
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Subject: Re: Transmission slipping into neutral at lights