Okay, it happened to me again today.....3-4 is gone...again!!

Well, to start it off...here is the story. I got a new hotcam kit for my car.....installed it....and sent out my PCM for tuning afterward. Got it back and my WOT shifts were bad. Hitting the rev limter a few times at WOT before any shifting would occur seemed to have taken its toll on the car and before i knew it....my 3-4 was gone.....(first time). I took the tranny out and had my transmission guy look it over. We ordered new 3-4 clutches and put it back in the car. At this time....i had already had the vendor put the PCM back to stock because i couldn't give them correct info for WOT shifts...so, i just decided to stick with the HPP3 for shift point for now. So, when the tranny was put back in....it had a stock program back in it. Well, 1 day after getting it put back in.......the 3-4 went again...(2nd time)..i also had it programmed with HPP3 this time. So, i put the car back to stock....and had the PCM checked at the dealer..they said the PCM didn't need flashed or anything and that it was telling the tranny what to do and such. SO, i assumed something mechanical. We took the tranny out again......and this time i bought a full TCI super rebuild kit....plus a transgo shift kit. I went through the whole tranny and cleaned everything. I took my Vig3200 to a spped shop and they checked out the TC and rebuilt it with new bearings only and cleaned it. No issues there. We found nothing inside the tranny to give a reason why it happened...other than possible contamination from first burnup and not cleaning enough. So, we install it and try it out...everything felt good and seemed fine. Installed my HPP3 for speedo correction and shift points. Car seemed fine. I have drove it now for about 3-4 weeks with no issues. Suddenly today.....it went again. (3rd time). This makes #3 now in about a span of 2-3 months!!

I was going with the idea of a bad tranny...but we went through and replaced clutches, checked solenoids, cleaned everything...did all we could....checked line pressure afterward......everything was good. Now, we are back at the idea of thinking the PCM is bad and something just isn't working right because of it. I have no SES light or anything......but repeated 3-4 clutch burnups after a bad tune originally jsut seems to make it all seem like it was the cause of it all. I am afraid to put another tranny in the car now. I have no idea what to do to find out if the PCM is good or not. Tired of the labor and the $$ of doing this as much as i have had too....

Does anyone have any ideas of what may be my prblem here...and what some options are. I don't have $2000 laying around for a performance tranny to go in. i need a way of getting this all fixed. But, as it sits now....car is just going up for storage for the year.......i jsut don't have the money to fix it...and it is getting really cold already..........so storage here we come!!

 

Do you have a aftermarket tranny cooler? If so did you flush it and the stocker too? Maybe there is some trash in there or still in the lines? I am having a hard time with the crazy computer idea. I couldn't store her away in that condition. It would just eat at me all winter. I grew up in the midwest, but now I enjoy the southern climate.

 

*Clutch clearance is critical. Three different venders will give you three different specs.

*Return springs are a must and shouldn't suffer any fatigue from a previous failure.

*Piston seals need to be tested during assembly.

*Valves need to be perfect, check ***** and seats too.

Is it possible you guys missed something in the setup?

... Ron

 

The trans. spends most of its time in either 3rd or 4th, right...?

(Are you driving around in 4th and you get very Frequent downshifts to 3rd because you're going too slow....? If this is the case, then you need to select manual 3rd while you're under 50MPH say; but, anyway, read on...)

You need to monitor the following parameters using AutoTap or EFILive (my preference):
a. TFT (trans fluid temp)
b. TFMDC (trans force motor duty cycle)
c. 2-3 shift time
d 2-3 shift time error
e. 3-4 shift time
f. 3-4 shift time error

One of the following is happening to you:
1. Trans is getting too hot.
2. Line pressure is too low.
3. Shift times are too long.
4. Internal leak causing 3-4 clutch to slip.
5. Clearance (like Ron said) is too big, causing slip.
6. Weak 3-4 clutch return springs allowing clutch plates to keep draging when released.
7. 3-4 clutch not assembled correctly allowing interference when applied (a return spring fell over).

Bad TPS, ECT, VSS sensors can cause 2. and 3. above, and 1. above can happen because of the others;

Also your gear lever and manual valve must be in sync (i.e. you may need to adjust your shift cable).

And make sure the ATF level is exactly on the mark.

 

To answer the first post. Yes, we flushed the stock cooler and lines using a flush kit from napa....i ran it until completely clear fluid came out. I installed a B&M cooler after this. I hate the idea of putting it away already also like this....but money forces me too right now!!

I had the same tranny guy work with me on this problem each time. he is also the guy that rebuilt the tranny right when i got the car like 2 1/2 years ago. I had to replace the motor which also lead to swapping trannies....i didn't get something right and crunched the pump.....he rebuilt it completely then....and hadn't had a single problem with my tranny up until the bad WOT shift points from tuning. After that....i have had nothing but issues with my 3-4 clutches burning up.

I am now thinking of taking it to Coan in Kokomo here in Indiana. They do racing trannies and convertors and such. only about 25 minutes away from me. Thinking of taking the tranny to them and having them rebuild it completely plus put some goodies in it to beef it up some. If i can come across a new PCM for a good price...i may just swap it out to know it is done. Don't know yet...i am jsut tired of dealing with this piece of crap tranny right now........i have never had so many issues like this to deal with....and it's the same thing....over and over.

Also, i do always leave the car in 3 driving around town...not until i get on the highway or anything above 45-50 do i put it in the OD. or 4th or whatever.

We checked line pressure after installing it last time...all was good. i checked all the solenoids electrically when it was out and all were within spec. Piston seals were all good and in tact with no tears or anything.

My fluid level was perfect also...valvoline ATF.

 

I dont want to be rude here, but have you ever given consideration to just going with an A3?

You can be very happy with a TH350 or TH400 if you dont plan on driving the car cross country. The 4L60E is just too expensive, and too damn cantankerous to deal with. Just my 2 cents. Just hoping to atleast give you a look in another direction. If you want any information on TH400 swap, email me. I can give you a run down on prices, and what to buy and not buy.
jay.mik@***.net

 

Actually, yes...i was considering swapping to an 350 or 400 turbo.....i just wasn't sure what all was involved.....i can get either one built up fairly cheap compared to this 4L60E piece of ****......worst excuse for a trannyi have ever seen.

Emailing you now!