Automatic Transmission 2-Speed thru 10-Speed GM Autos | Converters | Shift Kits
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

My trans wont shift at WOT

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 11, 2010 | 05:05 PM
  #1  
Longshot LCMS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Parris Island, SC
Default My trans wont shift at WOT

I've searched and can't come up with anything definitive. My trans is a built 4L60E... for some reason now it wont shift at WOT in any gear. Any other time, it's good.

Hooked up a pressure gauge, it's a little on the high side of pressure from what GM recommends, but it's within spec.
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2010 | 05:08 PM
  #2  
performabuilt's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,854
Likes: 80
From: BLOOMSBURG PA
Default

have you been tuned for the stall ?
Have you changed rear rartios?
Have you added power?

All of these things may required retuning for proper shifts at wot
__________________
Built..PerformaBuilt..Tough

Call 888-744-6542


Reply
Old Apr 11, 2010 | 05:20 PM
  #3  
Longshot LCMS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Parris Island, SC
Default

Originally Posted by performabuilt
have you been tuned for the stall ?
Have you changed rear rartios?
Have you added power?

All of these things may required retuning for proper shifts at wot
Its been tuned, thats not the problem.
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2010 | 02:14 AM
  #4  
performabuilt's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,854
Likes: 80
From: BLOOMSBURG PA
Default

Originally Posted by Longshot LCMS
Its been tuned, thats not the problem.
I would not say that without a few test.
1st when the trans is given the command to shift there are only two choices it shifts or it slips if it slipped it would only be a few times till it slipped under all throttle. .
But there are several things to look for
1- The disired shift time could be set to close to the rev limiter I would highly suspect this if when you are slightly off full throttle it does shift. generally at WOT from comand to actual shift depending on the condition of the trans and the rear ratio and of course power level it can take from 200 to 400 rpm to complete the shift on the 1-2 and even more on the 2-3 shift.

And on top of that unless i miss understand this is happening in both the 1-2 and the 2-3 shift an it would seem very unlikley that there would be any mechanical issue affecting both shifts.

There are test you can do to determine if the comand is being given but before i did that I would try lowering the shift points at wot.
I know many times when people are setting up the shift points they fail to take into account that hydraulics unlike electronics are not instant, They also dont take into account converter slip and rate or rpm increase with higher power levels and gearing. this can be particulary true with mail order tunes as they dont have access to the car.
__________________
Built..PerformaBuilt..Tough

Call 888-744-6542


Reply
Old Apr 12, 2010 | 04:11 AM
  #5  
Longshot LCMS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Parris Island, SC
Default

Originally Posted by performabuilt
I would not say that without a few test.
1st when the trans is given the command to shift there are only two choices it shifts or it slips if it slipped it would only be a few times till it slipped under all throttle. .
But there are several things to look for
1- The disired shift time could be set to close to the rev limiter I would highly suspect this if when you are slightly off full throttle it does shift. generally at WOT from comand to actual shift depending on the condition of the trans and the rear ratio and of course power level it can take from 200 to 400 rpm to complete the shift on the 1-2 and even more on the 2-3 shift.

And on top of that unless i miss understand this is happening in both the 1-2 and the 2-3 shift an it would seem very unlikley that there would be any mechanical issue affecting both shifts.

There are test you can do to determine if the comand is being given but before i did that I would try lowering the shift points at wot.
I know many times when people are setting up the shift points they fail to take into account that hydraulics unlike electronics are not instant, They also dont take into account converter slip and rate or rpm increase with higher power levels and gearing. this can be particulary true with mail order tunes as they dont have access to the car.
I'll email my tuner about it, but this was an in person tune from an extremely reputable tuner. We were doing this all out on the road. He's raced a 4L60E car since 98'... I'll run all this by him, but I doubt it's the issue.
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2010 | 10:29 AM
  #6  
Longshot LCMS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Parris Island, SC
Default

Originally Posted by Bro Inc
Well if it's got good pressure and a good tune, but slips under power in all gears it must be the forward clutches going out.
No thats not it either?

You need to take it back to the tuner and have him scan it when the problem occurs, this way he can monitor trans slip, etc.
What everyone is failing to understand is that this has already occurred, it was with the tuner in the car. He monitored all that with EFI Live. No slip occurred. I talked to my tranny builder, he said that the pressure wasn't where it should have been while driving, he's pretty sure it's toast.
Reply
Old Apr 30, 2010 | 09:38 PM
  #7  
Longshot LCMS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Parris Island, SC
Default

I have a bit of data back on the trans... Maybe someone could offer some help based on this?

First, the car put down only 350whp on a Dynojet... This is a Torquer 2 cam, full bolt on car. Converter was locked, power goes flat all the way across from about 5k on up... literally like a straight line.

Second, using EFI live, Doc @ EFI Alchemy was unable to detect any slippage in the trans.

Next, using the GM protocol for testing the trans it passes for pressure. Hooked up a pressure gauge to the test port and drove around, it's at 60psi through normal driving, hammer on it and it shoots to 120psi and makes a thunk sound and bounces off the limiter then pressure drops down to 60psi again, then I let off. No clue if it will shift or not if I stay in it, trying to avoid any further drivetrain damage.

I was able to get the car to shift the other day while driving it. I attempted to go through the gears manually starting at a slow roll in 2... I ran it through the powerband, and when putting it in D at around 6k rpm it waited a second till it got to the shift point, then hit 3rd. After pulling for a sec in 3rd I let off. I could get it to do this twice, then it wouldn't do it after that...

Transmission fluid is an orangish color, I haven't pulled the pan to see if there's anything in there yet.

My tranny builder said the pressure should be at 200+ when I go full throttle, he seems to think the trans is done and the converter probably is too.

This is literally pretty much all the info I have...

In regards to tuning questions, I'm open to suggestions, but I doubt this is the problem. DOC is a very well respected tuner in the southeast for LS1s, he races a built 4L60E car himself. I'm very confidant he knows how to tune one.

That being said... any additional ideas?
Reply
Old May 1, 2010 | 08:01 AM
  #8  
Longshot LCMS's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: Parris Island, SC
Default

Originally Posted by Bro Inc
pressure went from a little on the high side to low. Interesting.

Whats Doc say when it bounces off the rev limiter and doesn't show any slip?

could be tuning, could be low max line, should have checked max line pressure with the gauge....
Doc didn't have much to say about it honestly. He called a trusted GM Master Tech who he has build all his trannies and his response was that the trans is pretty much done.

I don't think it's tuning... We were doing on the road tuning with the Moates Roadrunner and EFI Live. Adjustments were able to happen in realtime on the fly. Doc knows how to set up a 4L60E tune, that being said I'm just going to rule it out as a potential tuning issue.

I guess there's not a lot more to talk about in regards to the trans, it's probably dead. I just don't know why I was able to get it to shift a couple times before but not all the time.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-4

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-8

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:26 PM.

story-0
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-4
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-5
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-6
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-9
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE