4th gone, 3rd kinda gone?
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 2
From: Dyess AFB, TX
4th gone, 3rd kinda gone? Recently my car has not been making the 2-3 shift under any circumstances. Fluid level was fine, and it looked and smelled like new. Tonight I got on it and of course it wouldn't shift, so I let off and got back on it and it shifted but then just freely revved so I figured 3rd was gone for good. So I exited and drove around to do some accessment.
I have 1st and 2nd gear, so it's not one of the solenoids. If I put it in D or OD, it'll shift from 1st to 2nd fine, but won't shift into 3rd. But if I manually shift from 2nd to 3rd, it'll shift but sluggishly. If I shift from 3rd to 4th, it feels like there is no gear. This is all during partial throttle cruising.
So I have no 4th gear. I kind of have 3rd, but only if I manually shift. The fluid looks like new. My trans temp gauge never showed over 150 throughout the night. I'm not too bummed out about this because I knew it was only a matter of time (had 400rwhp for 6 months). I figured if the 3-4 clutch pack went out, 3rd would be entirely gone. Any suggestions?
I have 1st and 2nd gear, so it's not one of the solenoids. If I put it in D or OD, it'll shift from 1st to 2nd fine, but won't shift into 3rd. But if I manually shift from 2nd to 3rd, it'll shift but sluggishly. If I shift from 3rd to 4th, it feels like there is no gear. This is all during partial throttle cruising.
So I have no 4th gear. I kind of have 3rd, but only if I manually shift. The fluid looks like new. My trans temp gauge never showed over 150 throughout the night. I'm not too bummed out about this because I knew it was only a matter of time (had 400rwhp for 6 months). I figured if the 3-4 clutch pack went out, 3rd would be entirely gone. Any suggestions?
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Weird.....I'd have to say it's your 3/4 clutch pack. Your band is obviously still working, because you have second. Also, since you have second, the reaction shell, reaction shaft, sun gear, etc., are all still intact.
It has to be the 3/4 clutch pack. When I blew the lock ring out the back of the input drum, 3rd and 4th would both work up until about 55mph, then they would just slip.
Oh yeah, I know why you have 3rd in D only, line pressure is boosted in D, so you have more pressure to apply the clutches. When you go into OD, the line pressure drops, so the clutches just slip (I learned all kinds of cool stuff rebuilding my tranny twice
).
It has to be the 3/4 clutch pack. When I blew the lock ring out the back of the input drum, 3rd and 4th would both work up until about 55mph, then they would just slip.
Oh yeah, I know why you have 3rd in D only, line pressure is boosted in D, so you have more pressure to apply the clutches. When you go into OD, the line pressure drops, so the clutches just slip (I learned all kinds of cool stuff rebuilding my tranny twice
). 
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 2
From: Dyess AFB, TX
Originally Posted by Guardsman
Weird.....I'd have to say it's your 3/4 clutch pack. Your band is obviously still working, because you have second. Also, since you have second, the reaction shell, reaction shaft, sun gear, etc., are all still intact.
It has to be the 3/4 clutch pack. When I blew the lock ring out the back of the input drum, 3rd and 4th would both work up until about 55mph, then they would just slip.
Oh yeah, I know why you have 3rd in D only, line pressure is boosted in D, so you have more pressure to apply the clutches. When you go into OD, the line pressure drops, so the clutches just slip (I learned all kinds of cool stuff rebuilding my tranny twice ).
It has to be the 3/4 clutch pack. When I blew the lock ring out the back of the input drum, 3rd and 4th would both work up until about 55mph, then they would just slip.
Oh yeah, I know why you have 3rd in D only, line pressure is boosted in D, so you have more pressure to apply the clutches. When you go into OD, the line pressure drops, so the clutches just slip (I learned all kinds of cool stuff rebuilding my tranny twice
). Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (19)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 2
From: Dyess AFB, TX
Originally Posted by Guardsman
Don't know what to tell you then. Still sounds like the 3/4 clutches to me.
But if my clutches were toast, wouldn't my fluid be brown?
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Oh, sorry 
It may be brown, but the bigger thing is to smell it. It will probably smell like varnish, but it depends on how long it was slipping, etc. If the temperature didn't get high enough, then it won't burn.
When I blew out the the back of my input drum, I happened to have my scanner with me, and I monitored the tranny temp all the way home (about 100 miles), and it stayed around 118 degrees, so it may not have burned much.
If you need any suggestions for parts, etc. let me know. I've got a whole list of upgraded parts.
It may be brown, but the bigger thing is to smell it. It will probably smell like varnish, but it depends on how long it was slipping, etc. If the temperature didn't get high enough, then it won't burn.
When I blew out the the back of my input drum, I happened to have my scanner with me, and I monitored the tranny temp all the way home (about 100 miles), and it stayed around 118 degrees, so it may not have burned much.
If you need any suggestions for parts, etc. let me know. I've got a whole list of upgraded parts.
Trending Topics
Since 4th is overdriven, it places more load on the high gear clutch pack... With it already slipping in 3rd, its definitely not up to holding 4th.. Not to mention having to apply fluid to both the band and the high gear pack.
