I don't have any verified background on this tranny other than the guy telling me "it works perfect". Got the vehicle running and could not get any shifts or speed signal through the stock ecm and wanted to try the TCI EZ TCU any ways so installed that and went for a drive and the handheld shows the correct position and the trans will shift from first to second but then as it starts picking up speed it will feel like it falls to neutral, I think it is dropping back to first. Will not stay in second unless you get the throttle to around 50% then it will drop into second and go up to the Rev limiter and not shift to third. Fluid was bright red and we put about 5 miles on it (not beating it) and rechecked the fluid which was about a quart to much so pulled about a quart out with a brake bleeder through the dipstick tube and it is a nasty brownish color. Any helpful diagnostic tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

If the 3-4 Clutches are shot, It will do exactly that, 1-2-1, When the Band releases for a 2-3 shift, The 3-4's are suppose to come on at the same time, If they do not hold....The only clutch holding is the Forwards which is 1st gear.

 

clinebarger: Any chance a bad solenoid B or bad wiring to that solenoid could cause those symptoms? I have never personally experienced a bad solenoid or completely worn out 3/4 clutch to "feel" the difference.

 

If Solenoid B was stuck "On", The trans would just stay in second at lot longer than it should, Of coarse if he gained enough speed & 4th was commanded it would go back to 1st with a stuck B solenoid.

Stuck Shift Solenoids are not super common, They usually suffer from electrical failure (Coil Windings) when they go bad.

I monitor the commanded gear with my Tech 2, If the trans flares as soon as 3rd is commanded.....3-4 Clutches. He should be able to do that with the TCI controller also.

 

I will get a video if I can with the TCI handheld. Pretty sure its cooked. completely flushed the fluid today as a suggestion from a buddy of mine said. Ran about 5.5 gallons threw it until the fluid finally changed color. The fluid in the pan was absolutely rank nasty and the bottom of the pan had very fine silver flakes (I take it I am not selling that by the ounce to get rich). It's just false hope when I drove it today and the first 1-2 chirped the tires and snapped my head back with just part throttle I began to almost think it was just bad fluid and a little overfilled then it fell off and wound up the RPM's.

 

Oh would hooking up a pressure test gauge give any better proof of something?

 

Stick a fork in it. IT’S DONE.