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

4l60e won't go into first

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 02:01 PM
  #1  
1slow96z's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Camillus,NY
Default 4l60e won't go into first

I have a performabuilt lvl 2 60e, I'm looking for input on an issue I'm having, car wants to start second gear, even if manually placed in first or put in first through hp tuners, all other gears and lock up function normally. Car did sit for about a year and also recently received a 4150 intake /tb conversion.. I have no experience with trans wiring/ internal parts so I'm just looking for so ideas as to where to start diagnosing. Appreciate the help
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 03:25 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

Interesting , First gear is both shift solenoids on. But both solenoids are also used at various points for the other gears, So would seem solenoids not likely. Valve sticking again possible but unlikely for the same reason Verify that first is actually being commanded by the PCM first you can see that in data,
__________________
Built..PerformaBuilt..Tough

Call 888-744-6542


Old Aug 10, 2016 | 04:33 PM
  #3  
1slow96z's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Camillus,NY
Default

Picked the car up, talked to my tuner, he says the pcm is commanding 1st.. Also after taking it for a drive, it appears it wants to start in 3rd, Unless you manually select 2nd. After take off trans shifts and functions, 2/3 3/4 and od/lockup
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 07:54 PM
  #4  
mrvedit's Avatar
Moderator
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 529
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Default

Your symptoms sure are unusual.
Not to doubt your tuner, but did he confirm with a scanner that the PCM is commanding 1st. Did he verify that both solenoids are engaged?
Frankly, I would seek a 2nd opinion like having a local trans shop put wheels off the ground and try commanding all gears with their scanner. And electrically verifying that both solenoids are engaged (grounded through the PCM) when the scanner commands 1st gear.
A flaky Manifold Pressure Switch might be the culprit, although it doesn't quite match up with your described symptoms.
A stuck "1-2 shift valve" in the VB might also be the culprit, but that is not consistent with the car sometimes starting in 3rd.

If it were me, I would:
1. Replace the two shift solenoids and the Manifold Pressure Switch.
2. Rebuild or swap the valve body.
3. Try a different PCM.

I doubt any trans problem is deeper than the valve body.
Old Aug 17, 2016 | 10:08 AM
  #5  
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

The advice Given above seems pretty solid. Start with simplest things first, Also note you may want to check chassis and engine grounds a poor ground for the PCM can cause very strange activity also.
__________________
Built..PerformaBuilt..Tough

Call 888-744-6542


Old Mar 29, 2017 | 12:46 PM
  #6  
mz0dw4's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Default

Hi, I am experiencing the exact same problem to a tee. After many month and countless hours of troubleshooting and hundreds of dollars thrown at it, the trans shop has declared that it is internal to the transmission since all wiring, ignition, PCM, and solenoids have been checked. Solenoids are being commanded but the transmission refuses to go into first! I am going to get the builder to warrant the transmission that has cost me all of this, and I hope that is the issue. Any more info you need, just reply because I have a lot of info on this issue. Thanks
Old Apr 14, 2019 | 08:42 PM
  #7  
Beardogg1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Default 4l60e won’t go to first has all gears and starts in 3rd

Did you ever figure out your problem I have one doing the exact same thing.
Originally Posted by 1slow96z
I have a performabuilt lvl 2 60e, I'm looking for input on an issue I'm having, car wants to start second gear, even if manually placed in first or put in first through hp tuners, all other gears and lock up function normally. Car did sit for about a year and also recently received a 4150 intake /tb conversion.. I have no experience with trans wiring/ internal parts so I'm just looking for so ideas as to where to start diagnosing. Appreciate the help
Old Jul 30, 2023 | 11:17 PM
  #8  
1gcrazy's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Beardogg1
Did you ever figure out your problem I have one doing the exact same thing.
same here. Any solution?
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 31, 2023 | 11:58 AM
  #9  
bbond105's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 716
From: Poplarville, MS
Default

Originally Posted by 1gcrazy
same here. Any solution?
Start a thread stating the problem that you are having and what you have done to try to repair it. I am sure would get some help then.
Old Aug 2, 2023 | 07:19 AM
  #10  
MaroonMonsterLS1's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,615
Likes: 1,327
From: Iowa
Default

likely low AFL

Not enough AFL to stroke the shift valve against the spring at idle

Once you get moving and have some throttle, the AFL comes up, and then the shift sol will function for 4th gear.

Not going to 100% be your issue, but if I were a betting man, that's where my chips would land. Seen it too many times. Easily corrected with a few different methods of AFL repair (Central VB drop in valve, transgo ream setup, sonnax ream and sleeve setup)
Old Aug 4, 2023 | 11:25 AM
  #11  
mrvedit's Avatar
Moderator
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 529
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Default

Thank you MaroonMonster, but this thread is too old to continue and I am therefore closing it.
@1gcrazy - if you need more help, please start a new thread. Let me know and I can copy MaroonMonster's post to it.




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:40 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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