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4l60e rebuild gone wrong

Old Mar 6, 2019 | 04:26 PM
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Default 4l60e rebuild gone wrong

'97 camaro z28 (LT1) with single piece 4l60e.

no trouble codes,

After starting out, it shifts into second fine, but it never shifts into third, just stays in second. Reverse works fine.

Any idea where to begin troubleshooting? (only tried running it on jack stands so far)

Used a scan tool and can see the computer commanding third, but it just stays in second forever.Shifts back to first fine when coming to a stop.
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 04:50 PM
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Disconnect all electrical from it. It should be stuck in third. If it's not, take it back apart because it's a mechanical problem.
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Jays_SSZ28
Disconnect all electrical from it. It should be stuck in third. If it's not, take it back apart because it's a mechanical problem.

damn ok, is there anything specific that would cause these symptoms?
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by grasshopper645
damn ok, is there anything specific that would cause these symptoms?
Lots, that's why he is having you disconnect the harness because that will command 3rd in turn helping to narrow it down to electrical or mechanical
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by 98CayenneT/A
Lots, that's why he is having you disconnect the harness because that will command 3rd in turn helping to narrow it down to electrical or mechanical
ok thanks. Will test this and advise.
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:25 PM
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I wonder if I put the sprag in upside down. Although I'm sure I didn't
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by grasshopper645
I wonder if I put the sprag in upside down. Although I'm sure I didn't
Sprag or 3-4 clutch assembly...
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by grasshopper645
I wonder if I put the sprag in upside down. Although I'm sure I didn't
If you have 1st and 2nd your fwd sprag is in correctly
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by 98CayenneT/A
If you have 1st and 2nd your fwd sprag is in correctly
hmm ok, if its not the sprag then if its mechanical all it could be is the 3-4 assembly? Although if that was wrong I would have expected it to 'run away' in third, wheras i'm just not getting the shift at all. It air checked on the pump fine prior to installation
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Old Mar 6, 2019 | 06:18 PM
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Could be something in the valve body. First see if it will go into third at all.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 07:14 AM
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the first response you got on this thread from Jay is what you need to do. Just take the advise, and come back with a report of what happened...and we can go from there.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 02:51 PM
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Ok ok disregard all that, this is whats actually happening (took it for a drive)

All gears shift smoothly and fine, did some WOTs, etc, all looking good.

The TCC definitely locks, but it seems to unlock with not much throttle. Any slight hill and it appears to unlock.

I took it for a drive with tech2 - The TCC duty cycle increases where it should, but only up to 90%. Even when i command TCC lockup, the duty cycle will only go up to 90% (I have retained PWM functionality). When its locked, the TCC slip speed varies from -30ish to +150ish. I also see P1870 intermittantly, but no check engine light.

I have installed the Sonnax oversized TCC regulator valve. The P1870 is new since rebuild, so I assume I have done something wrong. ANy suggestions appreciated.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 03:14 PM
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How did you go from no 3rd...to...all gears perfect, just weird TCC?
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by MaroonMonsterLS1
How did you go from no 3rd...to...all gears perfect, just weird TCC?
When I ran it on jack stands it wouldnt go into third, maybe I wasnt accelerating hard enough.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 03:17 PM
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Am i likely to risk torque converter damage having it running at 90% duty cycle? The computer commands TCC lockup correctly, but i assume its only running at 90% duty cycle, because thats what the reading says, and because of the P1870 code.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by grasshopper645
Am i likely to risk torque converter damage having it running at 90% duty cycle? The computer commands TCC lockup correctly, but i assume its only running at 90% duty cycle, because thats what the reading says, and because of the P1870 code.
Some run at 98% at certain times stock.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by grasshopper645
Ok ok disregard all that, this is whats actually happening (took it for a drive)

All gears shift smoothly and fine, did some WOTs, etc, all looking good.

The TCC definitely locks, but it seems to unlock with not much throttle. Any slight hill and it appears to unlock.

I took it for a drive with tech2 - The TCC duty cycle increases where it should, but only up to 90%. Even when i command TCC lockup, the duty cycle will only go up to 90% (I have retained PWM functionality). When its locked, the TCC slip speed varies from -30ish to +150ish. I also see P1870 intermittantly, but no check engine light.

I have installed the Sonnax oversized TCC regulator valve. The P1870 is new since rebuild, so I assume I have done something wrong. ANy suggestions appreciated.
Are you worried that 90% is too much or not enough? It's fine.

What did you use for assembly lube?
Did you presoak the clutch plates?
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Jays_SSZ28
Are you worried that 90% is too much or not enough? It's fine.

What did you use for assembly lube?
Did you presoak the clutch plates?
I used the dr trannys transmission assembly goo, yes i pre-soaked the clutch packs but it was sitting a while so may have dried a bit.

I'm glad your saying 90% is fine, but the reason I assume(d) its not enough, is because of the p1870 code. - though its not tripping the check engine light, and seems to be intermittant.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 05:26 PM
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when it hits 4th gear, TCC lockup gets commanded 'on', and the TCC lockup goes 25%, 50%, 75%, 89% (or sometimes 90%). Never goes up to 100%. Then sometimes p1870 will trip in history.
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Old Mar 7, 2019 | 09:41 PM
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I understand theres two methods to solve the issue:

1. Installing a larger spring which essentially bypasses the PWM functionality.
2. Installing an oversized valve from Sonnax to retain the PWM fuctionality.

I went with option 2. Reamed the boar out and wet air tested it prior to installing the valve body - All was perfect.

So I can safely eliminate the TCC regulator valve as the cause. I think that leaves me with the Actuator feed valve, or a leak on the input shaft. I wet air tested the actuator feed valve and it passed (prior to install), so the only thing i can think of is a leak from the input shaft. I'm sure I installed the o ring correctly, but there was some where on the input shaft spline - do you know if wear on the input shaft spline could cause a leak in the TCC circuit?

I am more than willing to tear the transmission back down, but i'm not confident enough in my troubleshooting steps to do so. I'm not really inclined to pull the trans out, replace the input shaft and seal, and re-install the transmission without having a more valid troubleshooting analysis, which is why i think i'm way over my head at this point.

I've done extensive research into the PWM circuit, and a leak at the input shaft is about the only thing I can think of.
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