No 2nd gear 4l60e
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Teching In
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
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From: Colorado
No 2nd gear 4l60e I lost second gear while just driving down the road. When I drive, the trans stays in 1st until I let off the gas and it shifts to third. My trans has a shift kit, what kind I don't know as the previous owner had it installed. the 1-2 shift had a good kick and 3-4 no kick. My two questions are (1) might I need a complete rebuild, or is this a relatively easy and cheap fix. (2) Who in Denver CO can do the job right. Thanks for the advice.
12 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 527
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From: Chicago, IL
I had a transmission that did this. The teflon ring around the second piston housing came off. (I don't know how) The problem was that all of that pressure built up and blew out the piston housing, and cracked the case. Cost me a new tranny.
This happened to me in my Silverado, exact same thing. Stayed in first gear a loooong time, then dropped into third. If I floored it on the highway, it would try and catch second but not get anything, then just bounce off the rev limiter till I let off the gas. I dunno what the part is called, but theres a band that clamps down on a spinning drum or something in second, and I lost the lining on the band, so it couldn't clamp down anymore. The case was fine, the tranny shop put in some new parts, took me from 6 to 9 clutch pads, and put in a shift kit, all for $2300. Not a cheap fix, unfortunately. If it's the same problem I had, it's gonna require a rebuild.
It could be just the band. There is a boss on the end of the band that is retained by a pin in the case. I've seen those round out and slip off the pin. You would have not fourth gear either if this were the case.
The most common cause of band failure like this is setting up shift kits to shift too firmly. If it chirped the tires on the 1-2 shift it was probably too firm.
The most common cause of band failure like this is setting up shift kits to shift too firmly. If it chirped the tires on the 1-2 shift it was probably too firm.
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12 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 527
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by fossilfuel
So the shift kit could be the culprit.
Cause the reason mine messed up is because when I put in the shift kit, that is when the band off around the second piston housing, or it went in wrong.
I would pull out the piston and check that the little black teflon ring is around the second piston housing or if it between the two pistons. Just don't drive it around.
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Verdad Gallardo I wouldn't consider the shift kit the culprit (if it is the band) because it is configurable. The culprit is the one who set up a 4L60-E to shift too hard on a street-driven car. The limitations of the 4L6X are commonly misunderstood.
