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Bad torque converter??? 89 Burb

B

Burbavitch

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Feb 15, 2012
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Location
Arvada, CO
Hey All,

Yes, I've searched, and no, I'm not a newbie to trucks... However, I am remotely physically limited because of an accident. So, the least amount of tossing around the tranny as possible would be nice.

Anways, I'm driving to the house the other day, truck starts to slow down even though I'm on the throttle. I pull over, no burning smell, no particularly odd noises, but acting like its not engaging the power. I limped it about 6 blocks to the house in 4lo at about 5 miles an hour.

Drained the fluid the next day, it was brown, but didn't smell burnt. There was no pieces or shavings at all. The tranny is around 10k on a rebuild, and it was built and ran perfect. There is slight noise when in gear, but nothing like I'd expect for a grenaded tranny or torque converter.

The only thing I can think of looking back over the last month or so is that the truck would move more than I liked when engaging it into park. xI rarely drive it, but did more the last few weeks because my other truck gave up its tranny. But, there was no other signs of anything bad, and never leaked a drop.

So, torque converter? Hell, I could post a video or sound clip.
 
Burbavitch said:
truck starts to slow down even though I'm on the throttle. I pull over, no burning smell, no particularly odd noises, but acting like its not engaging the power. I limped it about 6 blocks to the house in 4lo at about 5 miles an hour.

Drained the fluid the next day, it was brown, but didn't smell burnt. There was no pieces or shavings at all. The tranny is around 10k on a rebuild, and it was built and ran perfect. There is slight noise when in gear, but nothing like I'd expect for a grenaded tranny or torque converter.

The only thing I can think of looking back over the last month or so is that the truck would move more than I liked when engaging it into park.
Click to expand...
If it's an 89, you have either a 700 (1/2 ton) or a 400 (3/4 ton). Please clarify. Brown fluid is bad, but what you describe could be an engine problem, a transmission problem or your rear axle running out of lube. Maybe you can post more clues or do some troubleshooting to narrow it down. Rolling a bit in park makes me suspect the rear end more than the park teeth on the output shaft.

10k isn't much to destroy your transmission fluid. What size tires and what gear ratio do you have? Is there an external cooler on the transmission?
 
Blue85 said:
If it's an 89, you have either a 700 (1/2 ton) or a 400 (3/4 ton). Please clarify. Brown fluid is bad, but what you describe could be an engine problem, a transmission problem or your rear axle running out of lube. Maybe you can post more clues or do some troubleshooting to narrow it down. Rolling a bit in park makes me suspect the rear end more than the park teeth on the output shaft.

10k isn't much to destroy your transmission fluid. What size tires and what gear ratio do you have? Is there an external cooler on the transmission?
Click to expand...


Sorry, yes, its a 1/2 ton with the 700r4. External cooler, no flow issues.

The rear end makes sense as it was leaking. Hopefully the ringsand pinion aren't destroyed.
It's on 35s, Dana 60 and 14 bolt, 4.56 gears. Rear has a Detroit. I'll pop open the diff but hopefully the damage isn't already done.
 
The rocking in park is due to the play built into the Detroit locker. It's normal to be able to turn the pinion 1/4 turn or so.
 
Weird, didn't remember that about Detroit's. I did open the rear, and the fluid was dirty. There was some shavings/dirt on the bottom. I looked at the ring gear, ands looked clean. Cycled it a few times and didn't see any worn teeth.
Also, spun the shaft and it turned the tires without any backlash or excessive play.

Just frustrated
 
Hey All,

Its probably a dumb question, but will removing the bottom of the bellhousing allow me to view any potential issues, or should I just quit trying to avoid the inevitable and pull the tranny?

And yes, I'm just now getting to it. I was out of town for quite a while.

And, long shot, but could it be the tcase?
 
I'd guess the TV cable slipped out of adjustment or broke,came off,etc,and the clutches burned up...maybe a stuck pressure regulator valve or valve body issue too?...

I'd see if a tranny shop could test the pressures before pulling it out,it might not be something it needs to be pulled out to fix if your lucky..dropping a tranny and replacing one sucks enough for a healthy person to do,
I'm in the same boat healthwise,I'd rather NOT take one out and try everything else first!..
 
Maybe the pump took a dump too?...

And yeah,what a surprise,huh?..:rolleyes:..

With every thread like this I read,it makes me less enthused to replace the dying 700R4 in my Suburban with another one...actually any automatic,in a way..but making it a manual is way too much work for me..
 
I would certainly say that throttle cable is a place to look. It's super important that it's adjusted correctly... otherwise, I've heard quite often that the trans will burn up in a short amount of time.

Clay
 
Would it be possible to adjust the throttle cable now? Or, is the damage likely done?

The only thing I can think that the truck ever did weird was it was impossible to "ease" into the throttle. It was all or nothing. Kind of a jerking feeling. Not smooth at all. Maybe coincidence or relevant?

I've been looking for good write ups on how to ensure it is in the right position. If anyone has one, would much appreciate it.

And yes, I'd love to go manual. But, my left leg and all the nerves were damaged in the accident, so having to use it while wheeling sounds less than fun
 
Sadly, the damage is probably already done. I haven't driven with the cable out of adjustment, so I can't tell you what it would feel like. Did the engine want to rev immediately, or was it lurching into gear all of a sudden?

When I installed my Jegs TB spacer, it came with some simple instructions. I forget now :( but it was push a button near the throttle body, move the cable housing, and then go inside and push the pedal to full throttle; you should hear some clicks as it sets into place. Hopefully someone else here can clarify! My manuals are not on hand at the moment.

Definitely something that needed to be done after the transmission was installed though...

Clay
 
So does it feel like the transmission is going into nuetral or like somebody is applying the brakes? What is this "all or nothing" throttle you describe? Is it like the pedal is sticking or like the transmission doesn't engage the gear until you get some revs?
 
I think many 700r4's get ruined after an aftermarket carb,spacer, or manifold gets installed,and the installer fails to properly adjust the TV cable or use the right adapter to make the linkage have the correct geometry..or worse,just leaves it off completely...

I have seen more than one guy do that,thinking its "just for passing gear" like a TH350's detent cable,but it controls the line pressures and shift points in a 700r4,so they go up in smoke shortly afterwards if its not hooked up and adjusted to perfection...and more than one of those guys gave me the "go away,I know what I'm doing" kind of treatment after I warned them about not hooking that cable back up or adjusting it--and I said "OK,do what you like,its YOUR truck..but dont call me to help you pull the tranny out for a rebuild next week either!"..:rolleyes:..and a few weeks later ,after it shifted lousy or started slipping,they were searching boneyards for another tranny..:whistle:
 
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