Tranny woes ( and I dont mean transsexual! )

[SS66]

Ok guys... a few weeks ago my truck died several times when trying to back up.. I checked the tranny fluid and it was very low. It however shifted just fin e going forward. Well I stopped and got some Penzoil Dexron -III that claimed to be compatible with GM's prior to 2005. The truck sat for 2 weeks then today I went to drive it for the first time since adding that. Well at first I had first and second gear... then after arriving at my destination and leaving again.. I only have second gear ( maybe first but it feels like second ) revs pretty high at 35 so I drove 22ish the whole way home on a state highway..good times..

What kind of fluid should I be using in it? Did I get the wrong stuff?
I sure hope the tranny isnt fried.. Im really tired of putting money into this heap.. its a POS but at least it looks pretty

 

[onetonbb74]

at least it made it! Just get a new tranny and swap it in. Its definately the tranny.

 

[SS66]

at least it made it! Just get a new tranny and swap it in. Its definately the tranny.

Eeek thats not what I wanted to hear. I literally have only driven this truck about 200 miles since I got it and in that time Ive replaced all the brake lines, wheel cylinder, fuel lines, gas tank, plug wires, new battery, 33 inch mud tires...$1000 in parts within a few hours of driving not including the possible bad tranny. All out of necessity including the tires! Im not even sure I want it anymore.

Is there any way to confirm for sure that its trashed other than by how it drives.. perhaps a visual inspection?

What type of fluid should I be using in here? I cant seem to find out anywhere

 

[Kjunky5]

Assuming you have a 700r4. It sounds like your stuck in 1st and the 2nd band is not applying. If you have messed with the pan recently, the gasket could be blocking the fluid exhaust port for the band apply servo. It's very close to a pan bolt and a wide gasket can cover it. Other than that make sure your fluid is where it should be. If it is, it may be time to pony up for a rebuild. $$$

 

[SS66]

Assuming you have a 700r4. It sounds like your stuck in 1st and the 2nd band is not applying. If you have messed with the pan recently, the gasket could be blocking the fluid exhaust port for the band apply servo. It's very close to a pan bolt and a wide gasket can cover it. Other than that make sure your fluid is where it should be. If it is, it may be time to pony up for a rebuild. $$$

I havent touched the pan at all.. its an OD tranny, not sure which model.
Ah this blows. What can I expect to pay for a rebuild.. 400ish?

 

[Stomis]

Before you jump to anything try flushing the tranny and dropping the pan and making sure there isnt junk in there.

A guy in town lost reverse in his dodge. He thought he blew the thing. Changed the fluid and flushed it and runs like new.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I havent touched the pan at all.. its an OD tranny, not sure which model.
Ah this blows. What can I expect to pay for a rebuild.. 400ish?

What year and model truck?

 

[SS66]

What year and model truck?

Before you jump to anything try flushing the tranny and dropping the pan and making sure there isnt junk in there.

88 K5.

I want to flush it and replace the fluid but I still dont know what type to put in. Is Dexron -III the right stuff? The truck was fine till I put that in...

 

[Kjunky5]

Yeah, Mercon/Dexron-III. It should say something about GM on the back. Look on your tranny dipstick and it should say. I know mine does. A basic rebuild runs close to a $1000 around here (KY) by the time your out the door. Thats why I'm in the process of rebuilding my own.

 

[SS66]

Yeah, Mercon/Dexron-III. It should say something about GM on the back. Look on your tranny dipstick and it should say. I know mine does. A basic rebuild runs close to a $1000 around here (KY) by the time your out the door. Thats why I'm in the process of rebuilding my own.

Ahh didnt think to look on the stick. If its gonna cost me $1000 I'll part out the truck without hesitation.. the only way I'll keep it is if i can find a boneyard tranny for less than $500...

Im gonna drain and refill it tomorrow.. if that doesnt work shes going on craigslist for $500ish after I take my new wheels off

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

You can try and drain/refill it but I wouldn't have high hopes of the trans working again.

Losing reverse and then the forward drive gears is very typical of 700R4 failures.

 

[Mudstud]

Man that brings the serious suck. I replaced my TH350 with another off the shelf from a local shop (newly rebuilt) for $500 out the door. Make some calls to your tranny shops. If you can pull and replace it yourself it'll save you a bunch of cash. Good luck.

 

[Kjunky5]

You can try and drain/refill it but I wouldn't have high hopes of the trans working again.

I also suggest you change the fluid and filter. While you got the pan off you can check for any clutch material floatin around in there. You can also air check the 2nd band servo.

I know sometimes the process of elimination to find a problem can be costly. But start with the easy stuff first.

 

[SS66]

I dropped the transmission pan and wow.. the fluid was so black and thick It looked just like OIL and smells badly burnt! The filter has a metallic dust but from what I can see..no chunks. Tomorrow Im gonna fish around in the sludge with a magnet and see what I come up with.

Should I even bother trying a new filter, fluid and gasket which broke in half ( probably $40 worth of crap)? Or just give up and put her on craigslist for parts?

RIP MY LOVE

 

[SS66]

Forgot to add.. I added 4 quarts of new fluid and this stuff turned black within 10 miles.

 

[jhellwig]

I don't know about 700r4 but in with a 400 when you lose 3rd and reverse you shucked a set of planetary gears. Changing the fluid and filter is worth a shot.


It looks like it is worth fixing unless there are many other things wrong with it.

 

[gmc4cw]

swap a used trans into it. people sell them all the time on here. why does everyone always want to give up on stuff right away.

 

[SS66]

swap a used trans into it. people sell them all the time on here. why does everyone always want to give up on stuff right away.

In my case Ive driven this truck MAYBE 200 miles and spent over $1000 on it so far in parts and tires. Not to mention all my time laying in the wisconsin snowdrifts working on it. Doing all the brake lines in january with no gloves kinda sucks

I suppose I'll throw a few more bucks at it and hope for the best. If new fluid and a filter dont fix it I doubt I will have the willpower or even interest ( $4 a gallon for gas x 11 mpg for this thing) to put a transmission in.

Thanks guys