I have taken the time to read all that has been posted on this subject in this "sticky". This is some very interesting reading. I'm no professional transmission builder, but I do understand them to a degree. I would like some help and advise in understanding my problem with this trany.

This vehicle had been driven fine for 59,000 miles. Then the Vehicle was removed from storage this spring. Transmission fluid serviced 1000 miles before stored for winter. When removed from storage this spring, accelerating from 1st to 2nd, 2nd will slip for about .5 to 1 second delay and then surge in to gear like normal at half throttle. From dead stop, throttle wide open shift is mostly very normal.(surge in to gear and rotate tires, nice) At 45 to 55mph ( + or - 5 mph ) and crusing, then appling wide open throttle causes down shift to 2nd gear with transmission slipping to 5500 rpm and .5 to 1 sec delay and surge into gear causing very low traction and very large surge. This is real neat, but I would like to fix before transmission falls apart. GM serviced transmission 1 week ago with "performance automatic transmission service" new fluid and filter hopeing for sticky compontent(s) would loosen up. I am knowledgable with auto and transmission repair, and would rather spend the money doing it my self with quality(better) parts than stock. I just don't know which part(s) is most likely to be causing the problem.

If anyone has tips for the scheduled tear down as for what to look for with problem, any advise would be much apreciated.

2000 pontiac firebird formula/transam LS1 w/ws6 package, 4 speed automatic.

Thanks guys!

Matt

 

i dont relaly know much about it, but it sounds like it could be the tq converter if it surging like that.. i would think if ur trans is slipping causing that it woudlnt have enough ability to grab and surge like ur explaining (and ive had many 4l60es fail on me lol)

 

Yah, but it only does this delay and surge going into second gear. First can hold on, as well as 3rd and 4th. The other gears still shift like normal. If the TC was bad wouldn't it do this in all gears? Another thing I learned is that when the trany is cold in the morning, it holds on to 2nd alot harder.

 

hmm, well maybe one of the tranny pros will pop in here and help out before too long. probly the usual early death signs of a 4l60e (reminds me of when mine went out the third time.. lol) god luck findin the problem though. and re-reading it yeah not the tc, didnt relize you said it only did it in 2nd.

 

Well as this tranny problem either comes to an end, or it may just turn into something bigger. I have gotten some assistance from GM with determining the problem with the transmission "slip". As it turns out, it appears as though there is nothing wrong with 2nd gear. This is what is going on. When you put the tranny in 1st it's in 1st all the time, when you put it in 2nd, it's in 1st all the time unless you get the freak'n rpm's high enough to cause the safety feature of the transmission to force a second gear shift which causes a major loss of traction(if it shifts, otherwise it sits in limbo reving). Basically long story short, my shift solenoid A* is not returning to the off postion, causing the tranny to stay in first and not go to second, but skip to third, and also work fine in forth.

*There also maybe a steel ball stuck in the metal gasket for the valve body! Yet to be determined as well

Solenoid Range Reference Chart
Solenoid A(1-2) B(3-4) Result Now
1st ON ON OK
2nd OFF ON Neutural(in between 1st and 2nd)
3rd ON ON OK
4th ON OFF OK

Total Cost to repair when doing it your self $60(2 shift solenoids, 3 gaskets)

Now this has not been proven yet, I am going to be installing the new parts very soon and testing and gutting the old parts to find errors, just to be sure. Obviously putting it back together and driving it will be the real test.

Later,

Matt

 

Did this work for you? Did it solve your shifting problems? Michael