LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Help!! No First Gear In A4 Trans !!

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Old Jul 17, 2003 | 06:56 PM
  #1  
fordkiller94's Avatar
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From: arizona
Unhappy Help!! No First Gear In A4 Trans !!

I need HELP!! Driving home from work today I had no problems for 1/2 the way home. I hit a stop light and seems fine, hit the gas and go nowhere fast, the car takes off in 2nd gear!
Anyways I shut it off and turn it on the same thing happens. I do have 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. OOPS-change that, if im in drive the trans takes off in 3rd gear, but I can manuel shift to 2nd gear for take off and then shift 3rd and 4th..This gave me no warning at all and really worries me. I do have the shift mod(blue wire) done to the trans but otherwise it's stock. Anyone have any info on what happened......Thanks for any help....
1994 Camaro Z28 4l60e trans A4...
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 07:02 PM
  #2  
Joe_88_fiveO's Avatar
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From: Clinton Township
Can't beat fords w/out first gear j/k Sorry to hear. Hope u find whats wrong. b/c i've never heard of that happening to anybody
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 07:12 PM
  #3  
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From: euclid oh
It could be that you over heated the trans fluid while driving and the PCM is keeping the trans in a lower gear to circualte the fluid faster and cool it.
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 07:27 PM
  #4  
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From: Falkner, MS, USA
Are you positive that you're still getting 4th gear as well? It sounds like the transmission is in limp mode. Double check all fuses...if none are blown then you can simply disconnect and reconnect your battery to reset the PCM.
Kevin
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 07:50 PM
  #5  
fordkiller94's Avatar
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What would cause this to happen, or I should ask what makes the trans go into limp mode. Is there something I should do or look at so it does not happen again? Just wondering... Thanks..
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 09:00 PM
  #6  
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From: Cumberland Co, NC
?

you might have had some of the clutch packs weld together (not sure if this is the correct name) preventing it from going into certain gears
Old Jul 17, 2003 | 11:01 PM
  #7  
fordkiller94's Avatar
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dont say things like that!!!! I like the PCM reset fix alot better!!
Old Jul 18, 2003 | 12:22 AM
  #8  
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From: Newark, Delaware
The transmission is in fail safe. If the transmission gets no power/signal, it will default to 3rd gear. Have it checked for codes. Check for power at the transmission case connector.

Frank
Old Jul 18, 2003 | 06:14 AM
  #9  
bad79z28's Avatar
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From: Falkner, MS, USA
The '94s and '95s are pretty particular on slippage issues. If you have a high stall converter that can sometimes lead to the fail safe mode. I found a bare wire in the transmission pan on my Chevy 4x4 that was causing it to go to the fail safe mode. If yours pops a fuse then there has to be a short somewhere.
Good Luck,
Kevin
Old Jul 18, 2003 | 09:26 AM
  #10  
fordkiller94's Avatar
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From: arizona
Thanks for the help..
I'm just glad nobody said I blew the trans up!!!!
I'll be checking it out today and let you know what I find...
Thanks
Old Jul 18, 2003 | 09:38 AM
  #11  
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I lost 1st and 4th once, and it turned out to be the 1-2 shift solenoid. I got mine scanned at Aamco for free, but put the solenoid in myself (it's really easy). Hope you get it going again!
Old Jul 19, 2003 | 08:32 PM
  #12  
fordkiller94's Avatar
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From: arizona
Talking I FOUND THE PROBLEM!!!

I found the problem with my transmission going into Limp Mode!!! It turned out to be the stupid ignition switch, The Chevy Dealer had a guy look at for me and traced it to the ignition switch,Whew!! Glad it was not serious.
The Mechanic charged me $80.00 + the switch to fix the whole thing. I had a security light problem also and that fixed that. So for around $100.00 I am back on the road!!
Thanks for all your help here, the PCM reseting did help alot but was not the cure..Anyways the Chevy Dealer said that the 93-95 Camaros have crappy ignition switches and cause alot of weird problems, So for anyone that has this problem you may save yourself some money by changing the ignition switch yourself before going to the dealer....
Old Jul 28, 2003 | 11:31 AM
  #13  
94LT1355's Avatar
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From: Monroe, MI
The actual switch on the column under the dash went bad? Or the key lock cylinder? I am having a similar problem to where it only goes into 3 and 4 under hard dead stop acceleration. Thanks.
Old Aug 1, 2003 | 04:04 PM
  #14  
SweetZRag's Avatar
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From: Mantua, NJ, USA
This is very interesting. Yesterday the car wouldn't shift out of first and the power windows stopped working. I had just recharged the AC and had to reset the PCM to get the AC clutch to work and then the car started working fine. Today I am getting the security light and the car wouldn't start.

Do you guys think the ignition cylinder or harness could be causing all of these strange things for me?
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