I have a 1997 Camaro Z28. At the end of last year one night I was drivng the car and it just started shifting real hard from first to second gear. It felt like I had a shift kit installed. So I turned the car off and let it sit for a while. When I started it back up everything was fine.

A couple weeks later I had the same problem. So I decided to bring it to the dealer. They did a trans flush and it didnt start acting up again until earlier this summer.

Today I was driving the car on a longer trip than usual and the SES light came on and the car started shifting real hard again. I brought it to Auto Zone and they hooked the computer up to it. The computer spit out a P1870 code- Trans Component Slipping. Does this mean my tranny is going? Or does it have something to do with the computer malfuctioning. It seems to only shift hard when I go on longer trips after the car is warmed up.

Hopefully someone can help out because I dont feel like gettng ripped off by the dealership.

Thanks

Nick

 

ttt

 

I have the same problem with my 97. I added a tranny cooler and that has cut down on the accurance of the p1870 code and harsh 1-2 shift. Do a search and you can find quite a bit of information on it. Opinions vary as to the cause and solution. Mine only does it about once a week or so now and the trans has never slipped and seems rock solid. By the way, if you erase the code while driving it will revert back to normal line pressure and the harsh 1-2 shift will go away. Also when you shut off the car, it reverts back to normal untill it happens again. I dont worry about it, but I would be curious to know if you find a solution. In my opinion, it is a software glitch of some kind and I have not found anybody that has a solution.

 

This code is caused 90% of the time by wear in the Vavle body and or pump.

Starting in 95 GM adapted the PWM(Pulse Width modulation) style converter lock-up. The way it works is a Solenoid pulses the cnveter clutch on and off for a smoother feel.

The problem comes from the pulsing of the valve in the valve body bore. It just flat wears it out. At this point you can do one of three things. You can replace the VB, Rebore the VB or just plain block the valve to not move. The third option works well as long as the bore is not to worn out and give a good lock-up feel.

I would find a good transmission shop in your area(ask around for a GOOD one) and take it to them for the fix. If you choose to try option three first(I would) it should only cost for a service and an hour of labor

Good luck!

 

I searched around on this when I got the code, mine turned out to be the valve body, but this problems sounds a bit different to me. I would first replace the pulse valve. Transgo makes a kit to do so for about $50 for the 4L60E because it is a problem. If the pulse valve doesn't fix it, I would have to suspect the VB then, but I would rule out the cheaper stuff first(VBs are NOT cheap).

 

you see this is where I get torn.

Why buy a $50 TG kit when a $2 spring will do the same thing?

Then again what do I know I do this for a living.....

 

Yes, the most common solution given is the various valve body fixes. But even replacing the valve body with the new revised one doesnt always eliminate this code from popping up.
I have changed the fluid, filter and gasket a couple of months ago and the pan was clean. Ive owned this car for four years and the trans has performed flawlessly the whole time except for this occasional code. The car has 80k miles on it and the trans is original. I realy dont want to tear into the valve body unless I have to. I personaly would just like to prevent the code from popping up. I have contacted pcmforless.com and they at this time cant do it.

 

Our rebuild kits come with a new lock up control valve spring in them, but they're the same as a 700 inner pump slide spring.

This is more than likely the cause of your 1870 code.

I like to ream the valvebody and use a Sonnax Ind. valve and sleeve. Most good shops should know about the 1870, and should know how to fix it. It's been around for years. If you take it to a dealership, they will try to sell you a $600 valvebody.

My suggestion is to try the spring first. It's deffinately the cheapest way out, and it works in MOST cases.

Don't waste your money on ANYTHING that's produced by
"Trans-Stop".

Frank

 

Thank you for the input guys. Has anyone else exprienced this problem???

 

I've got the same problem. P1870 with rough gear change from 1st to 2nd on my 2000 Firebird. Dealer replaced the valve body and updated the PCM but it did not solve the problem.

Any other ideas?

Dealer is currently scratching their head.

 

The 1870 is just what it says..."internal transmission component slipping". The TCC valve in the valvebody is the most common cause of this code. If the dealer has put a new VB on, and it didn't solve the problem, maybe you've got more serious internal transmission/torque converter issues.

Frank

 

Thanks Frank.
You might be right.
Dealer now thinks it's the torque converter.
We'll see how that goes.

PS. My wallet just got lot lighter

 

I have the same issue with my transmission. About a year ago it was doing the hard shifting just about once a week, so I went ahead and installed a tranny cooler and got a transmission flush. I thought that solved the problem, but about a month ago it did it again. In the past year it's only done it once, so I don't think I'm going to spend any money to fix it right now.

After doing some research, I found that sometimes the valve body in the transmission sticks causing a backup of line pressure. Once the valve is released, the fluid gushes out causing the harsh shifts. Then of course turning off the car for a few minutes gets the car back to normal. One of the solutions I read was to get the tranny flushed, but that didn't help in my case.

I also talked to a Chevrolet service repair guy, he told me I either needed a transmission rebuild or a new transmission. I'm not forking over that much money until my transmission doesn't work anymore though.