Slipping In First Gear

[Bronco Boy]

Maybe? Maybe not? Twice in the past few weeks, pulling away from a light (light-moderate throttle), I thought she slipped; chattered 3-4 times. Drove fine afterwards.

Could 1st gear slip randomly? Several days apart? Both times the trans temp was around 180-190*.

[rickisrad]

Could be the start of the dreaded solenoid issue. You can try to try and put a very strong magnet on the outside of the pan and run a can of trans tune to try and clean them off. Run for about a week then drop the pan, install trans go shift kit with the highest 1-2 spring. Use MAX life trans fluid with a bottle of Lucas stop slip. If you have access to a tuner adjust the line pressure a bit higher. I'm not sure what you have done to the car already since you are a long time member I'm sure you know everything that I've said.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...stop-Read-this

[Bronco Boy]

I've read it all, but don't know it all. LOL

Car has 355,000 km (159,000miles) and a shift kit was installed 5 years ago. Trans runs hot in the summer, so she see's 1-2 fluid/filter changes per year. She wined when I got the car, wined after the shift kit was installed, and still wines to this day. Added Lucas the last fluid change; didn't notice any difference. I recently had both cv shafts replaced, so those vibrations are gone, but now I am experiencing a new batch of vibrations. I asked about the slipping because in my eye, once slipping starts, it should continue. I think my slipping may be the new vibration.

I know the trans is on its way out, eventually. Just don't want it to leave me stranded. LOL

[rickisrad]

Mine started intermittently then got worse to where it did it 80% of the time. I think it all depends on how the line pressure is holding. When I drove mine in Tap shift it never slipped. I replaced the trans because it was getting worse and I saw how much material was on the magnets. I didn't want it to get to the point of failure so when I got the money I purchased the ZZP trans. Sounds like you've done most of the life extenders. Maybe before the next change add another magnet, clean it with the trans tune, and use the high mileage fluid and a couple bottles of the stop slip?????

[paedbo]

Input shaft seal going bad. Rebuild time.

[GoldGTP]

I would try out the solenoid replacement before a rebuild...

It's not that difficult and is a straight forward repair.

[paedbo]

if you get to the point your swapping out the solenoid your not much further away from pulling out the input drum to check the seals anyways,

[Bronco Boy]

Thanks for the reply's gang, but.....

Could 1st gear slip randomly?

It hasn't slipped in over a week. My buddy found a tranny in his yard at work, so I will probably grab that regardless, as I will need it one day and I can get if for cheap. And if time permits, I would give it an overhaul before it gets installed.

I have some goofy driveline vibrations, so I'm leaning more towards that as the problem rather than the trans.

[WarStryker13]

My buddy found a tranny in his yard.

This needs to be immortalized. Lol

[rickisrad]

LMAO. Tranny lives matter

[Bronco Boy]

[GoldGTP]

Yes, my trans used to slip "randomly" and I always just blamed it on "being cold"...

It appeared to happen more frequently in the mornings leaving for work...

Then progressively became worse (stop signs, parking lots, ect ect)

The only reason I would suggest against pulling the valve body off/doing a crazy rebuild is it is very tricky to get the input sun gear back in place with the trans in the car...(Assuming the internals pukes out when you pull the chain/ect/ect off)

If you pull the valve body/the other internal side cover (forget the real name of it) and get in there, look at your 4th shaft and 4th clutches...Hell, if you go that far, might as well rebuild like paedbo says, but a simple solenoid replacement is much easier than getting in too deep.

If the input sun gear works itself loose, be prepared for alot of cussing...(replace the input sun gear also if you are that deep)...

Hope this helps...

[Bronco Boy]

Thanks for that reply GoldGTP. Not what I wanted to hear, but it is reality. I will keep monitoring things and cross my fingers.

[WarStryker13]

At least you found a spare trans.

There might not be any around me that will work... Lol

[Bronco Boy]

At least you found a spare trans.

It was a sigh of relief for sure.

[GoldGTP]

No prob, let us know how it goes.

I originally popped open my trans to replace the 4th shaft, just to find out where it INSERTS into INSIDE the input sun gear was also stripped out...(I have some pics somewhere if you are interested)

There is no real easy way to see the inside of the input sun gear unless you pull it out, which entails pulling the bands/drums as well...you MIGHT be able to push a new 4th shaft into it and see if it "spins", although my input sun gear was 80% stripped, so it would have been a false "good"...

Good luck and use the 4T65-E manual if you decide to go for it, priceless info there...

This is semi-wandering off topic but I replaced my valve body solenoids 2-3 years before my 4th went out, and it eliminated my slipping issue.

[Bronco Boy]

I have several friends that wrench for a living, so I just have to find which one knows the most about these trannys and put them to work. LOL

I would really like to take the junk yard trans I found and have it overhauled with good parts so it lasts longer than I will have the car, but we'll see if that actually happens.

[WarStryker13]

If you've got a fastenal near you, you could probably get Brandon to do it for you for a decent price. Lol

[Bronco Boy]

Trust me Stryker, I've already considered that. The $1400 or so that he would charge, which is a fair price, once turned into Canuck Bucks, plus the $150 shipping two ways, turns into $2200-2300 really quick with out crappy exchange rate. Pretty sure I can get a good rebuild up here for less than that. And, we do have Fastenal's up here, but not sure if that $150 would apply to cross the border. Brandon does do good work so I wish I could deal with him.

[WarStryker13]

Oh yeah, you are in Canadadada... Lol I forgot about that.