Thread: trans issue.....no 1st or overdrive

i have a 99 grand prix gt with 158k on it i just picked up for free.
i am very nechanical and could swap one if need be, but just wondering if this is a known problem.
the car will take off in 2nd and shift to 3rd but will not shift into OD or shify back down into 1st, any tips on what to look for or do?

also for worse case scenario, being a 99 gt, what other year/model trans will bolt in, fit and work with the ECU?

thanks in advance

Not shifting into OD is common. The splines on the 4th clutch hub get stripped out and you loose OD. You can still drive it like this, but the RPMs will be higher.

Not sure on starting out/loosing 1st gear, never had to deal with that issue.

If you decide to get a rebuild, contact Trannyman (Dave) at Triple Edge Performance. You shouldn't have to worry about a trans issue again.

As far as swaps, anything from 98-03 should swap, and possibly some newer ones. Try a quick search on here and see what comes up as I'm pretty sure its been discussed.

okay after replacing every single steel brake lines on it, i finally got it up to autozone for a CEL scan. got 3 codes back.

p0753 1-2 shift solenoid
p0758 2-3 shift solenoid
p1860 tcc/pwm solenoid

i did check the resistence on the pass side VSS sub section, it was good, traced it back to the harness with no visible damage.
i really want to check into the wiring more first before just swapping in new solenoids.
he said all was fine, he wiped out the fender/bumper/headlight on a guard rail instantly the speedo stopped working and the trans wasnt shifting properly, replaced the cosmetics, butt connected a few wires going to the headlights and turn signals and drove it in the current condition for a bit.
the trans fluid is very clean and pink. the trans feels solid just isnt shifting correctly.

does anyone have a link or tell me what to check for with my volt/amp/ohm meter and what i should see when i check the pins. electrical isnt my best subject, but im good and following directions and diagrams.

well i think i may have gotten a lil lucky. when i posted this i hadnt even picked the car up yet. so after getting as new battery and starter for it and firing it up, i took it for a lil test spin, blew a brake line though.
well i noticed the speedometer was not working and a check engine light was on, so i figured it may be the speed sensor that was bad causing the trans issue. so i called the PO and talked to him, he told me when he bumped the guard rail with it, the speedometer stopped working and the trans had funny shifts and when he replaced the fender he noticed a cut wire from the wheel speed sensor but didnt repair it. so i may be in luck with a easy fix.

so with a cut speed sensor wire, whay would be the ill effect caused?

i did get to drive it and it is definetly not taking off in 1st and not shifting to overdrive. even when i manually put it in first it is still taking off in 2nd gear.

yeah i read that and originally thought it could be that bad solenoid under the side cover. but i think it may be a speed sensor issue now. it makes sense that he smashed the fender into a guard rail and instantly the speedo stops working along with the trans shifting at the same exact time. going to pull the fender and look for said cut wire, repair, reset codes and see what happens.

it is on the pass side of the car, he said he noticed cut wires on that side when he replaced the fender but did nothing to the wires. so if the vss wires are cut, would the no speedo, CEL and no 1st gear or OD symptom be a likely cause?

cool, in a bit ill have the fender off and seeing whats what and report back after.

so for checking the voltage on the solenoids, do i do it with the key on or engine started?
as a lil update, this morning it actually took off in 1st gear, in 1st manually. still no overdrive, so i believe the tcc pwm solenoid is the root cause, either way im planning on replacing all of them once i get around to lowering the trans, i know thats gonna be fun lol. i miss wrenching on my chrysler 2.2/2.5 turbos, very easy to get around the engine bay, i can swap one of those trannys in about 2 hrs or so.

lol maybe you have. so drop the whole subframe and lower it via engine hoist from top or jack from bottom? do i have to undo all tie rods and ball joints and half shafts? or is it just undoing the mounts to lower it for accessing the side cover?

also my speedo still isnt working, can this be caused by the pwm solenoid?

got ya, so you can actually leave the tie rods and halfshafts intact and just lower the control arm enough to access the side cover. cool.
i found a good wiring diagram and pin out for between the pcm and trans located here http://www.black-ridge.com/download/TCM4120SCH.pdf plus the link u posted for me of ohms values for the solenoids, just have to get my lazy ass out there and start investigating the wiring. im pretty sure the solenoids will be bad. but with the speedo not working and the speed sensors checking good by not throwing codes, maybe ill get lucky and find some bad wiring? still curious as to why that TCC fuse was blown in the first place and not blowing now???

should have updated this days ago.

big thanks to dave at triple edge performance and to bill for help pointing in the right direction.

the car shifts perfectly and i fixed it for $5!!! $4 for a harbor freight volt meter and $1 for a roll of electrical tape.

the pink wire that goes from the tcc fuse and supplies 12v to the A and B shift solenoids and the pwm solenoid was cut along with 2 green wires near the radiator from the fender accident. i repaired these 3 wires and immediately the CEL disappeared when i fired it up, took off with a working speedo and 1-4 gears.

thanks guys, now just got to change the oil, wipers, trunk lock accuator and heater control.