Transmission might be shot, need advice and input

[blowngp99]

Well, it happened. Today I was going up to the shooting range and getting onto the highway I noticed the truck would not shift out of 2nd gear. At 60mph I was at 4k rpms and climbing. So I get if off the road, and turn around, get home, and check the fluid. EMPTY. So we run over to Bumper to Bumper, and pick up 5 quarts. Put 2 quarts in, and it say's it's FULL. So I'm thinking this cannot be the case, it just said it was empty, and only 2 filled it up.

So I tried driving it, and it's doing the same thing, but everytime I check the level, it say's empty. I still think it's not near full, but driving it I only have 1st and 2nd. Still have reverse also. I'm thinking about dropping the pan tonight, draining it, then refilling it and see what happens. Oil looks brown, very dark brown. Seems burned to, so I'm thinking it burned the oil.

Anyone think it could be somehting else? Maybe tourqe converter lock up? Or is it something electronic? I really have no idea, I guess only way to find out what it is, is to drop the pan and change the oil.

If anyone has any thoughts, it would be helpful, I REALLY need this thing fixed ASAP, since it's my DD.

Thanks in advanced, Matt.

Side note- It's a 93 Sierra, 5.7, 4L60E, and it's on it's 2nd transmission. Original was replaced at 40k, truck now has 141 on it. And I don't drive it very hard, but my thinking is the truck was used for towing before I bought it.

[whitelightnin92]

i hope you didnt put motor oil in it. and it could be an electronic issue too

[NEUMANNZZ]

fluid might be disappearing into the tcase? check to see if its overfilled.
my guess is you 3-4 clutches are gone.

[whitelightnin92]

wouldnt it still attempt to shift to 3rd and go into "neutral" before it went back to 2nd?

[NEUMANNZZ]

in neutral everything is released and no clutches are holding. So I believe it would not be in neutral.
try manual third, check tcase. if no go disconnect main wiring to transmission to put it in limp mode. should start in third gear if it dont 3-4 clutches are gone.

[blowngp99]

Originally Posted by whitelightnin92

i hope you didnt put motor oil in it. and it could be an electronic issue too

lol, No. It smells like trans fluid, but it's DIRTY and dark. Looks just burned to me, could be since it must have been really low to start with, and running on lets say 2 quarts, the trans would over heat.

Originally Posted by NEUMANNZZ

fluid might be disappearing into the tcase? check to see if its overfilled.
my guess is you 3-4 clutches are gone.

Never thought of that. Possibility.

I'm draining the fluid, changing the filter and gasket, then putting new fluid in. Let's see where that takes me. Next step will be the transfer case.

[2500ak]

It's probably toast. But how have you been checking the level?

Did you get the trans up to operating temperature, park on a level surface, cycle the shifter from 1st to park hold it at each setting for three seconds, then pull, wipe and reinster the dipstick waiting three seconds and removing it.


The level should in the the x's between fill hot and top line.

The engine should be running the whole time you test it.

[blowngp99]

Originally Posted by 2500ak

It's probably toast. But how have you been checking the level?

Did you get the trans up to operating temperature, park on a level surface, cycle the shifter from 1st to park hold it at each setting for three seconds, then pull, wipe and reinster the dipstick waiting three seconds and removing it.


The level should in the the x's between fill hot and top line.

The engine should be running the whole time you test it.

Yep, I did that exactly how I checked it.


Drained it, changed the filter and gasket. It's still not shifting. I'm really starting to think it might be toasted.

[whitelightnin92]

mine used to do that and never really figured out what it was. i suspected the vss(vehicle speed sensor). but it hasnt done it in several months now

[blowngp99]

Originally Posted by whitelightnin92

mine used to do that and never really figured out what it was. i suspected the vss(vehicle speed sensor). but it hasnt done it in several months now

Really? Did it just like start doing it randomly, then stop one day?

[blowngp99]

I'll take some pictures tonight when I get home from work, but the transmission fluid was BLACK. Smelled burned, I was gagging at times on how bad it smelled. Filter was clogged up, but no metal shavings that I found. Also, I drained out a total of 3 quarts. So I was down 3 quarts. Earlier in the day I added 3, so it was down VERY low.

[blowngp99]

Ok, So figured out it's the Clutchs are burned up. So, I'll be undergoing dropping the transmission, replacing the clutchs, and adding in a few other things that I have been wanting to do on the transmission (Cooler, Shift Kit, Corvette Servo) and then reinstalling it. Figured this is the best route to go with it for me right now.

Hopefully, I'll be starting this next weekend. Gotta wait for my next paycheck to get here, and then some I think, LOL.

Anyways, about the pictures I was talking about

Yes, that is transmission fluid. Black in color, with chunks of what seems to feel like clutch to me.

[t00lmanii]

Might I suggest you also go with "the Beast" sunshell. At about 50 bucks it is money well spent.
I just went through my 97 4l60e that had 197,000 on it, and if I can be of any help just ask. I asked alot of questions over at Hotrodders.com and received some very good information. Oh, I'd also get teh ATSG manual for the 4l60e. Unfortunately, that tranny takes the original manual PLUS an updated manual. They are WELL worth the money though. You can get them on Ebay for about 24 bucks each. I paid 34 apeice for mine locally. Good Luck

[blowngp99]

Originally Posted by t00lmanii

Might I suggest you also go with "the Beast" sunshell. At about 50 bucks it is money well spent.
I just went through my 97 4l60e that had 197,000 on it, and if I can be of any help just ask. I asked alot of questions over at Hotrodders.com and received some very good information. Oh, I'd also get teh ATSG manual for the 4l60e. Unfortunately, that tranny takes the original manual PLUS an updated manual. They are WELL worth the money though. You can get them on Ebay for about 24 bucks each. I paid 34 apeice for mine locally. Good Luck

Yep, I picked up GM Automatic Overdrive Transmission guild. Helps a lot. Also, I have been looking at threads on this forum, and also found some very good write up's at LS1tech.com. Also, the sun shell is on my list. I must have forgot to include it in my last post. I'll check out Hotrodders also to get some more info.

[blowngp99]

Ok, So I'll be doing a rebuild of the transmission. Upgrades will include

-Transmission Cooler
-"Beast" Sunshell
-Shift Kit
-Corvette Servo
-New Torque Converter (Not sure on what stall, but I'm thinking 2500)
-New Clutch's and a Full Rebuild
-Fluid, O-Rings, And that stuff
-All new wiring harness and Electronics. Figured since most of it is going to be bad, since that stuff got HOT!

I priced out everything I want, and it should come out to about 800 dollars. What I need to know, is how many people have done the transmission themselves, how long it will take, and I guess to say is how hard was it? I'm not really a noob to this stuff, but I'm not really an expert. Personally I think I can handle it. This will be my first Transmission I have ever done, so it will be an experience. LOL

I'll just use this thread for my transmission build progress, should be over the next few weeks, need to start saving up some cash!

[NEUMANNZZ]

good luck. just triple check your work and you should be fine. never took apart fully a 4l60e.(just valvebody and servo removals.)

[t00lmanii]

I spent an afternoon removing the transmission, and the better part of the week, just in the mornings, to do the teardown and rebuild, and reinstalled it the following weekend. I do have a 2 post lift and trans jack, which had to help alot on the takeout/install. Prior to removing the trans, I had already machined a complete set of bushing drivers...11 of them I believe, and the tools for installing/resizing the teflon seals. Alot of guys told me that they use plastic from a 2 liter bottle and a hose clamp to resize their teflons but I went ahead and machined mine from stainless. Your biggest obstacle may be the spring compressors you will need. One of them, for the low/reverse piston set I did by drilling a 1/2" hole in my benchtop and standing the tranny up on the rear end....it was a 4x4 trans, and used a long bolt with an old bearing race for a spacer on the springpack, with a piece of flatstock across the spacer, and then a nut on top of that to tighten it all up....to compress the springs, and then removed the snapring with a pair of snapring pliers.
The springpack that is on the input shaft/drum I removed by placing the shaft into the chuck on my lathe, and then ran the tailstock center up inside the drum, to push on the same bearing race and flatstock that I used on the low/reverse set. That made for a tight fit of the snapring pliers, but it's doable.
I'll answer any questions that'll help you that I can, as I'm sure others will too. Oh, and don;t forget that other site I mentioned. Crosby over there was a BIGGGGGGG help to me.
Also, I'm not familier with the GM manual that you have, but the ATSG manuals that I bought to do mine were invaluable...step by step guide for every step of the teardown/rebuild.
Good Luck....T00lmanii

[blowngp99]

This is the book I have. It is very good at giving details. Same book? Or different?

[t00lmanii]

Originally Posted by blowngp99

This is the book I have. It is very good at giving details. Same book? Or different?

If you are asking if it's the same as the ATSG manual it is not. The ATSG manuals are for a specific transmission. You would get one that is specifically for the 4l60e. It doesn't include "hotrodding" tips or ideas, it is strictly a rebuild manual for your specific transmission. Unfortunately, for the 4l60e it takes 2 manuals, the second one being an update to cover the changes that were made along the years for that tranny. If you don't want to buy them, at about 24 bucks each off Ebay, you can get in touch with me and we'll work something out where you can use mine. Do you still have my contact number I gave you awhile back? If not, drop me message. Also, we could work something out where you could use all the tools I machined, if you didn;t want to machine them yourself. I know you said you had access to a lathe and all, but if you don't want to take the time and all.