305RSlc

Well guys, after putting it off for long enough (6 months after buying the car), I finally got around to changing the tranny fluid and filter the other day. Well, apparently I either did it wrong, or the old fluid was holding the tranny together, or something. Here's my delimma.
I changed the fluid yesterday afternoon. My buddy helped me do it and I decided to add the Lucas tranny additive (all 24oz of it) to see if it would help my 155,*** mile tranny. We changed the fluid, black as can be, and the filter. I noticed quite a bit of metal shavings in the bottom of the pan after I took it off, and proceeded to clean out the pan and wipe off that little magnet that catches everything. We buttoned everything up (no leaks) and added 4 quartes of ATF along with the 24oz of Lucas additive. Drove it around afterwards and it felt as smooth as can be, shifted better and didn't feel like I was dragging when I let off the gas. It was fine all day yesterday
This morning I woke up to go to work, jumped in the car and stopped for gas. No problems to the gas station. Once I pulled out of the gas station, I started hearing this slight grinding sound. Didn't think anything of it until about a block later, it turned into a soaring sound...much like was an airplane flying low right over your head sounds like. I was like....WTF, so I turned around went back home( about a 1 mile drive) and grabbed my dad's car. Came home from work to check it out...tranny fluid level is fine, no leaks. I jacked the rear up and got the tires off the ground and put the car in gear and let it idle. welp, sure enough sound persisted only when the tires were turning, no noise when I hit the brakes. I also noticed that I lost N and that the tires have power in neutral. Also, I shifted through all the gears and noticed it now SLAMS into gears instead of smooth shifting like yesterday. Is my transmission dead guys? Did I do something wrong when I changed the fluid (add too much or something, Haines called for 4.7 quartes)? What could I do to possibly troubleshoot to see what might be wrong? If anyone could shed some like on my problem I could GREATLY appreciate it.

88Camaro350

Sounds like it could be. I just blew my second 700r4 up. Once again I have lost 3rd and 4th. Second time.

I feel your pain. I'm just glad it lasted until this weekend. I just finished school. Oh well I think a TCI th350 is in the works.

305RSlc

Well it still drives and moves on it own power, it just grinds like there's no tomorrow. It's honestly a horrendous sound. I was told that I might not have gotten all the fluid out since I didn't flush the tranny and just dropped the pan. Could there be too much fluid in there causing high line pressure or something? I"m kinda ignorant to autos in general cuz I never work on them. It's rather frustrating to think I was doing some good, then to have this happen, erg.

I guess a T56 is a good option as of now.

88Camaro350

I'd love to do a t56 swap. Expensive though. Man it would be awesome on the highway though....ahhh your making me want a 6 speed lol.

305RSlc

anyone?

TomP

Yes it's correct that you didn't get all the fluid out since you just dropped the pan and didn't do a flush. But- I doubt that's the problem. (That's what you're supposed to do EVERY YEAR with a 700r4, drop the pan and change the fluid/filter. No reason to do a flush.)

The only danger with overfilling the trans is that the fluid will start to foam- and since foam is air mixed with fluid, that means the clutches would burn a little. But you wouldn't hear any "hell" noise.

The metal is the key... do you still have the old trans filter in the garbage? If ya do, dig it out. Take angle-wire-cutters (or a screwdriver or pliers) and crack the old filter open. The filter medium is folded in half- unfold it. See if there's a large pile of metal in there.

My guess is the original owner drove 155,*** miles on the original fluid... and yep, I bet the tranny's shot b/c the clutches burned into nothing. A trans shop would be able to tell you the best about how bad the tranny is... but I think you're looking at a full rebuild- especially if you've lost neutral!!

OR, get one out of a junkyard and swap them yourself. Make sure the fluid is still good in the junkyard trans first. And you can't use a tranny from a 2.8/3.1 Firebird because it's smaller than a V8 one. And if you get a 700r4 from a truck, you'll have to swap your tailshaft/governor onto it. Try to avoid pre-87 700r4's, they had lots of problems. (I'm on my third trans!)

How was the old fluid? Black and gritty? Or still red and slimy?

305RSlc

Thanks for the reply TomP. NO, unfortunately I threw the old filter away and it's long gone so I can't inspect it...never even thought of checking it out. However, the old fluid was VERY black and gritty and like I said, there was quite a bit of metal shavings in the bottom of the pan, and it didn't look like the clutch disc material. I did drain about 2 quartes out of it today, drove it around to get it to operating temp (same noise as before) and refilled it to spec. Noise still persists though. I did regain neutral after I drove it around once I lowered the fluid level a bit. Shifted fine all day long, smooth as can be just noisy as hell. Then tonight, when I was driving it home from work (yeah I know, but it's my only transportation right now) I went up a hill and it downshifted to get back in the powerband, and it wouldn't upshift even after I got on a flat surface. Further down the road, it SLAMMED into gear, then shifted fine the rest of the drive home. I"ve never dealt with a bad tranny before, but this just seems a bit odd to me. Probably just take it to a shop and see what they recommend since this is out of my realm of expertise.

PhLaXuS

I don't know a great deal about it, but does anyone else think there might be metal shavings blocking one of those hydraulic lines cast into the cover? It definitely sounds shot, but line pressure levels appear to be making a difference in driveability...at least somewhat.

305RSlc

See, I know little to nothing about how an auto works so I wouldn't even know what to be looking at. I called a shop and they told me to check the servo on the pass side and make sure it's hooked up, which it is. Other than that I am rather stumped. I wouldn't imagine a simple fluid and filter change would cause this, so something was either done wrong or finally gave out. Now I just have to figure out what it was...

AaronIROCZ

iTrader: (5)

The grinding noise sounds like one of the planetary gears is on its way out. unfortinatly the more you drive it the more damage you are doing to it. So yes it will need a rebuild.