700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Hello-
I just installed a rebuilt 700R4 Transmission and it will not shift into 2,3 or Over Drive (manually or in drive), but does work in Park, Reverse, Neutral and first. Did I miss something when I installed the rebuilt transmission (ie adjustment or installation)? Also, I was looking at some other posts and was wondering if my TV cable may be incorrectly installed and my need adjusted as per the stated "transfixleo method"? I unfortunatley could not find this post anywhere, so if someone could let me know this metod, it would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks for your help!
Tony

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

no upshifts are normally a sign of trouble in a 700r4. sorry to burst your bubble.
check the governor that it is in the trans, that the valve moves free, and the plastic gear on it didn't break off
check the tv valve for movement. a stuck tv makes for no upshifts. not to be confused with the plunger that moves with the cable. the tv valve is behind the plunger that gets pulled by the cable. aftermarket tv valves come with a return spring to help prevent sticking (it's common for stock ones to get stuck). Pulll the pan, pull the two 10mm bolts that hold the tv arm off, pull the roll pin and plunger/aluminum valve out, and use a very strong magnet to try and free the tv valve.
besides the tv cable adjustment there aren't many external things that can be done..
note:700r4's shift all 4 gears regardless if the electrical wiring is hooked up or not.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

you could also have some misplaced check balls

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Did you install a new governor gear? If you did, did you install the small cross shaft (pin)? No 1st, 2nd or 3rd is usually governor, unless the fluid level is way down. Check the governor.......

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Mine would'nt come out of first.it turned out to be the governor sticking.

Alicat.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

alicat-
You say you had 1st but nothing else? (besides park, reverse and neutral working as well). If so, that is what I have going on too. Did you pull the governor and clean it? Sorry for all these dumb questions, but I am not too knowledgeable on transmissions.
Answering the other questions, yes everything is suppose to be new. The problem I am having is, that I bought it out of state and it may be cheaper to fix it myself (if possible) verses truck shipping costs both ways.
Also, some of my local friends are saying that it could be my valve's sticking, since the trans sat for approx. 10 1/2 months without any oil in it before my install (I did not know that I had to add oil once received (didn't know it was empty), until I was ready to install it) what do you guys think?
Thanks for everyone's help with this....

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

My '91 RS is doing something very similar and I'd do anything to figure out why and how to fix it.

It will work in all gears and shift from 1st to 2nd fine... but when it's in second, it will get to about 3k rpm before it just starts reving up FAST and it will peg out the tach (like it's in passing gear at 30mph) and you have to stay in it before it will finally shift to third... and it will do the same thing once you've slowed down and try going into 3rd again. With it revving up the way it does, I usually take my foot out of the pedal before it shifts to 3rd for fear it will blow up... even though it probably won't.

Why is the transmission doing this?

Edit: I'd like to also add that this started happening suddenly. I drove this car for severals months after replacing the brake lines and when I went out in the middle of the night one night to get some smokes, it just wouldn't shift up into 3rd... been doing this ever since. I have no idea what the problem is... she's just sitting in the driveway.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

I agree that ajh87iroc's problem is most likely the governor. Baring a broken internal reaction carrier this is the only thing I can think of that could cause that.

DyingYoung138, it sounds like your trans is slipping. This is what happens in a 700R4 when the 3/4 clutch pack goes. Since the TH350 is basically a 700R4 less the overdrive I would bet it's a similar problem, though with your 2/3 pack, or possibly the band (I'm not sure how a TH350 couples the gears exactly, but an ATSG manual could tell you for sure). If it's the band the servo might have developed a leak too.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Okay, here's the latest, sorry for the delay. I removed the governor and the valve and gear are fine. I then removed the throttle valves and checked them, found some stuck valves, removed them, cleaned them and reinstalled them. Then I adjusted the TV cable, by pressing in the D button, flooring the gas pedal (2nd person), moving the black housing back towards the transmission and then releasing the D button (hope this is right?). Filled the transmission with fluid and still no shifting? Does anyone have anymore ideas? Im at a loss? Also, which valve is the 1-2 shift valve? Does anyone have a diagram?
Thanks for all your help...

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

The TV should be adjusted by pushing in the D-button and pushing the follower back into the housing. Then open the throttle to full and the follower should automatically ratchet into the correct position position. The cable should be tight like a piano wire at full throttle, but that's just a quick test, not definitive.

An ATSG manual will have a complete diagram of the valvebody in it. I don't have one for a 700R4, I rebuilt mine with a Haynes GM trans manual and some phone help from Dana at Pro Built.

Have you tried shifting the trans manually? If I remember right the manual valve will override the individual shift valves in the trans. If you can get it to shift like that it may help narrow down the problem.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

TKOPerformance-

I will try to adjust the TV Cable as per your directions and see what happens, can't hurt. As for manually shifting, yes, I have tried, I put it into first and move to second, third, fourth, and the trans still stays in first. I will do the adjustment and let you know. Thanks for the help!

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Hmn, where did the rebuilt trans come from? I'm starting to suspect that something was not done correctly. What was the reason for the rebuilt trans (old one sliped, etc.)? Is this trans the original one rebuilt, or another trans altogether? We'll get it figured out but maybe some background will help narrow it down.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

TKOperformance-

Okay, I readjusted my TV cable as per your instructions and still the trans does not shift (both in OD and manually).

To answer your other question, I up graded my motor from the stock 305 to a 350 and wanted a trans that could better hold the extra HP, but still wanted to keep OD. So I opted to go with a built up 700r4 transmission from Jackson Performance. The only bad part is that they are not local for me and I now suspect the same as you. Something is not put together right. So, I am pulling it out this weekend and sending it back to him for repair. I am tired of fooling with it, especially since its under warranty. I really just didn't want to pull it out!!!

Thanks everyone for all your help!!!

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Yeah that's always a PITA, but as long as you've got a warranty I'd take advantage of it. Post back and let us know the outcome.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

i seem to be having these sort of problems as well ,iassumed that it was electrical , i just swapped a th350 with an 86 700r4 , i havent yet set the tv cable ...will do so in a day or so ...but im hoping someone could tell me the position of the a,b,c,d pins ....is (A ) pin drivers side, front on the trans conector...also i cannot get it into park , the shift lever is all the way up and the linkage lever is all the way forward ....??? please help 86 lwb truck that wants to run...

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

im new to the fourm thing so bear with me ....reviewing olher posts ...someone said ....i believe this may be resolved by disconect ing the tv cable from linkage ...get a buddie to put in reverse/holding brak e and pullin tv cable to wide open throtle and alow to snap back 20 /30 times ...then reinstall..as the rev has greater pressure ...mike

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Hey i have the same problems that u have or had,ok so what i did was i checked and replaced all clutches and most of the separators,changed out the TV cable(which is still giving me problems),also the first cilinoind(if that's the right name),cleaned out the pump and the converter. So I recommend that u check if all the clutches and separators are correctly placed in the drums ok

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

:chevy:Dude please tell me that you found a solution i have had the worse luck with same exact issue had a rebuilt 350 change the tram seal filter fluids made sure the TV cable is adjusted correctly check the governor and I'm still having the same issue Park neutral reverse in first gear work fine but when it gets up to 22 23 mph it slips out if I arrived to 3500 RPMs it catches first again but no second third or fourth even when i shift manual. Please tell me if you found a solution i have a th350 bought for 100$ but I'd rather use this 700r4 without having to buy new driveshaft and mount for th350:chevy:

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

[I am also experiencing shifting issuses from a 700r4 . I have replaced the t.v. cable removed checked and cleaned the governor and the valve body as well. still no shift. It started one night driving home just out of the blue, no warning of any kind. my truck had been sitting for a long time and I had just put it back on the road about two weeks prior. I have read up on it,talked to to knowledgeable people, and watched videos on you tube. I AM STUMPED!!!

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

I know this is an old thread but did you find a solution? My 700R4 in my 1969 Camaro started doing same thing today. Just driving normally down the road, stopped to turn around and then it would not shift out of 1st gear. Reverse, park neutral all are fine.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

You must have the proper kit for the TV cable. There is dif kits for dif carbs. You MUST have the right geometry for the cable to pull on. If you dont have the TV cable adjusted properly, (to soft) you will burn out 2&3 clutches. Tons of info on the net. Good luck

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Z28 thanks for the reply, I understand how the TV cable works and the importance of having it set perfectly.
I did find my problem, it was the roll pin that holds the plastic gear on the end of the govenor came out and the gear was just spinning freely. I can only assume when the transmission was rebuilt by major transmission vender it was not assembled correctly.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

No problemo! glad you got her figured out!

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Hey i as well know this is an old post by was going over it to see what other complication i could run into i have a 700r4 in my 1984 t/a and this past week i pulled out of the gas station was not honking on it and i felt a big bang like the rear end locked up and then my t/a would not shift out of first like one of the other guy here i have park reverse neutal and first gear just will not up shift i put it up on a hoist at a peformance shop i work at but with only so much time after close i pulled the governor cap off and sure enough the gear is snap clean off now that as far as i got i am going to be ordering another gear monday what i would like to know is the end of the gear would it have just fallen into my tranny pan and what other parts should i order along with the new governor driven gear thank you

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

My guess is if part of the gear is gone it is in the tailshaft. You will have to support the transmission and remove the tail shaft to get to it. I am pretty sure the gear will not get into the pan. I was lucky the gear slid out with the governor when I took mine apart.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

Same here, i had replaced my governor gear and it was running just fine. But i shorted out my tbi injector and after that the tranny started to act up again. I replaced the governor gear AGAIN but that did not fix it this time. Im not sure what to assume, bad shift solenoid ?? Speed sensor ?

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

I'm having the same issue. 700r4 trans only works in reverse and first gear & won't shift manually either. I discovered a small trans leak over the winter, when it was in storage, nothing major, so I added some Blue Devil to it, ran great for two day, sat for two days and went to drive it today and then the problem started.

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

What the hell is blue devil?

Re: 700R4 won't shift into 2,3 or OD
 

I just rebuilt my 700R4 with aux. I have park, reverse, neutral, and somewhat 1st and 2nd works fine. Reverse works amazing. P and N work how they should.

so this is what happens when I took it for a test drive, i manually put it on 1st, its slow to move but once it picks up to 20 mph, ill manually switch to 2nd and it'll shift fine. Once it reaches around 30mph, I'll shift it to D and I don't feel it shift or anything. If I start from P to OD, it feels neutral but I did take it up to 40 - 45 mph while on D. So i manually went from D to OD and it slowly started to pick up speed. If I go from P to D, it'll engage and do what 1st normally does until it reaches up to 30 - 40 mph.

I'm pretty lost at the moment and don't know what else to look for. I've cleaned the governor more than a few times. I'm going to double check the adjustment of the tv cable, I am going to build a pressure gauge to see him it up and see the pressure it gives. Any advice will be helpful, tyia