Hey Guys.

I'm new to this board but not new to GM products and I'm telling you I've never been a proponent of 700R4's (and heaven forbid those godawful 200R4 Trannys) but that's become the status quo so here goes.

I've got a 700R4 in another 91 305 Firebird that I bought for my kid. (Fixer upper but the motor's good) The transmission (which was rebuilt 3 years ago by the previous owner) developed some problems in this order. First, the TV linkage is hung in the full open position. There's nothing wrong with the cable-no fraying or stiction that I can tell. It acts as though something is stuck in the transmission. It pulls fine (at this point) and there is no kickdown when trying to pass however. Then 2 weeks ago, I'm getting ready to get onto the freeway I notice in the OD position, it won't go into 4th. I pull the car over to the side of the road and place it into Park but now there is no Park. (The park mechanism locks the car but you can still feel the transmission pulling forward) The car will shift through all the forward gears but will not go into reverse. It is still in the forward gears when in neutral or park. I'm thinking (and kind of hoping) there is a problem with the valve body but the transmission was fine until the TV cable hung up. Any suggestions before I go and take out a second mortgage to buy a new Tranny. Help

 

A functioning TV cable is critical. Should have fixed it right away and it might have been fine with minimal cost. Now your tranny may be fried. Drop the pan and see what the linkage is doing. Could be the cable, could be something else. Won't know till you start digging.

Nothing wrong with a 700 tranny long as it's serviced when needed and nobody messing with the TV cable when they don't know what they are doing. That is the two biggest killers of a 700. I have one that has over 400,000 miles on it and just started to slip a bit when cold in first and second gear. I swaped it for another and want to try a shot at rebuilding it over the winter when I have time.

 

sounds like a valve body problem. the throttle valve sticking will make the tranny think it is at wot all the time. with this high pressure, it won't shift into drive or OD at regular speeds. definitely need to pull the pan to check the cable inside the tranny, but most likely have valves sticking in the valve body.

 

can you fix a stuck TV valve with the valve body in the trans?

 

Sometimes they can be un-stuck by futz'ing with the TV cable. Disconnect it from the throttle body and give it quick pulls and let it snap back.

IIRC, the TV valve can be pulled out without dropping the valve body. Much of the area around it is open.

RBob.

 

nice....ill have to give that a try this weekend ty

 

you can make a tv valve swap with the VB in the tranny still. I recommend taking it out for easy access, but what ever. Also, while you have the guts out, you WILL want to replace the TV spring with a NEW (**NEW**) spring. They wear out over time and will cause non informed people to mess with the TV cable and ruin their tranny.

BTW: 2004R = 700R4 in quality terms, one is NOT better or worse than the other quality wise.

Also, you may want to search for my posts here in the tranny section on 700's and tv cables and how to take care of your tranny. If you want to do it right anyways.

 

my tranny isnt fried and im not abusing it. i took the car around the block once and when it shifted funny. the cable is adjusted and works correctly. i talked with the people at 700r4.com and i have a 300psi gauge coming to check the pressure of the VB. i also ordered a new TV valve and a transgo shift kit. i figured that while im up in there why not do that too. thanks for the imput again

 

good job. I built that site btw. I did not however, put the gawdy images on there.

 

hey you did a good job