My brother's 96 firebird suddenly started acting up today. When he started it, it was stuck in 3rd or possibly 4th. It would rev to 1500 and really lug and struggle to get moving.

At first I thought, "hey, it's probably electrical... I think they default to 3rd if power is disconnected"

Well the transmission is getting power. I checked the shift solenoid resistances, and all are good, ~23ohms. I tried grounding the solenoid wires at the PCM and got audible clicks from them, so I think they're working.

Next, I thought maybe the range switch was saying the wrong gear, but that checked out okay.

So I'm at a loss right now. I'm thinking maybe a shift solenoid "B" failure, causing it to stay in 4th gear when it should be in 1st. What other tests can I do to eliminate other potential problems, and how do you get to the shift solenoids? Or are there any other suggestions on what could be causing this? NO codes, btw, except P1670, which was there before this started today.

TIA,

 

it's been awhile since ive had one apart, but i believe there is a spring clip holding them into the side of the valvebody, pull the clip out then pull the solenoid out, this is going to sound really stupid, but did you check the fuel filter? sometimes a clogged filter will make you go nutz.

 

that's a damn good point... I didn't stop and think it could be anything other than the transmission.

All I know is that it was shuddering pretty bad and the RPM's hardly moved from 0-30mph.

If I move the shift arm into 1st or 2nd, will this override the electrical gear selected? In other words, if the shift solenoid is stuck "off" or the seal is gone, would this allow it to get into 1st or 2nd?

If I can force it into another gear, and that works, I can single out the transmission as the problem.

 

Head over to http://www.camaroz28.com/ and post there with your 4th gen problems, please.