Although I have a 1986 thirdgen, this is about a 4L60e in my 1995 Tahoe. I definitely screwed up something here, so please I appreciate your comments on what could be the problem.

The transmission was rebuilt about 2 years ago and had a beast sunshell, transgo clutch return springs and one piece pistons installed (leftovers from a ProBuilt kit). No mods to the valve body. The truck is rarely driven. About 8000 miles after the rebuild I started getting a check engine light and the typical P1870 code.

So I decided to get a Transgo kit that eliminates this problem. The kit part number is 4L60E, which I think is older than the current 4L60-H2 kit.

During installation the only exceptional problem found was a broken spring inside one of the accumulators (the bottom one, not sure which shifts it controls), Today I just finished installing the kit and did the recommended run through all the shifts with the tires on jackstands. When it shifted to 2nd the servo cover popped because the snap ring wasn't installed properly. Cleaned up the mess and installed it properly, now it shifted through all the gears smoothly.

Backed it up from my garage, drove about 100 yards at about half throttle on small steep, and the shift from 1st to 2nd was harder than I expected. Not as hard as the one with the P1870 code, but sure not a street shift for sure. Backed up the 100 yards because a friend wanted to come along, and this time the Tahoe felt heavy, as if the e-brake was on. Since it's a torkey motor it made it's way, but wouldn't shift (of course it was in 3rd but I didn't notice). Went into some traffic and manually shifted into 2nd, pulled great. Back to 3rd and 4th no problems. When stopped and tried to manually shift into 1st, it felt like 1st and reverse were engaged at the same time. Had to manually take off in 2nd from here on. The trip was about 3 miles long and returned home with my heart broken.

After a while I had to move it in order to park my other car, and just for the sake of testing, Moved the shifter into OD and the car felt as if it had 1st gear engaged properly. Can't tell for sure because it was only about 10 feet.

After all this, no SES light at all.

I checked the connector that goes into the trans. on the pass. side just to make sure it didn't get disconnected and was in limp home mode.

Now what I admit:

The connectors on the VB where zip tied to the solenoids, so when removing the valve body, I removed the clips and pulled the solenoids from the VB and took it to the bench. When putting it in the bench a rod fell and was't sure which side went in first (why can't they include a complete diagram?).

I reused the old circle gasket that goes in the hole where the oil filter is stuck.

Any ideas greatly appreciated. I expected to take the Tahoe on a long trip tomorrow, but will have to take a Chevy Venture instead ('til the Camaro is out of the paint shop). Sorry for the long rant.

 

not a third gen but 4l60e. bind up not good-damaging something most likely. the sk 4l60E series L kit is not a "do it yourself kit" it is for the experienced, professional Trans mechanics only." LOL imo you messed up trying to do this.. the shim in the kit for the band might be too tight causing the reverse input drum to not want to spin. Did you check if the band drum could spin obviously not-the snapring popped out when the vehicle shifted. Recommend remove the gold shim if this is the case and maybe the band won't be so tight. I have other ideas about what might have happened but the instructions are 7 pages long and the possible reasons are endless.............

 

The instructions and video were clear. I did my best to I did watch another rebuild a few months ago and that's what pushed me to attempt this.

I did check the band on the drum. It didn't move with the 2 golden shims, so I removed one and it did move then. I also spun the driveshaft and I was able to move it.

Thanks for your reply. What else can you think?

 

may be missing check *****. there should be one under the separator plate next to the fourth accumulator, and seven in the valve body. also there is an early and late set of valve body gaskets 2001 and up use a white stripe for the upper and lower. If you used these they might be blocking holes in the separator plate. Most likely missing *****?... I have other ideas but beating a dead horse i think you may be in over your head. Did you tighten the little plate with 8mm heads that goes over the reverse circuits under the valve body?-easily overlooked during the valve body install-even I have done that. There should be three 8mm bolts.?