My 700R4's problem has stumped this so called transmission guru. I hope someone here can help me. Instead of fixing my car, I'm told to sell it. I like it, so I'm keeping it!

He rebuilt the trans about 2 years ago with no mods. The 350 is stock.

2 months ago, the lock up stopped working. I do highway commuting, so gas mileage went from 21 MPG to 16MPG. It's not so bad now, but when summer comes, I don't want the trans to get real hot!

So I took it back and left it. I have another car so I told them to keep it as long as necessary, just fix it. What a mistake that was!

5 weeks later, after replacing the brake light switch, ECM, lock up solenoid, converter, valve body, then replacing MY transmission with another rebuilt 700R4, it STILL doesn't lock up! I was told to come pick my piece of "crap" up and not to bring it back.

Now I have it back, when you punch it, it won't kick down, when you first take off in the morning, 1st to 2nd BANGS!! into gear like something will break (until it warms up), I can not adj the TV cable like Leo describes, it just snaps back towards you all the way when the D button is pushed. At least I haven't had to pay for their "experiments" yet, but I'm sure that is coming. They act like I should be thankful the car goes forward and backward!

Anyway, a coworker lent me two Camaro manuals for checking circuits. The first thing I did was check the brake light switch and lock up solenoid circuits with a test light in, I believe, terminal F in the ALDL (or whatever it is). It goes out when you press down the brake pedal. The second test will require I get a scanner, which I don't have. I have to check for proper TPS and VSS operation. My SES light does not stay on or come on as I'm driving. I might be able to find one to borrow though.

So here's my questions. Before I find or buy a scanner, is there anything else I can do? Has this ever happened to someone else and what was the fix?

I'm not against taking my IROC to another trans shop to get it done right. I've read other posts on this board and I have a good idea what to order up when I take it in.

Thanks for your help!

Rick

 

Don't sell it. Sounds like the trans man you had doesn't know what he is doing. Just take some place else.

 

Do a search on this board for "lock-up and problem" (yesterday
and earlier). You should find something that will help you .

 

You didn't go to Westside Trasmission in Savannah, GA did you?

Ohh I shouldn't slander such a fine place

 

The guy you took it to should be flipping burgers. Talk to a local
neighborhood mechanic, he will be able to point you to a good
tranny shop.

 

To test the lockup circuit directly you can short out two pins on the ALDL connector. I don't remember which two exactly, but the guys on the PROM board might know, or you can look in your Haynes repair manual for it. This will directly engage the torque converter. If that doesnt work, then I bet it's something insde the tranny like the solenoid.

 

Thanks for all of the replies! Here's an update.

I inserted a jumper between the A & F ALDL pins. I started the engine, put it in gear, and off I went. I live in a development so it takes a while to get out on the main road, so I neer go out of second gear.

As I pulled out of the driveway, I accerlated down my road and there was no difference when the trans shifted into 2nd. After leaving a stop sign, the trans shifted into second, the be car shook pretty bad, but I came up to the next stop sign to go out on the main road. When I turned, I mashed it and the trans shifted into 2nd, then I felt another shift, the engine bogged, and then 3rd and fourth. And the shaking stopped. I was able to get out onto a 4 lane highway and I pulled the jumper off the ALDL. Seems NOW it is locking up when it is supposed to. Then when I got back into town where I couldn't get out of third, the lock up was still engaging as it did before.

Is this strange or what? We'll see what happens when I go to work tomorrow. But all of this wasted time the shop went thru, I might have fixed it with a wire. Ya'll rule! :hail:

Now what about those HARD shifts in the morning and not kicking down when I floor the accelerator pedal? What can I do about those problems?

Thanks again everyone. My fingers are crossed!

Rick

 

Sounds like the TV cable is way out of whack. If Leo's adjustment won't work, try the one in the tech article section of thirdgen.org's main page. That's the one where you push the "D" button in, slide the adjuster all the way back inside, release the "D" button, and pull the throttle linkage all the way open.

 

That's the way the "butcher-shop" adjusted the TV cable and it ended up a few clicks away from where it is now, which is adjusted all the way out towards the front of the engine.

Today when I drove to work, not once did the converter lock up. When it was time to drive home, I jumped the A & F pins, drove about half way home and at no time did the converter lock up. I pulled the jumper out of the ALDL and it still did not lock up. I don't have a clue why it would lock up last night, but it's not doing anything now. This was actually the outcome I wanted last night. I guess my problem is now an internal transmission problem.

The only thing I have in mind to do now is get my original transmission back and start all over with someone that knows what they are doing. I've heard some good things about another local trans shop that has been in business for many years.

Unless someone has another idea?

Thanks again!

 

That 'automatic tensioner' crap thingy never worked for me.

I have to set it, make a full-throttle run in first gear, see where it shifts, then pull over and move the tv cable one or two notches at a time until it kicks the car sideways on the 1-2 shift at 5500 rpm, this is with a pro-built tranny. Takes about 5-6 tries to get it perfect. After that, I mark it so that I don't loose the 'perfect' spot.

Try adjusting the tv cable manually and see if that helps.