hard shift in first

My 98 LT shifts hard in first, but moves smoothly through the other gears. it only does it once in a while though. could it be low on fluid, or need something else?

Had your tranny fluid flushed and a new tranny filter lately?

There are tons of posts on this board regarding the rough or harsh 1-2 shift issue. Most often caused by a worn valve body.

There are tons of posts on this board regarding the rough or harsh 1-2 shift issue. Most often caused by a worn valve body.

Ummm.... no

Please don't make sweeping general comment on a fix when you don't even how bad the problem is.

Do you hear a "clunk" when you put it in gear? And maybe a faint clunk ocassionally while driving as you press the pedal after a coast? if so it maybe U-joints. Any vibration while driving?

Dont mean to give sweeping comments before i know more, but I had the same problem, and a new valve body fixed it. Does it do it only when really hot? Does it do it so hard the tires cherp a little shifting from 1-2? Mine would only really do it when i had been on the interstate for a while, then exited, stopped, and then tried to pull away from a stand still. If i ever let it cool for about 30 minutes, it wouldn't do it again. I know there was a TSB for this, I printed it out when i had mine repaired, mine's a 99 btw. I think the TSB is for a lot of 4L60E's. Here is a link describing it.
http://forums.vmag.com/ptsilverado/messages/3385.html

i had same problem ur tranni fluid is too old time for new, it gets too hot since the fluid is worn. could be as easy as that. if u do a trani flush make sure to drop pan and so the filter and gasket.

t'

Have heard that low limit PCS pressure at high current (i.e., light throttle shifts) may combine with other conditions (possibly mildly sticky valves in valve body) in some 4L60-E trannies to cause occasional harsh 1-2 upshifts. In these cases, a slight increase in PCS output pressure seemed to fix the issue. Not suggesting it, but know for a fact that turning the T-15 torx screw in the back of the PCS about 1/8th of a turn CW will increase output pressure a few psi.

Until the guy comes back, we are all taking stabs in the dark, we need more info from the thread starter.

wow, thats alot of advice, thanks..........im back by the way. it only does it randomly, like an unexpected kind of thing, and it only does it about 5 times stop and go, then it dissapears for a couple days

As I asked earlier, have you replaced you tranny fluid and tranny filter lately?

no, but im gonna do it later in the week and see if that solves the problem

Get a shop to do it so they can flush out the whole system.

I had a problem like that with another vehicle with a 4l60e trans. There is a product (cant recall name) that you can buy at most auto stores. Comes in a red bottle for most domestics and blue for imports. It clears up hard shifting. Sorry I cant remember name but it did fix my hard shift problem. Had the vehicle for another 30,000 miles and it never came back. It isnt Lucas but something like it, just better. I will google around and if I find the name will post back to let you know.

Before he adds anything he should swap in new fluid.