1998 Silverado 4x4 Transmission trouble!!!

[Garbe]

I have a 1998 4X4 Silverado Z71, Automatic Transmission. It will not shift past 2nd gear. Reverse, 1st and 2nd are fine but no 3rd and no 4th. Is there anyone that has seen this before and might know what route to take or can help in the ID process so that I can get a new one? When it goes into 3rd it acts like it is in neutral. Any Ideas?

[theguyfromnj]

Starting with basics, but have you checked fluid levels?

How many miles on that tranny? Maybe it is time for a trans service with a new filter and fresh fluid.

[Thunderbolt]

I agree with the other poster about the filter, However it sounds to me like your 3-4 clutches are worn out. How many miles are on the truck ?? It is actually a common problem with the 4L60E trans. Along with the plunger for the TCC hanging up in the bore. Is the service engine soon light on?? If so it will need to be scanned, However from what you are describing I dout the light is on. There is a very good chance it is time for an overhaul. I just had mine gone through at 176,000 miles and had a heavy duty sun gear, high energy band , heavy duty 3-4 clutch pack , the valve body worked and the TCC modified. Mine works better now then when it was new.

[Garbe]

Yep, fluids checked and all normal. No service on this tranny filter or fluids. There is 85,000 currently on the ENG and Tranny. It was my intension to change those. Also, no lights or codes to suspect an electrical problem. I am starting to feel that the 3-4 chutch pack is probably gone, from what Im getting from alot of the other people that I talk to. I want to repair it without fully getting into a major overhaul. Are there any good suggestion as to a good manual or a site I can download one from. I've worked trannys before just not an electronic shift like this. Wouldn't want to get lost in the process. THanks for answering.

[theguyfromnj]

Mine want to check with Helm for a tranny break down, they offer a factory service manual. www.helm.com

[theguyfromnj]

oops, sorry for the bad link, the link for Helm is actually www.helminc.com, I got a service manual for my ford (grrr) and it was very informative with exploded views and such, however I have yet to receive the manual for my chevy so I cant say exactly what it shows.

[Faze2183]

Originally Posted by Thunderbolt

I agree with the other poster about the filter, However it sounds to me like your 3-4 clutches are worn out. How many miles are on the truck ?? It is actually a common problem with the 4L60E trans. Along with the plunger for the TCC hanging up in the bore. Is the service engine soon light on?? If so it will need to be scanned, However from what you are describing I dout the light is on. There is a very good chance it is time for an overhaul. I just had mine gone through at 176,000 miles and had a heavy duty sun gear, high energy band , heavy duty 3-4 clutch pack , the valve body worked and the TCC modified. Mine works better now then when it was new.

where did you get that stuff?

[Thunderbolt]

Originally Posted by Faze2183

where did you get that stuff?

The guy I had do the tranny ordered it all when he did the tranny and I researched it on the internet. The normal amount of clutches in a stock three four is either 4 or six I can't remember now and the clutch pack I had installed had 2 extra clutches . The clutch pack he put in my 92 was an Alto clutch pack, But he installed a different one in my 98. The sun gear I believe is called the Brute and is much heavier duty than stock. He did some modification to the valve body and such by boring some holes bigger to allow better fluid flow and firmer shifts. He installed a shift improver kit and man does that help.Every truck I have owned with this tranny has always felt more like they slide into gear and some shift kits make them bang into gear. I am not sure offhand what he put in, But now when it shifts it is just there, No slide no bang it is a super smooth and immediate shift. This guy even builds his own torque converters because most of the ones that the major franchise shops use aren't as good as the OEM. He showed me the difference in two when they were cut open and the OEM looked like it was made much better and those are what he rebuilds.

[Garbe]

Thanks for all the information so far!!!......Any information is good info at this point........ I havent had the opportunity to tear into it yet but am looking forward to it this weekend. I will continue to post with updates but, Meanwhile all the information i get is good information please Keep it coming. THANKS A BUNCH!!!

[Faze2183]

cool beans, was it a hole in the wall kinda shop? or was it a big name company?

and very true that the 4L60 and 4L60-E have always had that issue, down with the 4L60 lol

im a fan of the 4L80-E one of our work trucks has it and its got well over 200k miles never yet has it burnd fluid, leaked, or slipped, its a really really good trany only if chevy was smart and got rid of the 4L60-e
but oh wells......i knw the next truck i get isnt gunna have a 60

[Thunderbolt]

It is a 62 year old guy and his wife and he works alone. Whenever I talk to him on the phone or stop buy he explains in detail everything he is going to do. He will show you in the book and he will show you the difference in the parts. When I asked him about a warranty he said how long of a warranty do you want because it won't fail wen I am done with it. I needed my truck done on a certain day because I was going out of town and the one part came late and this guy worked on my truck until one in the morning so I could still go out of town with it. I picked it up at 1:30 in the morning. I really trust this guy, But the sad part is at 62 he will probably retire before to long.

Originally Posted by Faze2183

cool beans, was it a hole in the wall kinda shop? or was it a big name company?

and very true that the 4L60 and 4L60-E have always had that issue, down with the 4L60 lol

im a fan of the 4L80-E one of our work trucks has it and its got well over 200k miles never yet has it burnd fluid, leaked, or slipped, its a really really good trany only if chevy was smart and got rid of the 4L60-e
but oh wells......i knw the next truck i get isnt gunna have a 60