94 bravada shifting problem

[fishingirl]

Hey guys---My 94 won't shift out of 1st. Tranny fluid looks good but I've heard something about checking the transfer case fluid. Does that sound like something that would keep it from shifting and if so, how do I check the transfer case fluid? Thanks for all replys--gotta get this fixed before Monday so I can go to work to pay the tax man!!!!

[fishingirl]

hello? Is there anybody out there?

[Chris Stewart]

It may be shift solenoids. Try taking off in low then shift to 2nd manually. If it shifts then try shifting 3rd then overdrive. Either way, a trip to the transmission shop will be necessary.
Back in the old days, a broken vacuum hose going to the modulator valve would cause the same problem but that was in the 60's & 70's.

[fishingirl]

Thanks Chris,
The only prob. is it's never really gone all the way to 1st gear. I mean on the column the needle would never really go into 1st, it would go into 2nd, drive etc but just not 1st. I've never really needed it so thought it was no big deal. So, you don't think it would have anything to do w/the t.case?

[Chris Stewart]

When you pull the shift lever down, you can feel the notches or what's called shift detents. The detents are inside the transmission.
Pulling the lever down as far as it will easily go will be 1st or low gear despite what the column indicator shows.
This is the starting point for manually shifting the transmission.
The transfer case is a non-shifting, no user or electrical/computer input gearcase.
It's a Borg Warner piece, the most reliable all wheel drive transfer case built for an automobile. It uses what's called a viscous clutch. It has shear plates in a drum filled with a heavy silicone lube. If it warms up with friction, the lube will thicken resisting even more shear. All that's needed is to keep the gearcase lube level full.
This is what makes your Bravada worth maintaining and keeping. It's a most sure footed vehicle to get around with in bad weather.

[fishingirl]

Hey Guys,
Sorry it's taken so long (2 months) to let you know what the prob. was. Chris you were right--shift solenoids--had all of them replaced. Don't know how many it was but the guy replaced all of them and did some other stuff for a couple hundred. Well, today I'm filling up the tank and get back in to starter up and now I've got no lights on the instrument panel. Just 2 small little green & orange? lights in far right hand corner of the instrument panel. Anyway checked and was hoping it was just a fuse but Oh No!! Couldn't be that easy, probably gonna have to have the dash removed or something like that. I've got to take it in tomorrow anyway and have another egr valve installed. I swear I've put 4 of those things in in the last 4 years. Damn carbon!!!

[old_master]

Try removing and cleaning the carbon from the pintle in the EGR valve. Then use a gasket that has a screen in it and you wont have to replace the EGR valve again. The screen is in the inlet passage of the EGR valve. It breaks the carbon up into small pieces before it enters the valve. The pieces are small enough so they don't get stuck and hold the valve open. Tomco part # 2-1357 Most auto parts stores have them in stock.

[fishingirl]

Thanks OM-I pick that up on my way in to work this a.m. for the mech. I wish I'd known about that a couple hundred ago. I wonder why the previous mech (no longer use) didn't know about that? Anyways, about that blank instrument panel, I read as much as I could find last night and it sounds like it could either be--#1-the battery cable, #2-the seat wires for the lumbar support or #3-behind the dash. I'll bet it's #3. Funny thing is though, yesterday after getting the gas, then dash lights going blank she started running normal again. I've been dealing with the service engine soon light being on and her running crappy since Monday when the egr valve started screwing up again--then when lights disappeared it's like no more reving up and everything--I tell you, its crazy!!!