'00 Trans: 1-2 late, won't shift into R or 4

[BlazerLT]

Don't discredit my advice.

Flush and fill could easily fix it. As said earlier it has never been serviced.

[DJSteve]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Don't discredit my advice.

Flush and fill could easily fix it. As said earlier it has never been serviced.

I've been posting on various forums for about 7-8 years now... for a moderator, you sure are arrogant. I did NOT say the trans had never been serviced. Honestly I don't know, because I've only owned the truck long enough to put on 1000 miles. In my experience the general condition of the vehicle is fairly indicative of the routine maintenance it received (or didn't), though, and this truck is VERY clean for the miles it has--no leaks or seepage anywhere, and the body and interior are viruatlly flawless.

Given that:
a) The sun shell issue with 4L60E's is very common, to the extent GM issued a TSB
b) The trans went from perfectly fine to dysfunctional overnight
c) My problems match those described in the TSB exactly
d) You consistently give unsubstantiated advice that other people refute with experience
e) I have yet to hear of ANYONE who had gears completely stop working, while others were fine, because of a clogged filter

I think I'll skip the flush-n-fill and take it someplace to get the actual problem fixed.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by DJSteve

I've been posting on various forums for about 7-8 years now... for a moderator, you sure are arrogant. I did NOT say the trans had never been serviced. Honestly I don't know, because I've only owned the truck long enough to put on 1000 miles. In my experience the general condition of the vehicle is fairly indicative of the routine maintenance it received (or didn't), though, and this truck is VERY clean for the miles it has--no leaks or seepage anywhere, and the body and interior are viruatlly flawless.

Given that:
a) The sun shell issue with 4L60E's is very common, to the extent GM issued a TSB
b) The trans went from perfectly fine to dysfunctional overnight
c) My problems match those described in the TSB exactly
d) You consistently give unsubstantiated advice that other people refute with experience
e) I have yet to hear of ANYONE who had gears completely stop working, while others were fine, because of a clogged filter

I think I'll skip the flush-n-fill and take it someplace to get the actual problem fixed.

First of all, I wasn't talking to you in that statement.

Second of all, insulting me when I was only trying to help is against the premise of this forum.

Third, if you KNOW so much about this, why in hell did you ask the question in the first place? Go and fix it.

[DJSteve]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

First of all, I wasn't talking to you in that statement.

Ok then, would you care to enlighten me who you were talking to? Because I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who has posted to this thread with a current (non-already-fixed) problem...

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Second of all, insulting me when I was only trying to help is against the premise of this forum.

If you answer answer my above question in a convincing manner, I will be happy to apologize. Otherwise, pulling "facts" out of your ass is against the premise of the forum as well, so I'd guess that makes us even.

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Third, if you KNOW so much about this, why in hell did you ask the question in the first place? Go and fix it.

I asked here prior to doing any serious research. So far I've gotten your suggestion that a flush-n-fill might fix it, a hint that it might be the reaction sun shell, and on another message board, a reply from a GM transmission mechanic saying it IS the reaction sun shell. Not might be, is.

For someone with 6000+ posts who trys to pass themself off as an "expert" I find it very peculiar you weren't aware of/didn't mention the TSB in the first place.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by DJSteve

Ok then, would you care to enlighten me who you were talking to? Because I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who has posted to this thread with a current (non-already-fixed) problem...

I was talking to the others that was saying it wouldn't fix it. I have had people do this before and it did fix their problem.

Originally Posted by DJSteve

If you answer answer my above question in a convincing manner, I will be happy to apologize. Otherwise, pulling "facts" out of your ass is against the premise of the forum as well, so I'd guess that makes us even.

First, you call me arrogant, now you say I am pulling facts out of my butt. That makes two insults in your last two posts when I haven't been rude to you at all. Personal insults will not be tolerated and is against forum policy. Attacking me and my advice will get you no where fast when all I was trying to do was help.

Originally Posted by DJSteve

I asked here prior to doing any serious research. So far I've gotten your suggestion that a flush-n-fill might fix it, a hint that it might be the reaction sun shell, and on another message board, a reply from a GM transmission mechanic saying it IS the reaction sun shell. Not might be, is.

Ok, sure, that is your call. I was just stating what I have seen work in the past.

Originally Posted by DJSteve

For someone with 6000+ posts who trys to pass themself off as an "expert" I find it very peculiar you weren't aware of/didn't mention the TSB in the first place.

Yet, another personal attack.

Sorry if I don't know every single service bulletin on the planet about our trucks, and your inference that post count automatically means I have a knowledge about the every one of 1000s of service bulletins currently out there is not my problem. My post count comes from helping hundreds, maybe even 1000s of people with their s-series problems.

If you have a problem with me helping people, that is not my concern.

Last warning..... I will not tolerate the personal attacks when I was not rude to you.

[Turbocpe]

BlazerLT, since you say that a flush-and-fill has "fix their problem" in regard to others having transmission issues, has a flush-and-fill ever corrected a problem for someone who had the exact symptoms that this person has?

DJSteve, thanks for your information. Because you had mentioned this 'sun shell' that I never heard of, it made me do some research myself since I'm concerned about any transmission issues with my own Blazer. I learned something from your post. Thank-you.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by Turbocpe

BlazerLT, since you say that a flush-and-fill has "fix their problem" in regard to others having transmission issues, has a flush-and-fill ever corrected a problem for someone who had the exact symptoms that this person has?

DJSteve, thanks for your information. Because you had mentioned this 'sun shell' that I never heard of, it made me do some research myself since I'm concerned about any transmission issues with my own Blazer. I learned something from your post. Thank-you.

No situation is always EXACTLY the same.

But I have seen transmission slipping, and improper shifting caused by it.

I am just offering a potential fix, I never said it WAS the fix, I am just offering advice. Nothing more.

I was never rude nor did I say anyone else was wrong.

[Flatrater]

For your information I am a GM trained mechanic, I also am a moderator on this board.

BlazerLT's suggestion of replacing the fluid does apply and it is a known fix for some trans issues.

Yes GM has a bulletin on this problem but not all problem transmissions will be fixed by the bulletin. Just because you have the same problem with your trans doesn't mean this bulletin will fix your problem.

If you read the bulletin it does not say "If you have this problem replace these parts". What it does say is to drop your trans pan and look for metal on the magnet, which would of been done if you follow BlazerLT's advice.

As a GM dealer tech I see the people come in with bulletin in hand, telling me to do this bulletin to fix there problems. Many times the owners have failed to read the bulletin. Some times they don't have the problem and sometimes the bulletin doesn't apply to their trucks. And even sometimes they think they have the problem because they see a bulletin on it.

At the bottom of every GM bulletin is written this!

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.

Now as a moderator on AF I am appaled by some of the remarks that are posted here. I wouldn't of had a problem in handing out a ban for the insults posted. You guys have a very smart mod who wants to help you and who didn't want you banned for the insults. So stop the insults or I will be banning you using the AF guidelines the members agree to when they sign up.

[TonyMazz]

Wow such talk and to think I was out of town and missed these exchanges...

I really don't know why our opinions don't seem to hold equal value but in the spirit of trying to help DJSteve as I mentioned earlier.....

The Flush and Fill is nice, but as I have learned first hand, a flush and fill which happened days earlier from my sun shell suffering metal fatique. I drove my vehicle in and the GM TECH knew exactly what it was....and he also showed me his diagnostic page, which I now own a set...on page 7-230 the only phrase it says for your symptoms is REPLACE THE SUN SHELL REACTTION assy.

DJSTEVE, plze just have a dealer pull the tranny codes and confirm our suspicion.....I suggest this only because I had the same symptoms and sharing my experiences....

BTW - BlazerLT was diggin on me for my disregard for suggesting the above and discounting his full flush and fill....so don't take offense. It was me he was blazing not you....

Please let us know how your experiences go....I hope that it isn't the above issue but suspect it is. Just trying to save you an extra $200 bucks that's all....

[DJSteve]

I thought I would post an update now that I was back on the road... the problem was caused by a broken reaction sun shell.

After being wholly unimpressed with the transmission shops in Ames I ended up taking it to a family-owned shop in Des Moines (~50 miles away). I told them I wanted it fixed right and such that towing a small trailer would not cause issues down the road.

The Blazer has 119k on it, but I've only owned it long enough to put on 1k of that. The guy said the transmission had been rebuilt at some time in the past (non-recently), but that no updates were made and there were a lot of things done in a manner they wouldn't be comfortable with sending out of their shop. Other than the sun shell the vanes in the pump were also damaged (he thought possibly related to the previous service) and the seal between the trans and transfer case was leaking slightly.

The final bill was $1850. $1052 was for parts. Their prices looked pretty comparable to what I had seen in earlier research online:
Master kit - $292
Rebuilt torque converter - $230
Force Motor - $97
Band - $25
Input Sprag - $65
Shell - $42
Filter - $29
Fluid - $20
Valve Body kit - $60
Bushing kit - $19
Boost Valve - $40
Pump Kit - $60
Manifold - $64
Valve Body Accumulator - $10

[BlazerLT]

Excellent, glad you figured it out and are on the road.

[DJSteve]

Originally Posted by Flatrater

Yes GM has a bulletin on this problem but not all problem transmissions will be fixed by the bulletin. Just because you have the same problem with your trans doesn't mean this bulletin will fix your problem.

If you read the bulletin it does not say "If you have this problem replace these parts". What it does say is to drop your trans pan and look for metal on the magnet, which would of been done if you follow BlazerLT's advice.

This is the TSB I mentioned earlier. I cannot guarantee it wasn't altered somewhere previously, but I found it in multiple places online in the exact same form--which does essentially say "if you have this problem replace these parts."

Originally Posted by GM TSB??

Bulletin No.: 00-07-30-022
Date: November, 2000
Subject:
No Reverse, Second Gear, or Fourth Gear
(Replace the Reaction Sun Shell)
Models:
1996 Buick Roadmaster
1996 Cadillac Fleetwood
1996 Chevrolet Caprice
1996-99 Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette
1996-99 Pontiac Firebird
1999 Cadillac Escalade
1996-99 Chevrolet and GMC C/K, M/L, S/T, and G Models
1996-99 Oldsmobile Bravada
1996-99 Holden Commodore
with Hydra-Matic 4L60-E (RPO M30) Automatic Transmission
Condition
Some owners may comment on a no reverse, no second gear, or no fourth gear
condition. All other gears will operate properly.
Cause
The reaction sun gear (673) may not hold inside the reaction sun shell (670).
Correction
Replace the reaction sun shell which has an increased radius from the splines
the to shell.

p/n 8683439 Reaction Sun Shell
Parts Information
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

-

-------------------------------------------------------------

-

If anyone would like to see pictures of a broken sun shell, check out http://trustmymechanic.com/forum/vie...?p=21262#21262. They were posted by a GM master technician who works as a senior transmission rebuilder (his profile doesn't show up unless you're a member and are signed in). He immediately identified the sun shell and didn't cite any other conditions which would cause my problems.

All the transmission shops I talked to who were helpful (willing to discuss the problem without charging a diagnostic fee) were familiar with this problem. It is not uncommon for 4L60E's.

My understanding is that GM issued the TSB in 1999, but didn't update the part until 2003. So if you own a 1996-2003 GM product with this transmission make SURE you come to a complete stop before shifting from R to D (or vice versa) and pray yours doesn't fail while you own the vehicle.

[MARS]

My wife and I have a similar problem. We have a 2000 Blazer with 79,000 miles. Off the line it lags then it picks up speed gradually. The check engine light is on and it kinda revs high as if there's a lot of weight in the car. We took it to 3 shops. 2 said it was the transmission shift solenoid and Aamco said it was a broken shell and was gonna charge us $2200. We're gonna replace the solenoid first and give you an update!

[TonyMazz]

Originally Posted by DJSteve

I thought I would post an update now that I was back on the road... the problem was caused by a broken reaction sun shell.

After being wholly unimpressed with the transmission shops in Ames I ended up taking it to a family-owned shop in Des Moines (~50 miles away). I told them I wanted it fixed right and such that towing a small trailer would not cause issues down the road.

The Blazer has 119k on it, but I've only owned it long enough to put on 1k of that. The guy said the transmission had been rebuilt at some time in the past (non-recently), but that no updates were made and there were a lot of things done in a manner they wouldn't be comfortable with sending out of their shop. Other than the sun shell the vanes in the pump were also damaged (he thought possibly related to the previous service) and the seal between the trans and transfer case was leaking slightly.

The final bill was $1850. $1052 was for parts. Their prices looked pretty comparable to what I had seen in earlier research online:
Master kit - $292
Rebuilt torque converter - $230
Force Motor - $97
Band - $25
Input Sprag - $65
Shell - $42
Filter - $29
Fluid - $20
Valve Body kit - $60
Bushing kit - $19
Boost Valve - $40
Pump Kit - $60
Manifold - $64
Valve Body Accumulator - $10

That's what I was afraid of when I heard your symptoms...glad you just didn't waste a 150 bucks on a flush -n- fill ...looks like you got it done right....

Unfortunately, welcome to the broken sunshell reaction club....

Good that it has been updated too....

[Turbocpe]

Thanks for the link and pictures. I admit I'm ignorant when it comes to transmissions, but information like this helps us learn. The pictures of a good and damaged sun shell was interesting, atleast to me.

Glad you got it resolved.