Is there a tranny guy here?

[Ed West]

I have a '84 Silverado Suburban 4x4 350 (I'm afraid I don't have any specifics on the tranny, but the vehicle is all stock)

The automatic transmission will only engage 1st gear now.

Before it went out the tranny would seemingly go into neutral after first gear until I was forced to let off the gas and wait for it to switch to second. This only happend occasionally and when I would accelerate too quickly.
Any ideas how this can be fixed?

Thanks in advance.

[pimprolla112]

im not sure if i can help with the problem but since its an 80's chevy the tranny is probobaly a 700r4 thats what they used in just about every car. my tarnny just went out in my 87' s10 blazer you can get a rebuilt tranny for about 600 off ebay. all i have is 2nd and 3rd gear 1st is fried and o/d doesnt engage. im not sure if thats the right transmission code check around you can find out some where on the web. good luck

[Ed West]

Thanks, I'll check ebay

[Ed West]

Still if anyone knows how to fix this please let me know.

[Larry Derouin]

Sounds like a heck of a lit of miles and minimal if ANY maintenance. The cheapest thing I know of for an ailing 700R4 or any tranny is to change the fluid and filter. Your symptoms are somewhat indicative of clogging of the filter, and dirty fluid gumming up the valve body and pistons.

You might get lucky for a few miles (enough to get her to a shop) before an overhaul. But I wouldn't bet too heavily on it. That trans sounds tired and in need of a complete overhaul with the HD UPGRADES, and RV pack.

my $0.02

Larry

[kenny-1907]

Sounds like it may be a problem with the governor.......i could be wrong....

[Ed West]

Originally Posted by Larry Derouin

Sounds like a heck of a lit of miles and minimal if ANY maintenance. The cheapest thing I know of for an ailing 700R4 or any tranny is to change the fluid and filter. Your symptoms are somewhat indicative of clogging of the filter, and dirty fluid gumming up the valve body and pistons.

You might get lucky for a few miles (enough to get her to a shop) before an overhaul. But I wouldn't bet too heavily on it. That trans sounds tired and in need of a complete overhaul with the HD UPGRADES, and RV pack.

my $0.02

Larry

Actually it runs strong in 1st gear. You see it went out about 60 miles from home. I had to drive in the bike lane all the way back home. I've also driven it a few times since; once when we moved and to the shop for an estimate. (too much!)

Thank you very much for your input. I'll investigate the filter clogging and see if a fluid change helps.

[Ed West]

Originally Posted by kenny-1907

Sounds like it may be a problem with the governor.......i could be wrong....

I've heard this before. A small plastic piece located on the drivers side under a cap. I tried get that cap off to no avail. To be honest I was unsure if I was trying to get the right piece off.

Someone told me if that's the problem I should have reverse. (which I don't)

Thank you for your response.

[wallus]

Does it still have park? Does it feel like it wants to drive forward in park?
If these two things are true then the manual valve may have slipped out of the linkage. It usualy goes to the low position.
It could also be that the forward clutch has welded itself together in which case you will need a major overhaul or exchange trans.
Make sure the wheels are blocked!!!. To check the manual valve, pull the pan off and look up into the driver side of the trans (watch for oil drips in the eye).
Get somebody to move the shifter slowly from park to low and back again. You should see the linkage moving inside. The linkage should move the manual valve back and forth through the valve body. If the valve is not moving,you should be able to re-insert it and tighten the nut.
Let me know what you find.

[Ed West]

Originally Posted by wallus

Does it still have park? Does it feel like it wants to drive forward in park?
If these two things are true then the manual valve may have slipped out of the linkage. It usualy goes to the low position.
It could also be that the forward clutch has welded itself together in which case you will need a major overhaul or exchange trans.
Make sure the wheels are blocked!!!. To check the manual valve, pull the pan off and look up into the driver side of the trans (watch for oil drips in the eye).
Get somebody to move the shifter slowly from park to low and back again. You should see the linkage moving inside. The linkage should move the manual valve back and forth through the valve body. If the valve is not moving,you should be able to re-insert it and tighten the nut.
Let me know what you find.

Hey thanks for the response!

It does engage Park fine. It runs in first ok as well and even coasts when I let off the gas in first, but no shifty. =/ 2nd and 3rd gear seem to be gone.

Also the tranny shop said that since I have no reverse that it can't be the governer. Anyone know how much truth there is to that?

Thanks again everyone for the help.

[wallus]

That's true! A bad governor or stripped gov gear will cause upshift trouble but won't cause a no rewind situation. Does it move forward in "D"or does it feel like it's in neutral. Do you have an O/D or a three speed?

[Ed West]

Originally Posted by wallus

That's true! A bad governor or stripped gov gear will cause upshift trouble but won't cause a no rewind situation. Does it move forward in "D"or does it feel like it's in neutral. Do you have an O/D or a three speed?

It feels like neutral in D, but as I said in 1, it works fine. It's a three speed no OD and it is a 4x4. (Shifts on the floor, but that doesn't change anything.)