4L60E not shifting!!!

[skibum08]

hey i was wondering if anyone can help?
I have a 94 oldsmobile bravada with the 4L60E tranny in it.
I've owned it like a month & was working fine, but now selecting either drive or overdrive it starts in 2nd & wont change up or down, so i never get 3rd or 4th...but when i manually select 2nd or 1st i get 1st gear.
So to get around lately i've been manually selecting 2nd (for 1st) then shifting to drive (for 2nd) & back when i stop...this is fine round town but obvisously revs too high if i want to go any faster than 45mph & its like tipping my fuel down the drain.

Park, neutral & reverse work fine & from what i can see the selecter is lined up right...i even added a washer to a loose linkage to firm things up, thinking this could be the problem. But no help.

The fluid is at the right level & the right color. doesn't smell burnt...but i'm kinda thinking there is a posibility that there is a thickening additive in there as the selector looks like i was leaking but isn't dripping now....Thick fluid wouldn't do this would it????
I'm thinking its probably electrical but not sure as i have never owned or worked on a automatic. I've always had manuals...so much less comlicated!!

I have read a lot of other posts hoping they would help & they have given me ideas but none are really the same as my problem. I read one where something about the ignition not being right could mess with the computer in the tranny...if it helps, i'm pretty sure the ignition has been changed, as the key to start the car doesn't open the doors. Does anyone think the ignition not being installed properly could cause my problems???? Or could it be something worse???

Also the (abs) antilock brakes light is on as its not working...but this shouldnt have anything to do with the tranny right???
Unless its wired in somewhere...i dont know...has anyone got a wiring diagram for the tranny & the abs???
I'm thinking the abs is only a blown fuse or relay somewhere but i haven't been able to find it yet......

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jason

[Chris Stewart]

Looks like you have a shift solenoid not working. The 4L60E is set to accept a manual shift but if someone not familiar drives it, a clutch pack might get wiped then the big overhaul will be needed. I'd take it to a transmission shop before any damage is done.

[skibum08]

a shift solenoid...ok, can this be reached by just removing the bottom tray??? I'm sure its probably due for a fluid change & filter anyway.

[Chris Stewart]

Is the Check Engine light on?
No 3-4 shift makes things look pretty rough...I didn't catch that on the first read. I had to get mine overhauled on that one.

[skibum08]

no there isn't a check engine light, just the abs light.
I'm trying my best to avoid the workshops as i live in the Vail Valley Colorado...very expensive area. I would rather do the work myself if it only involves removing the bottom tray & changing out a solenoid...if its anything worse i think i'll be selling it again real soon

[skibum08]

it wouldn't have anything to do with a vacuum hoses would it???
the cruze control wasn't working when i got it, but that was a easy fix, the hoses were just rotten & cracked.
I dont know enough about auto's to be sure, but they have a vacuum hose controlling something dont they?
I haven't had a good look under it yet, its been snowing a lot & i've been just dealing with it how it is, so i can do some more snowboarding instead

[Chris Stewart]

When mine had no 3-4 shift, the transmission had to be rebuilt...maybe a transmission expert will pipe in.

[skibum08]

hope it doesn't need a rebuild.
I was driving today, just playing with the shifter while i was driving & i think i might actually be getting 3rd sometimes...but it only seems to be when i'm coasting along, as soon as i accelerate it seems to go back to 2nd again.
I was just rolling along, off the gas at 45mph, moving the shifter between overdrive & drive...
when its in overdrive the rpm goes back to idle speed, but shift it to drive & it clunks into 2nd & the clutch grabs & rpm goes up & stays up like the clutch is not disengaging until the engine braking slows the car right down..............wish i knew what was going on, i've looked up soooo much info on this tranny & nothing really matches what i've go going on...but from what i've read, this gearbox is in A LOT of cars & its the biggest piece of junk ever made...its even in some holdens in my home country, Australia

[ZL1power69]

i just replaced a solenoid on my 2000 w/ a 4l60e. I'm not sure if your year has a default mode for the trans in the event of a problem. mine would only allow 2nd and 3rd gear. If you need to replace the solenoid (probably solenoid b), its a $20-$40 part and your trans pan needs to be dropped. It will take about 2-3 hours to do. You will also need about 6 quarts of Dextron III trans fluid, pan gasket, and filter (if not recently changed). As long as you are not driving it for a long period of time with a bad solenoid, a rebuild probably isn't nessesary.

[skibum08]

ok thanks. i might give that a go...but 1st i'm going to get the computer read.
I got a quote to get the codes read & the guys round here want to charge $200 just to plug the stupid computer in...you know where i told him to go!...
But i found, & am currently bidding on a usb scan tool that i can plug into my laptop on ebay for about 40-50 bucks. So i'll hopefully get that & find out what the computer is telling me for myself soon

[matt_o_70]

the local autozone stores in our area will read the trouble codes for free - id suggest you call around to see if you have a parts store that will do the same.