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automatic transmission service

Joined
May 10, 2002
Messages
2,254
Location
Boise, Idaho
Corvette
2002 electron blue Z06
I have a '97 coupe with 67,000 miles on it. I thought that it would be good to get the transmission serviced (new filter, new fluid). After I got it back, I noticed that it is sluggish in shifts. It seems to take longer- it is just different. I floored it at about 30MPH and when it got to 60MPH, and should have shifted into 2nd, it did not. I ran into the rev limiter, got off the power, then it shifted. Is this a fluid too low or too high situation? I am taking it back to the shop tomorrow morning, but I am curious. Does anybody know about this situation?
 
shouldn't happen

I've had my auto transmissions (not in Corvettes) serviced every 30,000 mi.
They always shift normally afterwards.

My owner's manual for the Firebird says fluid too high will flow out onto the engine area.
Too low might cause bad shifting, just a guess.

At any rate, you can certainly check your ATF level and see where it is.
 
It is not an easy thing to check the ATF level in a C5. I may try it, but it would take me a while to get it in the air enough that I could get to the drain plug. It would have been nice for GM to put in some type of dipstick into the back of the car somewhere.
 
transmission service

At first we thought that it turned out to be an incorrect transmission fluid filter. However, that is not the case. The transmission shifts late and soft. It slips in 2nd gear going around a corner under power. When floored, it stays in first until I get off the power.

The car was fine until I took it in for service. Now it has a problem. The service people contend that they did nothing that could have caused this problem. It is going to the transmission specialist in a couple days for diagnosis. It will be interesting to see who gets to pay for all this.

All I wanted was some preventive maintenance, and what I have is a damaged transmission.
 
Sorry to hear about the transmission problem. Hope everything goes well. Keep us posted.
 
Maybe they put in a 2003 transmission while you were not looking! Joking of course but read this:



From Ken Fichtner's newsletter:

9) 2003 Corvette Transmission Slip

Attention: Service Manager

Subject: Slips in 3rd and or 4th, Slips in all Forward Gears at Low Miles (Test Pressure Control Solenoid - PCS)

Models: 2003 Cadillac: Escalade, Chevrolet: Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Blazer, Trailblazer, S10, Astro, Express, Corvette, GMC: Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Envoy, Sonoma, Safari, Savana, Oldsmobile: Bravada Equipped with 4L60E (M30) Automatic Transmission

Some early production vehicles may experience a slip in 3rd or 4th gear or in all forward gears at approximately 1,500 - 3,000 miles . This slip may be due to a distress of the 3-4 clutch or the forward clutch. The cause of the clutch distress may be a pressure control solenoid (PCS) which does not respond properly and "sticks" in a low line condition. If the PCS sticks it can create transmission line pressure which is too low in some conditions resulting in clutch distress. If diagnosis determines that one or more clutch packs are burned be sure to perform a Line Pressure Check Procedure as detailed in SI.

A Line Pressure Check requires the use of a Tech II and a line pressure gage. When performing this test it is very important to start the test at 1.0 amps and reduce the commanded amperage in 0.1 amp increments while reading the corresponding line pressure on a pressure gage. A faulty PCS will result in low line pressure until approximately 0.4 to 0.3 amps are commanded. After reaching this amperage the PCS will function properly until maximum amps are commanded again. If the PCS passes the Line Pressure Check it is not faulty and does not need to be replaced.
 
I doubt that any of you have been losing sleep wanting to find out how my transmission service SNAFU came out, but here it is anyway. First, the repair shop said that they would pay to repair any damage done to the transmission following their service. I have found that most people will do the right thing if given the chance to do so. In the end, it did turn out to be low ATF. Once they added some more ATF, the shifting became normal again, and the slipping that I felt (on 2 occasions while going around a corner in 2nd gear under power) had quit. I have driven it hard, including 0-110mph at WOT and I can detect no problems. I hope that this is the end to it. Thanks, CHICK and c4c5specialist for your help. I really appreciate that you took time to send me some suggestions.
Rob- This is a GREAT web site!!
Jim (Darth Vetter) B
 
Have it pumped in!

Next time have some AMSOIL (14 quarts) Pumped into it, and you will be set for 75,000 miles.:j Since you had the filter changed this time, you will not have to change it again.

http://www.picturetrail.com/tshac
 

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