slipping 4t60E

[The_Jeff]

Just got a 1992 cutlass ciera 3300 with the 4 speed auto. Has some wires coming out of it but also a vacuum modulator. Think its the 4t60E.

1st grabs great but it flares to neutral on its way to 2nd. Let off the gas and it shifts. Go manual 2nd and it grabs better. Nurse it all the way up to 4th. If one gets TCC lockup and feathers the gas they can get up to 60 MPH. If you give it too much gas it loses speed and makes a noise like when you hit those "wake up" rumble strip asphalt cuts on the shoulder.

Found it half a quart down on fluid, red with a little tan. Topped off with maxlife dexron III (old bottle). Also the linkage might be off half a click, I try to use the "transmission click" even if it means the indicator on the dash is off a little.

Tried running it with no vacuum to the modulator: firm but not jarring shifts, good 1st to 2nd shift. I have illegal plates on it so am carefully cruising my back road, and haven't yet seen if the disco'd modulator gets me all the way up to 4th.

In park and neutral but not drive or reverse it makes a slight angry powersteering/ hydraulicy noise. Pump?

Who knows these things, and more importantly, what interchanges? I don't care if I have to put a 3t40 in as long as the axles fit.

 

[mechanicx]

Does it have a TV linkage? It might be a 440t/4t60 they had a vacuum modulator and a TV linkage. I'm not really sure but maybe it just needs a TV linkage adjustment and ATF fluid and filter change?

 

[The_Jeff]

No I think the solenoids (the "E" part) do the actual shifting/timing, but the modulator adjusts firmness/line pressure. On my test drive it shifted at the appropriate times. I had a ciera with 3t40 and a TV cable ten years back so I know how those are set up.

Just looked them up, man, modulators are cheap, $15! Might be throwing one on for giggles...

 

[sciphi]

Smells like there's not enough line pressure to keep the transmission engaged. I'd try the modulator and see where that gets you. Some are adjustable, IIRC.

 

[paulo57509]

If you have a modulator, it's not an "E" model. I have the same trans in my 1992 Lumina.

I would confirm that the TV cable is adjusted correctly. IIRC, the TV cable also controls hydraulic pressure.

 

[sciphi]

If it's a 4T60, the electronics do some of the shifting. The vacuum modulator controls transmission line pressure, IIRC.

The later 4T65 did away with the vacuum modulator.

 

[brianl703]

I once dealt with a Pontiac Grand Prix of that vintage. The transmission is not computer controlled (EDIT: tcc lockup is, that's it). The wires are for sensors to tell the computer what gear the transmission is in. I don't know why the computer needs to know that.

EDIT: It is the same exact transmission that the Grand Prix I dealt with uses, I looked up the trans. filter on Wix filters:

Part Number: 58942
UPC Number: 765809589421
Principal Application: GM Vehicles w/THM440T4 Trans (84-93)

http://www.charlietranny.com/440T4.htm

 

[The_Jeff]

Well the pan is stamped 4T60 no E. I got a new "red stripe" modulator, filter, gasket, and two gallons of "DEX/M" generic fluid all from Advance.

Put the new modulator on, I screwed the adjuster screw in about 4 turns. Possibly a little much.

Drove okay ish.

Changed the fluid, used 4.5 qts generic Dex, 1 old quart maxlife Dex III, and most of a jar of "Bars Leaks sealer" goo from walmart. The stuff that looks like Cherry Grenadine.

Transmission holds great

but a little firm, am going to back off that modulator screw a little to keep things firm-ish as this car is going to my idiot BIL and needs all the proactive protection it can get.

Old fluid was brown, trans pan was silty but without any wierd metal fragments etc. Had the lame rubber gasket on it so it did at least see one transmission service before, has 144k mi on it now.

 

[The_Jeff]

You can't get dish hubcaps and whitewalls like this anymore!

 

[mechanicx]

So did you confirm it is a 4T60, a lot of them around that model year were. I'm thinking if it has a modulator then it is a THM440/4T60 which has a TV linkage for shift points and a modulator for shift feel. Like I was thinking it was probably an issue with worn out fluid and the tv linkage or modulator. Most likely the modulator since it controls shift feel the most. Anyway sounds like you got it fixed.