A4LD No upshift from 1st = No Second Gear!

[Longs]

I took my '93 to a local Trans guy, who test drove it with me. My tranny wouldn't upshift to 2nd unless I almost completely let off the gas, so I was thinking either bad vacuum modulator, possible sticking governor, etc.

Well, when the trans guy drove it, he discovered that the reason the truck wouldn't shift out of first was that it couldn't find second gear! When I rev it up and then let off the gas, it's actually going from first to third gear. That's why it wants to wait so long to shift.

When the truck is rolling at about 30 MPH in first with the shifter in low or in D or OD, if you move the shifter to "2" and step on the gas, the engine will rev like it's in Neutral. I have little or no 2nd gear left.

The trans guy is thinking possible band failure, says you have to get very deep into the trans to get to the 2nd gear components, effectively becomes a rebuild.

I have several choices - sell as is, get a tranny from a salvage yard (he'll remove mine and install the salvage tranny for $225) or have him rebuild mine ($600 for the rebuild, including a replacement torque converter) + $225 for the removal and installation, plus miscellaneous expenses (fluid, etc.). Gets me up near $1000 with tax.

What he's telling me sounds pretty much "on the money", and I'm thinking that I might be better off having him rebuild for $600, not sure I could even get a junkyard tranny for that price, and I won't even know what I have.

Thoughts?

 

[Opera House]

You're not into pulling it yourself?

I just pulled mine and I must admit that is not the fun part. I gor an install rebuild several years ago for $760 from a backyard transmission guy and that lasted about 14 months. When I asked him to quote me again, he wouldn't even return my calls. guess he thinks 4WD are a pain to take out. Mine is just a spare vehicle so I have the time and inclination to rebuild it myself. What I have learned is there are all different levels of rebuilds. The basic kit is about $30 to replace gaskets and seals. Everything else is an add on. So the problem becomes, does the guy put $30 in his pocket or does he put it in the transmission. The research on my transmission indicated that it failed because he reused a $7.45 part that had some wear on it but would still work. This is why you hear a lot of stories about rebuilt transmissions lasting only two years. I would prefer a "rebuilt" over a pull out. Just be aware that for $600, you are getting a very minimal ampunt of new parts. Probably less than $60.

 

[Longs]

Thanks for the info - I don't have the time or facilities to do the work myself. I'm likely going to be selling the Ex anyway (I've had it for 10 years, and I'll miss it).

I'm assuming the $600 is going to include new bands and clutches, etc., because if those are what failed to cause my loss of 2nd gear, they'd have to be replaced.

 

[Opera House]

Don't assume anything

There is no reason to assume that you will get anything but a new band and O-rings. My bands and clutches were still near perfect and no reason to change them. It's like changing your sparkplugs at 100K. Sure some things have worn in the engine but there is no reason to rebuild it. It is unlikely there is much wear on the transmission. Many people prefer to replace certain items in the OD section as a matter of course. These transmissions are known to have fatigue problems there, sprag, OD drum and washer. $600 is not a lot of money.

 

[nyisles_99]

i am having the same issue.

I just want someone to buy this thing, I think

 

[B94Sport]

Thank you for posting that test! I am having a problem (Thread: Tranny Finally Got Me?) where my trans will not shift out of first or second gear unless I take my foot off of the gas and let the RPMs drop to a certain point, and then punch the gas again... Even that shifting is iffy. I just went out to the parking lot and did what you described and luckily my engine did not rev like it was in neutral. Still trying to figure out why it won't shift though... Going to have the shop look at it on Tuesday.

 

[nyisles_99]

let us know what they come up with

 

[Longs]

Have to make some calls

To see if there's a decent tranny to be found out there for less than $600, or if I'll have it rebuilt and then sell the truck.

Also sounds like I should get more information on the "scope" of the rebuild.

 

[unabonked]

heh, i'd kill for a 600 rebuild, mine cost 3000


who needs second anyway? by the end all mine did was reverse

 

[tenikiwon]

2nd gear

Don't know if this will help but.....

I had the tranny replaced in my '89 Sundance and shortly after I had the same thing --> No second gear.

I took it back :fire: and it was only a quick 10min fix. some screw or adjustment.

Hopefully that's all yours is.

 

[asp84]

A tranny rebuild that includes a torque converter and all the parts needed to do the rebuild for 600 dolla sounds kinda shady to me. My advice is do it rigth the first time. have the transmission fully rebuilt....don't just replace the parts that are broken. As opera house stated earlier.

Al