A4LD Situation-Help

[Professor2]

OK, I have the transmission in. I have the bottom 4 bell housing bolts in. I had to quit for the night. The question I have is: I have two bolts with big shoulders(about 3/4") and they are about 2" long. I thought they were bell housing bolts. If they are they have to go in the top. I think it will be a challange getting those top bolts in. I was just hoping someone could tell me if they are to go there before I find out the hard way.

 

[Professor2]

I guess nobody knows where these shouldered bolts go. So, i'm going to tell you where they go. They go in the two top bolt holes in the bell housing. The one's that hole the bracket for the wiring harness.
Thanks for all the help! All the articles I read were very helpful.

 

[Professor2]

I have the trans back in but it appears my problems have reversed. When I started I didn't have forward gears. Now I have forward gears and no reverse. The question I have in my mind is that reverse servo. How can it work with out the wire clip. I had to put it in the vise to get it apart but transgo said to put it together with no wire clip. So that plunger just stays down in against the low/reverse band, The problem has to be in the valve body but I don't know where.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Put the low/reverse servo back together the same way as you see in this picture:

 

[Professor2]

The transgo instructions said to remove the wire clip and change the spring and not to reuse the wire clip. The picture you have here doesn't show the spring that is inside the servo or the wire clip. Are you saying to replace the wire clip?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Yes, put the servo back in without modifying it. You had reverse gear before modifying the servo, so it's logical to assume that the problem lies in the servo, and not in the valve body.

 

[Professor2]

I don't know where to get another wire clip. Does anybody sell this or do I have to buy some kind of kit?

Just a note: when I was putting in the fluid-about 5 quarts and started the engine, I had reverse. After I got all the fluid in there was no reverse.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Where's the old clip?

 

[Professor2]

I couldn't get the old clip off so I used the little dremel tool blade and cut it off. Transgo said not to use it so I didn't think it was necessary to save it. I see that was a mistake.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Get a different servo from WWW.Wittrans.Com.

 

[Professor2]

I found a huge warehouse that sells used transmission parts. I picked up a servo complete with spring and cover for $5. I will install this unit and see if I get reverse.

 

[BrooklynBay]

That's a good price for those parts. Make sure that the servo has the same amount of grooves, and is the same height.

 

[Professor2]

I just installed the different low/reverse servo. Still no reverse. I put a pressure gauge on it and the trans has 65psi in all positions at idle.
No valves in the VB are referred to as reverse valves. Does this mean the VB couldn't cause my problem? I'm thinking of picking up another VB and try it before I pull this thing again.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The pressure sounds a little too low. It could have a problem with the torque of the valve body gaskets, boost valve, end plugs or the way the TransGo kit was installed.

 

[Professor2]

I torqued the VB bolts with a inch torque wrench. I torqued the edge bolts to 75 in lbs. and the others to 90 in lbs as specified in the transgo instructions. I just picked up another VB with solenoids. I'll put that in tomorrow and see what happens.

There is one thing that I question. The transgo instructions said the center support should not use a bronze washer or a plastic washer on the rear side if using the snap drum and shell. I measured it and used the bronze washer to get the proper clearance. Are they saying with the snap drum, I don't have to measure clearance? Some things just don't make sense.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The proper amount of clearance is always important. The center support rings are pretty tricky, and could easily get damaged if they are not inserted correctly. You might want to put the center support into the freezer for a while before installing it.

 

[Professor2]

I installed the VB and still no reverse. I have all 4 speeds forward. I have it on jack stands and it shifts all gears forward. So, I'm taking it back out.

 

[Professor2]

My transmission is fixed. I took it back out and stripped it down and found the low/reverse band was out of place. I put everything back together and presto it works great.
Thanks Brooklynbay for all your help!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update! It sounded like a problem in that area.