Solved Differential Swap

[Josh P]

So right after I say my transmission is working fine it just started slipping to neutral while changing gears, time for another thread I guess.

Time for a manual transmission swap

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

I think it's probably just the torque converter assembly starting to wear down, it only does it when it gets hot and it seems to randomly do it switching to any gear (not just 1st to 2nd or 3rd to 4th etc) and it's only occasional.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Time for a manual transmission swap

^^^ this!!!

is it slipping? under load? without load?

 

[CDW6212R]

That's time for some hands on care, before the issue seriously wears out the clutches etc. The 5R55E is a reliable trans, but they all need some help when they become 10-20 years old. Fluid and a filter won't fix problems which are usually in the valve body, or the accumulators etc. A VB kit and a few Sonnax VB parts are not hard to change for anyone who has worked on a trans, the VB etc. The solenoids are easy, relatively, the accumulators are a PITA. But all of that is likely to solve 95% of all normal automatic trans issues from age. A rebuild changes all of those, except the aftermarket VB parts. The only other thing possible to do is something suggested by Sonnax, adding a couple of set screws, pushing them gently up into, the long deep case passages, to keep them from moving side to side(which is known to blow out the VB gasket sometimes).

If you can find a way to change some or all of those, you may not need a rebuild for a lot longer.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

^^^ this!!!

is it slipping? under load? without load?

Under load when upshifting.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

That's time for some hands on care, before the issue seriously wears out the clutches etc. The 5R55E is a reliable trans, but they all need some help when they become 10-20 years old. Fluid and a filter won't fix problems which are usually in the valve body, or the accumulators etc. A VB kit and a few Sonnax VB parts are not hard to change for anyone who has worked on a trans, the VB etc. The solenoids are easy, relatively, the accumulators are a PITA. But all of that is likely to solve 95% of all normal automatic trans issues from age. A rebuild changes all of those, except the aftermarket VB parts. The only other thing possible to do is something suggested by Sonnax, adding a couple of set screws, pushing them gently up into, the long deep case passages, to keep them from moving side to side(which is known to blow out the VB gasket sometimes).

If you can find a way to change some or all of those, you may not need a rebuild for a lot longer.

I've seen several "updated" valve body kits, one I'm looking at comes with new gaskets, solenoids, and filter.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Any thoughts?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

seems alright, never used them before. have you looked at central valve bodies (CVB)?

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

seems alright, never used them before. have you looked at central valve bodies (CVB)?

Looks like they may have downsized their production, they make some small parts for the 5R55Es but not many.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

I should also mention that this thing shifts super smooth between gears, I don't even feel it shift 99% of the time, that's why I think it's the clutch/torque converter assembly going out, it almost floats between gears.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I should also mention that this thing shifts super smooth between gears, I don't even feel it shift 99% of the time, that's why I think it's the clutch/torque converter assembly going out, it almost floats between gears.

mine floats but it doesnt slip. i have a feelin its somethin in the vb area, but not too sure

 

[Lee's Automotive]

mine floats but it doesnt slip. i have a feelin its somethin in the vb area, but not too sure

Sounds kind of like low fluid tbh

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

We did the filter and fluid probably 2K ago or so, it was doing it before, new fluid seemed to help but not really obviously. I'll double check it to see how it looks though.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Might be worth checking your line pressure to make sure it’s not on the very bottom range.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

Might be worth checking your line pressure to make sure it’s not on the very bottom range.

Test port is right behind/next to the shift linkage right?

 

[CDW6212R]

I've seen several "updated" valve body kits, one I'm looking at comes with new gaskets, solenoids, and filter.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Any thoughts?

Those rebuilt VB's cover about a third of the common possible old age ailments. Try to find someone local there who is capable of working on a VB, and then have them install all of the other parts I mentioned. The parts cost would be $250ish, I haven't priced those in many years. The labor time is likely two hours with the VB out for a person comfortable with VB's, a novice you should figure several hours at least.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Sounds kind of like low fluid tbh

kinda, but wouldnt it whine a but too? just tryna remember when mine was low once

 

[CDW6212R]

When the ATF gets too low, usually you know it immediately because it will be slow to engage when first driving, cold, or it won't go into gear hardly at all. Check the fluid, when warm, on level ground, do it several times checking both sides of the dipstick, and put the dipstick in both ways. One way will show more accurately than the other.

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

Guess I should say mine only slips once it's warmed up. I'll check the pressures on Sunday when we do the diffs too.

 

[Lee's Automotive]

We did the filter and fluid probably 2K ago or so, it was doing it before, new fluid seemed to help but not really obviously. I'll double check it to see how it looks though.

Through in some lubegard red bottle and see how it does

 

[ThatOneGuy99]

Through in some lubegard red bottle and see how it does

Will do, I'm usually not a fan of "fix-in-a-can" type things but I'll give it a shot after the diffs are done, I wanna start driving it a lot more, poor thing only gets driven maybe once a month at the most