Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

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coolen
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Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

to make a long story short, i checked my tranny fluid today and when i pulled the stick, there was very little on it and it felt "gritty" to me. the van also made some nasty noises. usually when the rpm's were higher in 1 st. i added fluid, drove home roughly an hour. everything seems to be ok, but it's like the tranny is whinning in first at higher rpm's. i checked the fluid again, and it seemed ok. there was acouple of times that the van felt like it was trying to bind up as well. is it rebuild time?

thanks :yikes:
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!

phr1$k37
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by phr1$k37 »


Hmmm. I am no tranny expert but if you want someone to say "yes" so you can spend money ... then ... Yes :)

;p
97' Safari AWD SLT - Nicknamed "Princess" cause of all the TLC she begs from me!
Location: West Coast, B.C., Canada eh?
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LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I would first drop the pan and plan a filter and fluid change. Then go from there unless you are just looking for an excuse to do a performance rebuild! :D
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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coolen
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

would i get away with a fluid and filter change even if the fluid was a bit gritty? i know it wouldn't hurt it any...
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

It is cheaper to do the fluid and filter than a rebuild. This may be all it needs. You will really have to inspect the pan well for more signs of a pending rebuild.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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coolen
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 7:13 am

Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

i was gonna pick up a filter and fluid today, but when it started making noises, i got scared and left for home. hopefully crappy tire has one. that will be the plan. should i give it a jug of lucas as well? it hasn't slipped yet...
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!
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coolen
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

i've got a quick question. if the whinning that i hear is the torque converter, would one from the 700r4 work in the 4l60 e?
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!
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HPbyStan
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by HPbyStan »

If you have an AWD, how can you be sure the sound is coming from the transmission?
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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coolen
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

because when i took the tranny pan off today, there was an abundance of metal fragments. not good :yikes:

also, while i was messin' around i broke off one of the electrical connectors off. :yikes: :yikes:

now i only have 4th and reverse. this is gonna be a costly fix i think......... ](*,)
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!
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coolen
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

obviously the trannies from a 2wd and an awd are different, but how? a 2wd wouldn't work with an awd set up would it? if i just buy another tranny, is there something specific i should try to find?

thanks
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

If the tranny is dead in your 95 you must use a tranny from a 95. The electronics are setup for that year only. The only difference between a 2WD and an AWD tranny is the output shafts and tail housings.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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Topic author
coolen
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 7:13 am

Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

WELL, i took my transmission to Cottmans. BIG MISTAKE. i was sure that if i took it to a "tranny place", it would have been good as new. the ONLY difference is i have all of my gears. they told me that they had to rebuild it including the converter. now it grinds in first like it did before, but now it does it in reverse something awful. and it still shifts hard. acouple of times yesterday when i shut the van off, i heard what i think was the converter still spinning. that can't be normal can it? i've never heard it before.

ya's wanna know what the best part is...........the bill was $1716!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) :yikes: :yikes:
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!
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peter
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by peter »

You mean the tranny got rebuilt and you have all those noises? Go back and see 'em, don't blow your cool. :supz:
"Just keep swimming..."
97' 4wd Safari
ZZ 502 Ramjet
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Ford 9"


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Perverted is using the whole chicken.

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coolen
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by coolen »

yuppers, major noises. as soon as i left the place with the van, and i noticed it still shifted hard. i called them and they said to give it the weekend to "settle down" cuz it had to break in. it's breakin' in alright, just without the in'.
95 safari AWD
94 astro, just itchin' for a V8!!
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peter
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Re: Hard shifting WAS a problem.......

Post by peter »

Drop it off Monday AM. Tell 'em that if God & GM had intended for new/rebuilt trannies to sound like they had marbles in 'em, they'd make noise right off the showroom floor.

Idiots! I'd heard of that outfit before, and what I heard, I'm sure wasn't good. Why is it that most of the retards who aren't any good at auto mechanics always seem to end up working at a tranny shop? [-(
"Just keep swimming..."
97' 4wd Safari
ZZ 502 Ramjet
4"L"80E/NP241C
Ford 9"


Kinky is using a feather.
Perverted is using the whole chicken.

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crimes".
- Thomas Jefferson
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