did i fry my new tranny??

[SyKo MiKe]

Ok guys, sad day today

first of all i just had a 4l60e rebuilt less then 300 miles ago

i get offwork and am driving on interstate then all of a sudden i lose 3rd and 4th gear

i pull over and check fluid the dipstick is like a very very light pink with the pink over the min mark

i had to drive it likw 10 miles to the nearests parts store to get fluid...but i realized i left my cc and cash at home today

then i decided to drive it home.. i do have "d" and reverse..and 1st and 2nd all work reg

i get home and check fluid...i pull the dipstick and i see steam coming off of it

what steps do i need to do when i add atf before i drive it again?
am i totally screwed?

also i just got a new tranny mount replaced last night

[SyKo MiKe]

anyone??

[pajeff02]

Hmmm. Any chance the trans cooler in the radiator let go? You may want to check and see how your coolant looks. There is a good troubleshooting guide posted on here -- just take me a moment to find it.

[pajeff02]

Take a look at this thread: http://www.ls1.com/forums/f64/common...ission-159553/

[SyKo MiKe]

how would i find out if let go or not? I was gunna check coolant first thing in the morning since its allready dark here
..if the coolant looks bad and i flush the radiator that might move more tranny fluid into the transmission?

[pajeff02]

If you have coolant in your transmission fluid or vice versa, you'll need to replace the radiator or cap off and bypass the internal cooler. You should probably drop the transmission pan anyway and see what it looks like. By chance, did you install a deep pan after the rebuild?

[SyKo MiKe]

the pan is a little deeper now that i think about it...

ill check coolant tomorrow,(what would i look for?)
and ill have to get ahold of some jack stands tomorrow so i can drop my pan and see if theres coolant in it

i was just about to install a tranny cooler this weekend aswell!
what timeing :/

[pajeff02]

If you have a deep pan, did you also install a filter extension or swap over to a truck style filter with a longer neck?

You are looking for signs of coolant in the fluid -- as we all know, oil and water do not mix. Also, be on the lookout for any dark coloring, burned smell, or excessive metal particles.

[SyKo MiKe]

Im pretty sure it was a truck style filter, they were explaining to me how it came out of a 5.3 vortec...but they gutted everything and upgraded all bands all solenoids and the filter...it that matters a whole lot i can call them in the morning, im sure they will remember me

ok thanks alot for your help! i will check everything tomorrow and will update!

[pajeff02]

This is the one I noted from the thread I linked:

No forward movement in OD or D, but L2, L1 and R work: Forward sprag is broken. R&R. Try not to run or drive the car or further damage could result.

[pajeff02]

Here is a pic of the aftermarket sprag in my Performabuilt transmission compared to the stock piece on the right:

[Cutlass]

Yep, sounds like coolant and trans fluid mixed together. It'll kinda look like a strawberry milkshake. So you'll have to fix/replace the radiator, flush the cooling system, and flush the transmission. If you're lucky, the trans will shift and perform fine after you flush out all the milkshake. But if its really bad, it can contaminate the clutches and would require replacement.

[robcas47]

Had the same thing happen to me at the track, no 3rd or 4th but all else worked fine. Same thing happened when I checked the levels too. Turned out in my case that the 3-4 clutch was fried. That was what a buddy told me when he had it torn down for rebuild, I ended up having to buy his built A4. I know all problems are not the same but this thread sounds exactly like what I went through.

[SyKo MiKe]

This is the one I noted from the thread I linked:

No forward movement in OD or D, but L2, L1 and R work: Forward sprag is broken. R&R. Try not to run or drive the car or further damage could result.

it does drive in D tho..would it still be the sprag?
what brand sprag is your new one??

and milkshake in the radiator right?

[SyKo MiKe]

Had the same thing happen to me at the track, no 3rd or 4th but all else worked fine. Same thing happened when I checked the levels too. Turned out in my case that the 3-4 clutch was fried. That was what a buddy told me when he had it torn down for rebuild, I ended up having to buy his built A4. I know all problems are not the same but this thread sounds exactly like what I went through.

would my clutch 3-4 be fried allready with less then 300 miles on it??

[pajeff02]

it does drive in D tho..would it still be the sprag?
what brand sprag is your new one??

and milkshake in the radiator right?

I guess I am confused -- you said you lost 3 and 4 which would be drive and overdrive. With the gear selector in drive, did it shift through 1, 2 and into drive?

Milkshake if it is really bad, or simply droplets of transmission fluid. The trans fluid should float up to the top, so anything drained out the bottom of the radiator may initially appear ok. Also, if your car has the stock P/S cooler in the upper hose that is also a potential source of contamination. They like to fail so be sure to check your P/S reservoir if you are uncertain about what you are seeing in the coolant.

[SyKo MiKe]

I guess I am confused -- you said you lost 3 and 4 which would be drive and overdrive. With the gear selector in drive, did it shift through 1, 2 and into drive?

Milkshake if it is really bad, or simply droplets of transmission fluid. The trans fluid should float up to the top, so anything drained out the bottom of the radiator may initially appear ok. Also, if your car has the stock P/S cooler in the upper hose that is also a potential source of contamination. They like to fail so be sure to check your P/S reservoir if you are uncertain about what you are seeing in the coolant.

I'm sorry.. When I put the gearshift in D, it shifts from 1-2 then 2-3 but When I try to accelerate it Does not act like its in neutral if I go 55 ish it makes my rpms around 4k...

[pajeff02]

Did you get a chance to check the fluid for cross contamination?

[SyKo MiKe]

Did you get a chance to check the fluid for cross contamination?

Yes.. It's like a thick orange color in the coolant... I snapped a few pics with my phone but idk how to post pics up hrere

[SyKo MiKe]

Also my temps running at 210 on stock gauge... And oil pressure is at 40 when Driving