3-4 clutch is slipping again.....

**z28punk** · 08-06-2008, 02:03 PM

I have a 2002 camaro Z28 A4 with 91k miles on it.
I had my 3-4 clutch go out back in April. I replaced it. Now its starting to slip again. the thing is that it only slips when the car has been driving for a long time (over an hour). this makes me think that the tranny fluid is overheating and causing the slip.

so my question is would adding a tranny cooler help or is something getting plugged in the radiator?

I have completed a tranny flush a couple times and it got all the fluid out no problem so I think its flowing well.

**performabuilt** · 08-06-2008, 06:50 PM

More than likely there is some underlying cause for this , Simply replacing the clutch set is not enough, Did you replace the seals and sealing rings on the input shaft?
I see alot of people go n a try to just replace whats wrong, I'm telling you in a 91000 miles trans that wont do the trick

**z28punk** · 09-22-2008, 12:07 AM

I honestly dont know if the seals were replaced since I had my dealer do the fix. I trust that they did because I was an apprentice under the mechanic I had do the fix and I know his work.
I am resurrecting this thread because I have made some progress on diagnosing this issue.

I called my local performance shop about this problem and they told me the 4L60-e needs to be 1 quart over the full line because of fluid sloshing away from the pick-up tube under acceleration.

I tried their suggestion because it was cheap and easy and It seems to have fixed the problem. I drove it about 40 miles straight and no problems. it would start slipping around 25 miles on the road. it seems to be shifting smoother as well.

does this seem like a temporary fix or is this common knowledge about the 4L60-e?

**vetteemt** · 09-23-2008, 08:41 AM

From experience: My tranny died with 23K on it, GM rebuilt, it died again 36K. I then had it completely rebuilt to street/strip spec and parts. I now have 80K on the car 44K on the tranny and no problems and that’s with making 370lbs/ft. of torque at the rear wheels, a 3200 stall converter, and driving it daily to work. I also added a tranny cooler and a Derale tranny pan with drain plug. Like performabuilt said looks like you have other parts that are bad. I would just save the money up and do a complete rebuild and be done with it.

A tranny cooler is never a bad idea. The lower the temp in the tranny the longer it well live. Extra fluid does not hurt either because the more fluid you have the cooler the fluid well be. Since the fluid temp is cooler the tranny cooler can lower the temp even more. Also change your tranny filter and fluid, I do mine every spring.

**Rock-On** · 09-24-2008, 04:54 PM

I'd say if you added a qt. and your problem went away, I'd say you fixed your problem...be careful when over filling this unit...at about 2qts, it'll airate the fliud, and you'll have the same problem. I think if you do a search you'll find a pretty good write up from performabuilt on this very subject. Hope this helps... Dave

**Art99SS** · 06-06-2009, 01:01 AM

I am bringing this topic back because I started having this problem with my 06 Avalanche (same tranny) with only 36k miles. Did you resolve this problem? My tranny starts slipping (1st to 2nd) after driving about 40-50 miles, it throws a P0894, after it cools for a couple of hours its fine.

I asked a tranny mechanic about it. He said it was probably the valve body needing to be rebuilt. Any ideas? Any help would be appreciated since I am out of warranty (over 3 years).

F body content: I will be changing my fluid in the SS. How many quart will I need. The owners manual skipped the A4 and just told of M5 & M6. Thanks

**performabuilt** · 06-06-2009, 11:14 AM

I would change the fluid in the truck first and see whats in there,
As for fluid have about 7 quarts on hand you will use between 5 and 7 for the change.

**z28punk** · 06-06-2009, 02:44 PM

No I never did resolve the Problem. I Bought a Performabuilt Stage 2 with a 3000 stall. I have driven on many long trips and no problems at all.
after looking back at it. I think the 3-4 clutch went out because it was overheating. I think if I added a Transmission cooler like the one Performabuilt supplied with their transmission it would have fixed the problem.

since you are having problems in first and 2nd, this might be a problem with the forward clutch. drop the transmission pan in the truck and see if there is clutch material or debris.