View Full Version : Automatic Transmission Question
My 79 J 10 (automatic with quadratrac) has a problem. It started out by not wanting to start out in reverse and now it doesn't want to go period. My first guess is transmission fluid, because I could fill it up and it would work ok. There has been quite a bit of fluid leakage.
I put some Lucas oil for transmissions in it a couple of weeks ago and it drove good for about 10 minutes and then I backed up, it clunked, and it just quit (transmission). I haven't had time to check it out, but I was wondering if you all thought it was time for a rebuild or something less serious that could be stopped with new seals/gaskets, etc.
It has always shifted good....just slow to get "geared" up.
I have put so much money in it lately that I just can't afford major work on it right now.
Any ideas?
It sounds like your tranny needs a rebuild. Take off the pan and gasket. If you find chunks of metal and other gunk, you need a rebuild before it will go anywhere. If it's perfectly clean, it's something else. But I'd put money on the fact that you need a rebuild.
RdHawg
03-25-2002, 09:43 AM
I agree w/ derf. Assumin' you got a th-400 a bench job(You R&R) you're lookin between 3-500 with a 90day to 1 yr warantee. Any more then that you might as well get a junk yard special - come to think of it I got one in the back yard from a 77 we could work a deal on but shipping cost might not make it worth it to ya.
one other thing you might check is the shift linkage??
Transmission Update:
I put 5 quarts of transmission fluid in it last night and was able to drive it one mile to my mechanic.
It seemed to have more torque in reverse than drive. It would barely pull the truck up a hill. It made no strange noises.
It will be checked out today to see what the problem is.
I'll keep you posted later today.
Ralph
03-27-2002, 10:17 PM
My vote: your bands are shot. Make sure your mechanic also inspects the drums for ANY signs of overheating (darkened metal) and ANY signs of wear on the drums. The good news is that you've got one of the most common trannies in the world, so rebuilding/replacing it will be less of a problem than if it were something else. (Ever seen the insides of a Ford tranny?)
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ralph:
My vote: your bands are shot. Make sure your mechanic also inspects the drums for ANY signs of overheating (darkened metal) and ANY signs of wear on the drums. The good news is that you've got one of the most common trannies in the world, so rebuilding/replacing it will be less of a problem than if it were something else. (Ever seen the insides of a Ford tranny?)<hr></blockquote>
Thanks, Ralph....When it comes to transmissions I am totally ignorant. I have always heard of bands but exactly what are they and what do they do? Are they long, short, wrap around, anything like rubber bands? Needless to say I am not going to be fixing this thing myself.
J20 project
03-28-2002, 03:30 AM
Wn, what typically happens with a th400 is the clutch pack discs(bands I guess) have the clutch material get brittle and fall apart or are just worn out. There were a few different versions of the th400 out there from moderate to heavy duty. I just got a heavy duty verion(more discs and heavier sprag) built for mine for $425 w/ a new torque convertor. I r&r'd it myself.
J20 project
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by J20 project:
Wn, what typically happens with a th400 is the clutch pack discs(bands I guess) have the clutch material get brittle and fall apart or are just worn out. There were a few different versions of the th400 out there from moderate to heavy duty. I just got a heavy duty verion(more discs and heavier sprag) built for mine for $425 w/ a new torque convertor. I r&r'd it myself.
J20 project<hr></blockquote>
I'm taking it to a transmission shop tomorrow. My mechanic (who doesn't like transmissions) didn't even bother taking it apart. Said it definitely needs a rebuild. I think I was quoted around $450 for a complete rebuild. Would that normally include all the labor and parts?
I bit the bullet and took it to TransWorld in Kingsport,TN. A complete rebuild with new converter is $619 with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. A friend found a used transmission for $200 and another $200 to put it in and then maybe not work right.
It will be competed by next Wednesday.
inthestix
03-31-2002, 07:17 AM
Howdy! I am new to the forum, been on the mail list for awhile. It's finally dried out enough for me to work on my Waggy. My problems are the same as mentioned, dropped the pan,(fluid levels were fine, Truck would only move in reverse IF it was going down an incline) and the filter just fell out with the pan! Well, almost. the bolt holding the filter on was just finger tight, and the plastic yellow tube just kinda fell out with the whole thing. The filter was full of greyish sludge stuff but the fluid was "cleanish" not burnt or really discolored.
My question is do you think that I can get by with a fluid and filter change?
Welcome:
That would be worth a shot to see if that would fix it. I am not a transmission person or I would have done more to mine.
Stolen76
03-31-2002, 04:44 PM
Welcome aboard inthestix! Unfortunately, you are probably looking at the same thing. Burnt clutch pack and band. If they are slipping, clean fluid will actually do you no good. The stuff floating around in the old fluid may be the only friction left to get it to move at all.
If you want to go through some fairly simple diagnosis, pick up a Haynes manual on GM transmissions. They have some pressure tests that are pretty simple to do that can narrow your problem down.
In the second day of the rebuild...They said everything was "fried." Clutches, bands, etc.
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