Strange trans trouble

[turbojimmy]

Hi all,

I'm having a problem almost exactly like the one that caused me to have the trans rebuilt back in 2000 or 2001 (don't remember exactly). Long story short I had to have the whole thing rebuilt twice due to an incompetent local guy. Ultimately Level10 built it for me and it's been fine since the day they put it in (except for when I snapped the forward drum last year, which didn't seem to have any lasting effects once repaired).

Anyway, it's been shifting funny lately. Still firm, but it's been acting confused about which gear to be in. Started with 1-2, then 2-3 and now all shifts are clumsy. When I put the car in reverse it's like I put the brakes on. In order to get it to move I have to give it a lot of gas and it shudders really bad. Going forward at light throttle is decent, but the car is really sluggish. Needs a lot of power to get it moving and to keep it moving. It's almost as if the converter isn't stalling - like the motor is directly connected to the trans.

I pulled on the TV cable and it seems to be binding. I pull it out a little bit and I can feel something moving down there before it binds. It binds well before it would otherwise normally travel with the throttle.

Any ideas? Something easy I hope? Last time this happened I replaced the converter first (because that's what it felt like) and it didn't help. I'm not sure a rebuilt was necessary even back then, but the guy I took it to was not very bright. Ultimately his work created the need for a total rebuild. I'm hoping this time I can just fix whatever is wrong with it rather than rebuild it.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

Scratch the TV cable theory. My brother checked his out and it operates the same way: some travel, then gets harder to pull. I guess mine is normal.

Any ideas?

TIA,
Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

Oh yeah - the TC locks and unlocks as it should both manually (with a switch) and at 60 MPH (programmed in the chip).

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

TTT

Looks like a tow to Long Island City is in order.....

Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

TTT - more hints

It is tough to pull back into reverse. Not real hard, but there's more resistance then there should be. Like there's a mechanical problem with the linkage (though I know there is not). I think I'm fighting fluid pressure that shouldn't be there.

When in reverse, engine running, it will roll back to some sort of blockage. I then have to give it a lot of gas to get past whatever the problem is where it will roll back to the next blockage, almost like it's hanging up on each tooth of a gear or something. This creates an awful shudder if I try to back up with any speed.

The pump has started to whine.

When in forward gears it acts as if the converter is not slipping - with a foot on the brake the nose is high because the suspension is loaded up. But, when driving along there is no engine braking in any gear. Getting and keeping it moving requires a lot of power as if the trans is fighting itself.

The behavior started out of the blue. Wasn't racing or otherwise beating on it. Last time this happened was in the middle of the winter. I had parked the car in November and it was fine. Went out about a month later just to move it around a little and the trans was all screwed up. This time the problem was preceded by some funky shifting behavior but nothing really alarming.

I wonder if pulling the valve body out and inspecting/cleaning it will help at all?

Jim