[shift_grind]

Just bought another astro cargo van, 98 2wd - 117k

Today after driving i started to get the harsh 1-2 shift, went away when i restarted it. scanned it and of course got the oh so common p1870 code.

I hear there are 2 most common causes of this. Valve body wear or the 1-2 shift solenoid. Transgo apparantly makes a kit to address this problem as well...a bandaid maybe?

Would it be safe to assume that i could just get a new valve body off ebay and replace it myself with a trasgo SK kit and that would most likely fix the issue? id rather just do this once then have to do take the pan off and do it again to change something else.

It seems that the valve body's come with the solenoids, unless the pics are incorrect, so it all appears to be pretty straitforward....Looking for any info or input, so far im thinking just order a new valve body, solenoids and transgo sk 4l60e.

Id like to really try and avoid a rebuild although i was quoted a very fair price of 950 installed with all updates done from an aquantance of mine who owns a tranny shop and owes me a favor. He said if its already shifting hard and setting codes most likely the damage has already been done and there are only bandaid fixes and it will need a rebuild sooner then later if i plan on keeping the van.

 

[Outlaw50]

I don't know anything about the codes but the "new" van I just purchased has a clunk when shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear when the transmission is hot........feels like the rear end is gonna drop out... :banghead:

 

[astro355]

The only hard shift it has is the 1-2 shift? If so, that kit by Transgo isn't a bandaid but a fix.

 

[Outlaw50]

The only hard shift it has is the 1-2 shift? If so, that kit by Transgo isn't a bandaid but a fix.

What causes the hard shift when the tranny is hot?

I have to do quite a bit of driving before the shift problem occurs.

 

[91astroluv]

Ok I'll try my best here short ande sweet

http://www.sonnax.com/tech-articles/TS5-GN-044-045.pdf

Should answer any questions on this.

As to what the "aquantence" said about dammage done. Read the link above
Then ask 5 other tranny shops with this knowledge at hand.

Trip

 

[mdconvert]

I had a good friend that is a transmission mechanic help me with this fix. However, it is possible for the shade tree mechanic to perform to do:

We bought the parts from Transtar: http://www.transtarindustries.com/
Total cost was under $30 plus the AT filter and AT fluid. I was able to pick it up at a local distributor w/out paying shipping. Note: Since you are removing and re-installing the valve body you'll be replacing more AT fluid than when you are replacing the filter alone.

(1) Upper Valve Body gasket
(1) Lower Valve Body gasket
(1) TCC valve - Teckpak A74741Q. - May also be called fitzall by Teckpak- P1870 code fix for '95 & '00 4L60E - however, mine is a 1999 - I think the & sign (ampersand) is a misprint and should read '95 - '00, but I could be wrong. So far it has worked well for me.

There are brief directions that come w/ the teckpack, but it is basically a remove and replace of the TCC valve:

Here are 3 videos you may want to review first that cover removal and replacement of the valve body:

Removing valve body:

Note: We did not remove the electrical connector (1st instruction in the video) but did this inside the valve body

Tear down of valve body:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cjli1HK ... re=channel

Install valve body:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leR6KtWI ... re=channel

Other than these instructions, we made sure we knew where all the bolts came out of so we could put them back in the same place, and also cleaned the throttle body real well with brake cleaner.

This fix doesn't require reaming out the valve body, and so far the transmission has shifted flawlessly. It isn't a bandaid, and is being done in transmission shops. It's up to each individual to decide which fix they want to perform for this problem.

 

[sufferee]

posting.php?mode=reply&f=70&t=4997#

i know what else i hate. factory harsh shift kit.

 

[astro355]

http://www.astrosafari.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=70&t=4997#

i know what else i hate. factory harsh shift kit.

There isn't a factory harsh shift kit. :shrug: All shifts from the factory are smooth but if you have something different, you have a problem. Which shift(s) of yours are "harsh"?

 

[sufferee]

http://www.astrosafari.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=70&t=4997#

i know what else i hate. factory harsh shift kit.

There isn't a factory harsh shift kit. :shrug: All shifts from the factory are smooth but if you have something different, you have a problem. Which shift(s) of yours are "harsh"?

just being silly, but yeah, 1-2 shift harsh when it's hot.
i have to restart when that happens.
what i noticed was that it tends to happen after driving over 60+ mph.

 

[astro355]

http://www.astrosafari.com/posting.php?mode=reply&f=70&t=4997#

i know what else i hate. factory harsh shift kit.

There isn't a factory harsh shift kit. :shrug: All shifts from the factory are smooth but if you have something different, you have a problem. Which shift(s) of yours are "harsh"?

just being silly, but yeah, 1-2 shift harsh when it's hot.
i have to restart when that happens.
what i noticed was that it tends to happen after driving over 60+ mph.

Sounds like you are in the right thread then. A couple of the links listed above will fix that problem.