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4L60E Tranny problem

10785 Views 58 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Crawdaddy
I have a 1994 Chevy Suburban with the 4L60E transmission and it went out on me or at least I think it did.

I stopped at a stop light and after taking off it slipped for a brief second and then took off again. I then stopped at the next light and when it was time to go, it would not. It acts as if it is in Nuetral. I still have reverse but no forward gears at all. No lound noises or anyother strange sounds just no more forward movement.

Since it is an electonically controlled unit I was hoping it was just some selonoid or something? I am not used to this tranny at all so any help is greatly appriciated.
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mine did that before I had it rebuilt but it never got to the point where it never went forward. It would go but than it felt like it would skip past second and go right to third or just sometimes be in neutral than engage. I think there is a solenoid that goes from neutral to 1, 1 to 2, etc. (but dont quote me on that) so u may have a problem with the neutral to 1 solenoid... someone should be able to hel u tho sorry i couldnt be more of a help
Thanks. Anyone else know or have some instie?
The 4L60E uses a couple solenoids, so if 1/2 is out it should at least jump to 3rd gear. I wouldnt think all the solenoids would go at once, but stranger things have happened.
Check the fluid first. Any burnt smells?
At a guess it's time for a rebuild. The torque convertor is still working because you have reverse. Vehicles will sometimes move in reverse with a bad trans because reverse is a lower gear ratio and this makes it easier build inertia.
I have a 1994 Chevy Suburban with the 4L60E transmission and it went out on me or at least I think it did.

I stopped at a stop light and after taking off it slipped for a brief second and then took off again. I then stopped at the next light and when it was time to go, it would not. It acts as if it is in Nuetral. I still have reverse but no forward gears at all. No lound noises or anyother strange sounds just no more forward movement.

Since it is an electonically controlled unit I was hoping it was just some selonoid or something? I am not used to this tranny at all so any help is greatly appriciated.
It sounds like you where sitting in my truck last week!!
The exact same thing happened to me. I've got a 2010 5.3l and got it to the dealer 2 days before warranty.looking for any info or advise,the dealer told me after 4hrs of checks they found 2 qt low.the only thing they didn't do is try driving fwd
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That is a classic description of low fluid.
I driving down the street and heard a load bang, By the time a got it back home I have no Park, Reverse, No burnt smell, , So I will check the fluid for filings and let you know to see what you think. Thanks, Eric
Sun gear
Just as @RayVoy said its a classic example of low fluid. Reverse is usually the last to go.. If your fluid is fine it sounds like the bands are burned up. Usually when it slips just once its too late. I had one that slipped just once for a couple seconds due to a line blown and I pulled over, temporarily fixed the leak, filled back up and after that I had what they call a flare in between shifts. It was never right until I had it rebuilt a few months later.
I driving down the street and heard a load bang, By the time a got it back home I have no Park, Reverse, No burnt smell, , So I will check the fluid for filings and let you know to see what you think. Thanks, Eric
x2 sunshell go boom.
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Still raining here but I did have a 67 Pontiac that blu a Tranny line and drove with no fluid for two blocks. Waited for it to cool put new tranny fluid in and off we went ( was on a date, things you do......) do that car for years. But if RayVoy says the reverse is the last to go I have to get a look at the fluid and the magnets. I should find some Fillings in the magnets? Anyone know? Thanks Eric
Your sunshell is broken. Yes you will likely find filings, as a piece of metal full of teeth sheered and broke. I'm guessing no park, no reverse, and it drives forward, but runs higher than normal rpms?
I have a 1994 Chevy Suburban with the 4L60E transmission and it went out on me or at least I think it did.

I stopped at a stop light and after taking off it slipped for a brief second and then took off again. I then stopped at the next light and when it was time to go, it would not. It acts as if it is in Nuetral. I still have reverse but no forward gears at all. No lound noises or anyother strange sounds just no more forward movement.

Since it is an electonically controlled unit I was hoping it was just some selonoid or something? I am not used to this tranny at all so any help is greatly appriciated.
You sir likely have a busted input gear on the rear planetary housing.
But all in all your looking at a rebuild, find a local mech that can do it for you, and you should be happier with the price and service. Not a big box or dealer.
That's it... No Park, no reverse and it does rev higher in drive, does that mean a total rebuild again? (rebuilt end of 2012, 28 thousand Km's ago) Paid $2400 but I think I got ripped off. Is the rear planetary housing inside the tranny? I would look it up in my manual but I think my wife stuffed it somewhere and I hate to buy it twice. Thanks, Eric
Wow 2400 and only 28km on it...what was wrong the first time? I'd bet that you paid for an entire rebuild kit, but the only replaced what was broken and kept the good new parts. Sunshells are prone to break, but not that quick.
I think they are still prone to break unless they use the upgraded sunshell, I think it is c
here is the part number
4L60-E Sure Cure® Kit Valving
Part No. SC-4L60E


this is the SUNSHELL I think SUNCO makes the upgraded version
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Still prone to break yeah, even upgraded can break, but with that few miles on them? 28000km it roughly 17,400 miles. There shouldn't be a single thing wrong with any components at that point.
I was living on the outskirts of Vancouver when I went to Benz Transmission shop, just shortly after we moved to Vancouver to be as close to the B.C. Children Hospital for my son. Point is most of the driving was just city and the Hospital is only 15 min away. Is there any way for a novice to replace a ( I think I have all the tools) transmission? I can do Brakes, tune up, etc. There Is a transmission shop that does an upgraded transmission for $1000 CDN but $1700 installed. It has a 3 year unlimited Km's warranty. The reason I ask is I am on a pension and have little cash but don't want to make the wrong decision. Thank's for all the input. Eric
If you're mechanically inclined should be easy enough with the right tools, watch youtube videos and you can probably get a real good idea what you are getting into. Do they warranty even if you pull it and put it back in?
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