New Transmission Not Wired the Same as the Old
This 1993 Chevrolet Lumina came in with a transmission shifting complaint. The customer had a transmission issue and had a used transmission installed. After the installation the vehicle still wasn’t shifting right. I verified the complaint on a test drive and found that this car had no 1st or 4th gear. With the scan tool hooked up, I looked for any set codes and none were found. My next step was to verify the transmission fluid level, which was correct.
My next test was to use the scan tool and try to command shift solenoid A, shift solenoid B, and the TCC solenoid while listening for an audible click. I could only hear the TCC solenoid operating. According to the wire diagram, the TCC solenoid has it’s own power on pin A and both shift solenoids share a power on pin E. Seems like we have a power issue to pin E. I pulled off the connector at the transmission and inspected both halves of the connector for any corrosion or damage. Then I tested for power on pin A and E. Both pins had power. Now knowing I had good power at pin E I, had to do further testing.
With the transmission connector still unplugged, I used my test light from battery positive to both shift solenoid control terminals (F and G) while commanding both solenoids with my scan tool. My test light lit up when commanding each shift solenoid. I now know that my power side and ground side are working correctly and that the problem is internal. I hooked my low amp probe around the shift solenoids power wire and commanded both solenoids just to check and see if I had any shorted solenoids. I found that there was no current flowing through either of the shift solenoid circuits.
At this point I either have a broken wire, backed out terminal, unplugged connector, two bad shift solenoids, or a combination of two problems behind the transmission side cover. I then proceeded to remove the side cover to inspect inside. What I found inside wasn’t what I expected. With the cover off I found a few extra items and a few items missing. In 1993 there were 2 different 4T60E available. The old design and the new design. This car was suppose to have the old design but the used transmission that was installed was the new design.
The old design had shift solenoids A and B, TCC solenoid, and 1st and 4th gear pressure switches. The new design also has shift solenoids A and B, and a TCC solenoid. It does not have any pressure switches and also has a TCC PWM solenoid and temp sender. Only the TCC command terminal was the same. The TCC solenoid was also able to receive power on this car but if the transmission problem was the opposite (car that is suppose to have new style trans but had old style installed), it would not have had power. This is why the TCC worked when commanded with the scan tool. This car needed the right transmission installed.
Leave any questions or comments below. Thank you.
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matt hilderbrand
thank you for this info i am working on a car now with almost the very same problem.thanks from matt
troy williams
great info..have same problem thought i had a slipping problem,but trans doing exactly what u posted thks for info..and wire diagram..
George
Is there an easy way to tell if it’s a new or old 4t60e design looking from the outside?
I have a 93 I need to replace the tranny and want to buy a core to rebuild to minimize down time.
Travis Dewitz
I personally do not know that answer to that.
George
Would it be safe to say that if I disconnect the transmission connector, turn the key to on, and read A & E. If both have power, it’s a newer version?
Travis Dewitz
If it has power on A and E it would be the older version.
Tony
I have a 1990 Lumina that won’t shift into 3rd gear, 1st and 2nd work fine just won’t shift into 3rd. Any ideas?
Travis Dewitz
Transmissions issues like this need a lot more diagnostic data to come to a conclusion.
Derick Chapman
I’m having the same problem. At one point I had a code for the TCM was not communicating with the transmission now it will go in 1st 2st and no 3th but when it’s cooler it will could it be the shift solenoids and the TCM. If you can please call me (859)-213-3177 Derick
Corey
When I switched out the solenoids in my 94 Buick century 3100 series. There was a pin/plunger looking thing that come out but not all the way, when I took out solenoid for the 1-2 gears. once everything was back together I still do not have 1st gear. Is there a deeper problem then just the solenoids?
Travis Dewitz
What testing did you do? That was the valve that you most likely saw.
Corey
Before I switched solenoids i had no 1st or 4th. After I switched them one was bad others looked fine. once it was back together I now have 4th back however, when i come to a stop I have to manually shift car into lower gear because it stays in 3rd or 4th (I cant tell). When we replaced the solenoids the one on the top left a small plunger came out but when we replaced the others none of them had this so I am wondering if this is the problem why it will not shift into 1st. and also why it will not shift down automatically.
Ed Arnold
I have a problem with reverse if I dont give to much gas reverse works fine the more gas I give it it seems like it goes out of gear. any suggestions?
Travis Dewitz
I need much more trans data to help but it sounds like a mechanical or fluid issue.
mike daniels
mine did this today –first time i have ever backed up at a high speed–it was an emergency situation . I was thinking perhaps since reverse is about the lowest gear in the car that maybe the rev limiter was kicking in as that is what it felt like,like shutting down fuel flow intermitantly..any ideas would be nice though Hopefully inexpensive ones.Fluyid been swapped out every year religiously.
mike daniels
by the way this a 94 beretta 3100 4t60e
mike daniels
by the way this car is a low mileage 94 beretta 3100 with the 4T 60 E.
Ryan
what does a new/good automatic transmission suppose to shift at in a 1996 Chevy Lumina?
Travis Dewitz
All depends.
mike
I have a 1996 chevy lumina and the transmission wont shift into reverse or 3rd. any comments on this?
mike
I have a 1996 chevy lumina and the transmission wont shift into reverse or 3rd. any comments on this?
Brian Hunold
I have recently pulled motor and tranny out of a 1990 3.1 Lumina and installed it in to a 1993 3.1 Lumina. I have ran into a little issue hooking in wiring 0f the 93 into the 90. The plug that hooks into the front of the tranny that runs the solenoids is different. The 90 has a 5 pin plug and the 93 has a 7 pin plug . Is it possible to get a wiring diagram for both plugins. That would possibly allow me to cut out the shift solenoids that are used on this tranny. In a hard spot thanks fro your help.
michael
I have a 95 lumina 3100. I lost 1&4 gear I’ve had both shift solenoids. In the transmission but still do not have either gear I was told it’s Electrical any ideas on what it could
G. Wayne Fallis
I have a 96 park ave. My wants to tcc lock even in second gear and soon as possible. I check the power it wasn’t 5 volts. I put a solenoid kit in it. I can’t figure it out can you help
Justice
Kate, thanks, I’ll watch out for that podcast. There are no coogergatinns that I know of, but there are groups that have monthly meetings. Overall, I think that many people here are unknowingly humanist, but generally they do not overtly support humanist beliefs.
G. Wayne Fallis
I have a 96 park ave. My last transmission went out so I put in aIi hope a good used one it wants to tcc lock even in second gear and soon as possible. Both transmission act the same. I check the power it wasn’t 5 volts. I put a solenoid kit and seals in it before I installed it. I can’t figure it out can you help
Mat Calhoun
I recently purchased a 93 luminaries 3.1l. the only issue I have is it will only engage 1-3rd gear. Wont shift into fourth or overdrive however you want to put it. Runs great but that’s destroying fuel mileage. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Bob
My 1992 Lumina won’t shift to 4th or overdrive. Any ideas?
Ilna
My lumina get only 1st gear and then switch to 4th gear
Scott Miller
Vin number is 94 lumina euro sport 4t60e tranny date on the door says 93 r the tranny solenoids under the tranny pan or where r they located
Jesse Manion
I have a 1993 Chevy Lumina wont go over 40 miles per hour out on the highway what could it be feels like somebody’s put the brake on
Dollie
That’s way more clever than I was exnpctieg. Thanks!
Marco
I have a 95 pontiac trans sport 3800 with 4t60e trans. sometimes after driving a while, and or just sometimes when all is cold the speedometer needle jumps all over and trans has a hard time shifting thru all gears but if I give it a lot of gas it will jump into 3rd or 4th and be fine for a short while and then it does it some more. Sometimes if I pull over turn of the car for a brief minute, when it starts back up everything works fine., WHAT IS THE DEAL??
G. Wayne
I would say it’s your CPU have it reflashed. Transmission do what they are told and if you have a glich in your CPU they act funny
Marco
Hi G WAYNE, tHANKS!
BUTTT with the speedometer all over the place that probably means its something else needs to be fixed or replaced besides reflashing the CPU I think the speedometer fault is telling the CPU the wrong info in the first place.
What you think about that?
Marcus
Linda
mungkin anda tidak pernah mebgayanmkan betapa BERGUNANYA artikel anda ini. Thanks berat buat infonya. Saya sempat panik liat tulisan di token saya. Saya tinggal di luar negeri dan saya tidak bisa membayangkan harus balik ke indonesia hanya untuk urusan token ini.Sekali lagi terima kasih banyak. God bless
autokredit vergleich
Wie toll das aussieht! Ich würde sehr gerne mehr sehen 🙂 Immer wenn ich deine Posts zum Thema Essen und Trinken sehe (und überhaupt zu allem, was man selbst machen kann) fühle ich mich immer ganz schlecht und denke, ich bin eine furchtbare Hausfrau – dabei bin ich noch nicht mal ausgezogen 😀
G. Wayne
Find out if it has a vacuum modulator Models that year have them my 96 Buick park ave has one they’re not as computer savey as the newer ones. A vac leak will make it shift erratic, or not shift it all.try this or something like it it by first check the wiring before you buy.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vehicle-Speed-Sensor-fits-1988-2000-Pontiac-Sunfire-Trans-Sport-Grand-Am-STANDA-/132178221196?fits=Make%3APontiac%7CModel%3ATrans+Sport&hash=item1ec66f988c%3Ag%3AaYEAAOSw2xRYmLs3
Marco
Yes it has a Vacuum Modulator but that usually causes a loss of Trans Fluid thru the exhaust system but I will look further into THAT part – Good ideaa but doubt that has anything to do with erratic speedometer which is probably causing the erratic shifting or lack thereof Also that speed sensor you suggested is not for my car its for a 3peed tranny not the 4 speed 4t60e What we need is someone who has encounter and fixed this exact problem otherwise I’ll just keep putting on parts and more parts until it finally solves the problem or still doesnt solve itr…CANT DO ThAT LOL!
Stacy Lanham
I have a 2000 chevy lumina. When u first take off the transmission will not shift. You can stop and put it in park usually once sometimes twice and it will finally shift. What can this be?