2002 Silverado not shifting past 2nd gear.

[mloranzan]

I recently purchased a 2002 silverado lt with the 5.3 and 4l60e trans in it. When driving it shifts from 1st to 2nd perfectly fine, but when it goes to shift into 3rd it just stays in 2nd. It's like it is holding 2nd and not attempting to go into 3rd.

All of the threads I've read about the 3-4 clutch packs failing, they say that when it goes to shift into 3rd it feels like it's going into neutral. That is not the case with mine. It is simply holding 2nd gear.

I have replaced the A and B shift solenoids, new filter and fluid and had no change. I have changed the ignition switch and VSS also with no change. I have checked the ign 0 fuse and the btsi fuse and both checked out fine.

I have tested wiring from PCM to the trans and everything checked out fine. I am getting power to the trans and the A, B and TCC solenoids all ohm'd perfectly fine.

I have ruled out the 3-4 clutch packs by disconnecting the trans harness and driving it. It put the trans in "limp mode" and only drove in 3rd. I also am not getting any codes.

Is there something else that I may be missing? I feel like I have checked everything possible.

 

[Mooseman]

This thread was resolved with a new filter and fluid but you did that already:

2003 TrailBlazer Transmission Issue

Hey guys, I've got an 03' TrailBlazer with 203k on it and the transmission either shit the bed or is acting up on me. Last night I pulled in, put the vehicle in park and waited for my passenger and as I put it into reverse, it stalled. I started it back up and went to reverse out again and when...

gmtnation.com

What was the fluid condition and contents of the pan like when you changed it?

This one says the tranny needs a rebuild:

no shift from 2 to 3

I busted a trans line on interstate 3 weeks ago fixed with sawsall and rubber hose no leak since but trans sliped in 2 to 3 shift for a bit and now wont sift in 3 at all had to drive home in 2nd gear at 2500 slow any help is mutch appreciative thanks

gmtnation.com

 

[mloranzan]

This thread was resolved with a new filter and fluid but you did that already:

2003 TrailBlazer Transmission Issue

Hey guys, I've got an 03' TrailBlazer with 203k on it and the transmission either shit the bed or is acting up on me. Last night I pulled in, put the vehicle in park and waited for my passenger and as I put it into reverse, it stalled. I started it back up and went to reverse out again and when...

gmtnation.com

What was the fluid condition and contents of the pan like when you changed it?

This one says the tranny needs a rebuild:

no shift from 2 to 3

I busted a trans line on interstate 3 weeks ago fixed with sawsall and rubber hose no leak since but trans sliped in 2 to 3 shift for a bit and now wont sift in 3 at all had to drive home in 2nd gear at 2500 slow any help is mutch appreciative thanks

gmtnation.com

Fluid looked fine. A little dark as expected, but no burnt fluid smell no metal in the pan.

 

[m3talc0re]

I recently purchased a 2002 silverado lt with the 5.3 and 4l60e trans in it. When driving it shifts from 1st to 2nd perfectly fine, but when it goes to shift into 3rd it just stays in 2nd. It's like it is holding 2nd and not attempting to go into 3rd.

All of the threads I've read about the 3-4 clutch packs failing, they say that when it goes to shift into 3rd it feels like it's going into neutral. That is not the case with mine. It is simply holding 2nd gear.

I have replaced the A and B shift solenoids, new filter and fluid and had no change. I have changed the ignition switch and VSS also with no change. I have checked the ign 0 fuse and the btsi fuse and both checked out fine.

I have tested wiring from PCM to the trans and everything checked out fine. I am getting power to the trans and the A, B and TCC solenoids all ohm'd perfectly fine.

I have ruled out the 3-4 clutch packs by disconnecting the trans harness and driving it. It put the trans in "limp mode" and only drove in 3rd. I also am not getting any codes.

Is there something else that I may be missing? I feel like I have checked everything possible.

Have you found any solution to this? I’ve been fighting with this for a while myself and this is the first time I’ve seen anyone with the same issue. Mine will eventually shift into 3rd, maybe 4 miles later and coasting downhill. I may change my throttle position sensor, even though it doesn’t show any other signs of it going out. This has been driving me nuts.

 

[mloranzan]

Have you found any solution to this? I’ve been fighting with this for a while myself and this is the first time I’ve seen anyone with the same issue. Mine will eventually shift into 3rd, maybe 4 miles later and coasting downhill. I may change my throttle position sensor, even though it doesn’t show any other signs of it going out. This has been driving me nuts.

I have not found a solution. If you end up finding a solution if some sort let me know.

 

[m3talc0re]

I have not found a solution. If you end up finding a solution if some sort let me know.

Does yours eventually shift into 3rd ?

 

[mloranzan]

Does yours eventually shift into 3rd ?

No it does not. It just holds 2nd almost like I'm driving a manual and just keep it in 2nd.

 

[Mooseman]

Any codes?

 

[6716]

Depending on how many miles you have on the transmission, I kinda feel like all the troubleshooting is overrated. At a certain point they just need rebuilt. All the extras we do to try to eke a few more miles out of a fried transmission are probably wasted. I got 230k miles out of mine. I spent a bunch of time and money trying to avoid a rebuild, and then had it rebuilt anyway. I learned some stuff so it wasn't a total loss, but it would have been less everything in the end if I had just rebuilt when the troubles started. Your mileage may vary.

 

[m3talc0re]

Depending on how many miles you have on the transmission, I kinda feel like all the troubleshooting is overrated. At a certain point they just need rebuilt. All the extras we do to try to eke a few more miles out of a fried transmission are probably wasted. I got 230k miles out of mine. I spent a bunch of time and money trying to avoid a rebuild, and then had it rebuilt anyway. I learned some stuff so it wasn't a total loss, but it would have been less everything in the end if I had just rebuilt when the troubles started. Your mileage may vary.

Problem is, the issue may not actually be the transmission itself. It’s not that it can’t shit, it’s not being told to shift.

 

[m3talc0re]

No it does not. It just holds 2nd almost like I'm driving a manual and just keep it in 2nd.

I just watched a video and the guy was saying the MAF sensor can cause transmission shifting issues. I’m wondering if it is a TCM or possibly MAF sensor

 

[Mooseman]

My experience with the MAF is that it would cause hard shifting, like it had a shift kit. I once forgot to plug it in and it shifted hard but it did shift. Still worth exploring however it would give a code.

Staying in second is usually caused by a total loss of connection with the tranny or it's unplugged. It's like a limp home mode. Again, a code scan would tell this.

 

[m3talc0re]

My experience with the MAF is that it would cause hard shifting, like it had a shift kit. I once forgot to plug it in and it shifted hard but it did shift. Still worth exploring however it would give a code.

Staying in second is usually caused by a total loss of connection with the tranny or it's unplugged. It's like a limp home mode. Again, a code scan would tell this.

Mine doesn’t just stay in 2nd, it will eventually shift into 3rd. It just takes a little bit.

 

[Mooseman]

Neither of you have said anything about scanning for codes or said if you even tried changing the fluid and filter, which was a solution in the other linked thread.

 

[m3talc0re]

Neither of you have said anything about scanning for codes or said if you even tried changing the fluid and filter, which was a solution in the other linked thread.

Pretty sure I have, he said he replaced the filter and fluid (I haven’t yet, but the fluid is pretty clean and the trans was supposedly rebuilt before I bought it..), but I don’t get any codes.

Edit: unplugged the MAF sensor and the truck behaved a lot better. Still didn’t seem to want to shift under heavy load (ie: flooring it) until I took my foot off the gas and let the rpm’s come down, but it did shift into 3rd a lot sooner than 3–4 miles down the road.

 

[Mooseman]

Pretty sure I have, he said he replaced the filter and fluid (I haven’t yet, but the fluid is pretty clean and the trans was supposedly rebuilt before I bought it..),

That doesn't mean anything. The seller could have just replaced to make it look nice without even dropping the pan. Unless he provided proof, I'd take the rebuild with a grain of salt. Now if the tranny looks really clean, then maybe it was rebuilt, but by whom? Could have been a quickie rebuild in some guy's home garage. You would think th seller would have had proof of it.

I think you'll wind up having to take it to a real tranny shop.

 

[m3talc0re]

That doesn't mean anything. The seller could have just replaced to make it look nice without even dropping the pan. Unless he provided proof, I'd take the rebuild with a grain of salt. Now if the tranny looks really clean, then maybe it was rebuilt, but by whom? Could have been a quickie rebuild in some guy's home garage. You would think th seller would have had proof of it.

I think you'll wind up having to take it to a real tranny shop.

Hence the supposedly, lol. But I don’t think it’s a transmission problem. It’s not that it can’t shift, it’s that it won’t. It’s not being told to shift when it should be. I may replace the MAF and see what happens. It’s disconnected right now and is actually acting better.

 

[Mooseman]

Or maybe it is being told to shift and the tranny won't because of an internal failure. Check out this thread:

no shift from 2 to 3

I busted a trans line on interstate 3 weeks ago fixed with sawsall and rubber hose no leak since but trans sliped in 2 to 3 shift for a bit and now wont sift in 3 at all had to drive home in 2nd gear at 2500 slow any help is mutch appreciative thanks

gmtnation.com

As also stated in that thread, you could try swapping the solenoids as a last ditch attempt.

 

[m3talc0re]

Or maybe it is being told to shift and the tranny won't because of an internal failure. Check out this thread:

no shift from 2 to 3

I busted a trans line on interstate 3 weeks ago fixed with sawsall and rubber hose no leak since but trans sliped in 2 to 3 shift for a bit and now wont sift in 3 at all had to drive home in 2nd gear at 2500 slow any help is mutch appreciative thanks

gmtnation.com

As also stated in that thread, you could try swapping the solenoids as a last ditch attempt.

But it does shift…

 

[m3talc0re]

Well, it was acting better this weekend with a new MAF sensor then this morning it was the same old shit. I’m wondering if there’s something wrong with the ecm or tcm. Idk.

 

[m3talc0re]

I have not found a solution. If you end up finding a solution if some sort let me know.

I haven’t tried it yet, maybe this weekend, but have you tried changing the pressure switch manifold? It seems to go by a few names. Someone mentioned this in a Facebook group I joined recently for these transmissions and it seems to be a possible cause.

 

[Mooseman]

I haven’t tried it yet, maybe this weekend, but have you tried changing the pressure switch manifold? It seems to go by a few names. Someone mentioned this in a Facebook group I joined recently for these transmissions and it seems to be a possible cause.

The pressure switch manifold that has the "pillows" is on the 6L80E. His is a 4L60E that has solenoids and a valve body.

 

[m3talc0re]

The pressure switch manifold that has the "pillows" is on the 6L80E. His is a 4L60E that has solenoids and a valve body.

ACDelco GM Original Equipment 24215111 Automatic Transmission Manual Valve Position Pressure Switch or look up the pressure switch manifold I think it what RockAuto calls it. ​

 

[Mooseman]

Oh yeah, forgot about that one. Yes, that`s a possibility. Could be worth a look.

I had been playing so much with the 6L80 that I forgot what a 4L60 looked like

 

[m3talc0re]

Well, changing mine didn’t do anything. I’m so tired of this. Wtf could be the problem?

 

[m3talc0re]

I need to add that when I am driving and have it just in Drive, it stays in 2nd, but if I manually shift to 3rd (I know it doesn’t actually mean shift to 3rd, just tells it not to go past 3rd), the truck does a pull like you can feel it tried to do something, but doesn’t, just stays in second.

 

[59840Surfer]

@m3talcOre --- your: "I know it doesn’t actually mean shift to 3rd, just tells it not to go past 3rd" ..... isn't the whole story.

Check the Application Chart (below) ... and see you're not getting the info you need to make the assumption(s) you're making.

When you manually shift into 3rd/Direct, the Overrun clutch is doing all the holding, and it's not designed to handle horsepower ...

From all the innocuous advice, it's important to understand HOW the unit works in all situations; wishful thinking and rumors have no place in transmission diagnosis and repairs.

I know it's sometimes a tough pill to swallow about things that, by nature, are mysterious and full of wizardry, but it's just another machine, doing a human's will --- until it can't.





.

 

[mrrsm]

What @6716 Said... (Post# 9)



Source:

4l60e trans not shifting past 2nd gear!!!

www.ls1lt1.com

 

[m3talc0re]

That’s all well and good, but theirs just never shifts into 3rd, at all. Mine eventually does shift. So.. ?

 

[mrrsm]

Well...Sorry...But the implication I mentioned in my Last Post was to confirm the idea that even "The Experts" skipped doing any "Secondary Guessing" after taking their subject vehicle for a Test Drive and after observing its behavior... Knew enough about what was wrong ...and just decided to "Get to The VERB" about the need to move on to Re-Building it.

However, far be it from me (and most of us) to ever discourage anyone from performing their own Hands-On 4L60E Hydro-matic Transmission Repairs. And to that end, downloading these "ATSG 4L60E DIAGNOSTIC BIBLES" will assist you with ALL of the Diagnostic Tests and Procedures imaginable:

 

[m3talc0re]

Well, to update this. I’ve found that if I accelerate really slow, like keep the rpm’s under 2400rpm at most, then 9 times out of 10, it will shift. Also, my speedometer doesn’t work. It was bouncing now nothing. But I’ve also realized my odometer isn’t updating, either. I know the vehicle speed sensor works because the live view in my OBDII reports my speed correctly. So, idk. I’m wondering if it’s just a bad PCM.

 

[59840Surfer]

People are much too willing to blame the computers and they really don't mess up that much.

Test the wiring, activate the solenoids through the correct pins in the connection and if they are working --- then you're out a transmission.

3rd gear is the weak kitten in these units --- it sure seems it is the problem - but by all means ... go on and test things some more.

While you were scanning it - did you see the transmission being called to make the shift?

The VSS is critical to the operation of the transmission --- but you said it's working even if it doesn't read on the headstock.

When you baby-foot the throttle --- you MAY feel it attempt to shift and that would eliminate the solenoid or the computer from being bad.

RPM blowout at a shift is always because the friction material wasn't pressed together hard enough, the friction material was all used up or the apply circuit (hydraulically, that is) is losing pressure somewhere.

I've seen snap rings jump out of their grooves too and if it happens just right - it runs the case.

I've seen the 3rd/Direct piston blow the seal out of the groove when there wasn't enough thickness in the stack to limit its travel.

You are still in the dark - hoping and wishing you can fix this without pulling and benching the unit --- I think you're dreaming --- but that's just my opinion from over HERE in my bedroom on MY computer typing on MY keyboard and the car is way over THERE and I can't tell by a feeling in the air what's happened - or happening here.

We can only volunteer this help but you may need professional assistance so they can actually put their hands on your car.

 

[Mooseman]

But I’ve also realized my odometer isn’t updating, either. I know the vehicle speed sensor works because the live view in my OBDII reports my speed correctly. So, idk. I’m wondering if it’s just a bad PCM.

If your truck is 4x4, you actually have two speed sensors, one for the vehicle and the other for the front drive shaft. Was any kind of work done on the tranny or transfer case? I've seen the connectors for the two sensors swapped and exhibit your symptoms. Maybe the reading you're seeing is from the front shaft output. You could put it in 4 hi and if all of a sudden you get speed and shifting, that would be it.

 

[mrrsm]

Regarding the Post #1 Mention of the "Limp Mode" issue... It would also be very interesting to be able to Graph the behavior of the ACC Pedal activity on an Oscilloscope during your Test Drives... and look for anything that might prevent the 4L60E Transmission from shifting normally or invite it to either Skip Shift... or Fail to Shift through the Normal Sequence.

As per another Thread, @TJBaker57 mentioned that when changing out the ACC Pedal Module... they are not a "One Size Fits All" repair regime.

The closest Diagnostic Analog for this reasoning comes from this Video:

Also... If the Question arises as to whether or not the Throttle Body in your 22 Year Old Truck is either Mechanical-Cable Controlled ...or via the Electronic Throttle Body for the GM - GMC 4.8L Engines... it is the latter. If it turns out to be a problem with this unit's TPS *innards*... Dorman sells the Re-Manufactured version as per these images:


A "Bench Top" R&R and Cleaning of the present Throttle Body would not hurt.

Just my

 

[59840Surfer]

If your truck is 4x4, you actually have two speed sensors, one for the vehicle and the other for the front drive shaft. Was any kind of work done on the tranny or transfer case? I've seen the connectors for the two sensors swapped and exhibit your symptoms. Maybe the reading you're seeing is from the front shaft output. You could put it in 4 hi and if all of a sudden you get speed and shifting, that would be it.

I've never seen that happen but it doesn't mean it hasn't.

If that is indeed what happened, then the symptoms as stated could be from the swapped wiring.

Stilllll-l-l-lll I have never seen this before.

 

[m3talc0re]

I’ve seen the connectors for the vss mentioned in a video before and I checked to make sure. Mine are correct. I also tried 4-HI anyway just to see and it didn’t give me anything. I’m leaning toward bad pcm, but I mean, it could be a wire from the ecm to pcm has a break in it somewhere? I’m getting vehicle speed data to the OBDII port, but maybe not from the ecm to pcm, or possibly not to the pcm > bcm > cluster? Idk the wire paths.
The one dude keeps saying my trans is toast yet all the gears work. I don’t think it’s the trans. I don’t “feel like it shifts”, it does shift. All gears work WHEN it does shift. It’s just IF it shifts.

 

[59840Surfer]

I’ve seen the connectors for the vss mentioned in a video before and I checked to make sure. Mine are correct. I also tried 4-HI anyway just to see and it didn’t give me anything. I’m leaning toward bad pcm, but I mean, it could be a wire from the ecm to pcm has a break in it somewhere? I’m getting vehicle speed data to the OBDII port, but maybe not from the ecm to pcm, or possibly not to the pcm > bcm > cluster? Idk the wire paths.
The one dude keeps saying my trans is toast yet all the gears work. I don’t think it’s the trans. I don’t “feel like it shifts”, it does shift. All gears work WHEN it does shift. It’s just IF it shifts.

I believe if you can get a reading from the OBD2 port, it is from the ECM and not directly from the VSS.

Everything you get out of the OBD2 port has come through the computer and is not raw data --- with the possible exception of a 12V power feed and Ground.

 

[mrrsm]

Try pulling the connector from the VSS Harness and check within for Powers & Grounds and also Check the Data Line in that Harness either heading back to either the BCM or the PCM has Good Continuity...or not... due to a Problem Comms Wire.

 

[59840Surfer]

FTR --- just yesterday I had a bad Throttle Position Sensor --- it had drop-outs at certain positions from years of driving at highway speeds and pretty much wore out a spot on the potentiometer contact zone that gave that speed.

I saw that on my oscilloscope --- that's the best way to see that problem ---- even if there's a lot of push back from others here on this site about using an o-scope to diagnose that problem.

The part will be here today and once it's in, I'll report back.

 

[mrrsm]

You will NEVER get any "Push-Back" from me about using an Oscilloscope to be able to see and record Temporary Glitches at time scales that are damned near impossible to discover on a Typical DMM.

The same kind of "Fish-Bite Misfire" problem can manifest on vehicles with MAF Glitches, too... and likewise...only show up when properly Back-Probed.. .and "Scoped".