4180E failing

[Andrew7]

My 93 c3500 454 tranny failing! After a fluid change my tranny started failing. It would pop out of drive into neutral and then kick back in briefly before losing power. When you turn it off it reset and the tranny is good again under normal load. I towed an empty trailer and it happened again. Discovered is some wet wires cluster that shouldn’t be wet. Not sure if I have to rebuild it.

 

[Supercharged111]

If you unplug the trans it will default to 2nd gear. If that doesn't hold you'll know for sure it's smoked.

 

[CKVortec]

What's your mileage?

Several times in the past I have seen transmissions fail right after a fluid and filter change simply because the person waited far too long to service it. the old fluid felt gritty and lacked the lubrication of new fluid and the transmission clutches were worn down to the point that they were only functioning because of that. Once new slippery fluid was put in they started slipping.

I am not sure if this is your issue or not, just something to consider.

Not sure what you mean by "Discovered is some wet wires cluster that shouldn’t be wet." maybe some pictures would help.

 

[Supercharged111]

What's your mileage?

Several times in the past I have seen transmissions fail right after a fluid and filter change simply because the person waited far too long to service it. the old fluid felt gritty and lacked the lubrication of new fluid and the transmission clutches were worn down to the point that they were only functioning because of that. Once new slippery fluid was put in they started slipping.

I am not sure if this is your issue or not, just something to consider.

Not sure what you mean by "Discovered is some wet wires cluster that shouldn’t be wet." maybe some pictures would help.

Are these your personal observations or just regurgitated internet babble? Because I have never personally seen a trans fail after a fluid/filter change.

 

[stutaeng]

If you shut it off and it works fine, then probably not mechanical; otherwise it will do it all the time...there's another thread posted here with similar problems, also a '93. Might check that out...

How did your oil look? Did you drop the pan? How did the magnet look?

 

[stutaeng]

Are these your personal observations or just regurgitated internet babble? Because I have never personally seen a trans fail after a fluid/filter change.

It's probably an urban legend that's understood now a fact, LOL. Last tranny oil change on my 4L60e with 225k the Penzzoil Shop made me sign some paper as a waiver! I just pulled that tranny at 255k, due to a common valve body issue (P1870,) that I've had since around 200k. The drain plug is pretty clean. Could probably service the valve body and will work just fine if I wanted to.

What I heard on the fluid change is that the tranny is already on it's way to graveyard when they change the oil. In other words, it's not the cause of the failure. I could buy that theory. But folks probably blame the failure on changing the oil. Blame it on someone else!

 

[thegawd]

If you unplug the trans it will default to 2nd gear. If that doesn't hold you'll know for sure it's smoked.

You could also just pull the fuse as well. Is Limp mode 2nd in the 4l80e? How fast can you safely go? I know not the 4l80e, lol but delt with an intermittent failed ignition switch in my burb with the 4l60e.... just curious is all.

Thanks

Al

 

[Supercharged111]

You could also just pull the fuse as well. Is Limp mode 2nd in the 4l80e? How fast can you safely go? I know not the 4l80e, lol but delt with an intermittent failed ignition switch in my burb with the 4l60e.... just curious is all.

Thanks

Al

3rd on 4L60, 2nd on 4L80, push it as fast as you want to. I drove home 15 miles at 60mph when I did my trans swap years ago in my 1500.

 

[thegawd]

That's good info to know, thanks man.

 

[Works4truckparts88]

I've heard of trans going out after fluid change from an old hotrodder/lifelong mechanic I used to work for. But, this was really only on fords and the units were probly on borrowed time as it was.
Pics of the wet wires would help.
Did you change the filter? Make sure you got the filter seal right and didn't double-stack any, could lead to poor fluid pick-up.