dead 4t60e

[heavymtl]

hello all...i'm a newb to this site and i gotta say it's a cool site...lots of nice info here...anyway i have questions that maybe some of you can help with

i have a 96 pontiac grand prix 3100 sfi engine...and i believe a 4t60e 4 speed auto....the car has about 164,000 on it...when i first got the car it had about 10k less miles on it...it would sometimes go into tcc lockup fairly regular..then it started surging...it felt like in and out...i hated that so i would have to let off the gas or pres harder to get past it...andyhow a few weeks ago it started shifting HARD from 1'st to 2'nd when cold...after it warmed up it would shift normallly...then it started slipping bad and the same day it started slipping was the day it died...however...it would still (when cold) go into gear and the could move...now it has died

my options are to have the tranny rebuilt....rebuild it myslef....or swap it for another from a junk yard....i would like to hear input on what to do...i have car skills to an extent....hoiw hard would it be to pull this tranny out of my car?...does it drop from bottom?


as far as i know the fluid has never been changed since i have had the car...could a fluid/filter change help anything or be a waste of time and money?....thanx in advance for any help/advice

almost forgot...is there a book or manual that shows in detail the parts inside the tranny?..maybe i could get it from the librabry..thanx

[gectek]

i would look around for an ATSG manual, it is the automatic transmissions service group guide. they are the best manual for an overhaul, trouble shooting book there is. you can get the book from either transtar or wittrans.net (whatever it takes transmissions) they are about $20 with shipping IIRC,you can also get the entire vehicle manual from HELM INC, but i think they sell the trans manual separate from the car, i bought both sets, the trans manuals were $50 together and $135 for the 3 volume car manual. the trans manual included all the transmissions (manual, auto, and all drivetrains with transfercases) for the 02 model year, well worth the money, but the ATSG manual is better because it is step by step and better worded and adds insight and upgrades when they are necessary.

also if you wanna redo one yourself, i would look at getting a junker and either building it up or using it as a test subject, and have fun with it. yes the trans drops out from the bottom, that is the easiest way, but it is a PITA if you dont have a lift, well lets just say damn near impossible, or improbable. also if you decide to take the trans out yourself, that would be a good time to check all of the engine/trans mounts, and the state of the drive shafts and seals on the oil pan on the engine and front and rear main seals. oh yah and to take it out, ull also need to rig up an engine support fixture to hold the engine up while you remove the trans and install it. sounds like abig job, but if you have the right tools, can get your hands on them, or make your own,then its not too tough a job. then i would look for some aftermarket parts that will help increase the strength of your trans, and keep it more reliable and going strong

[heavymtl]

PITA??

i dont understand what PITA is..sorry...and thankyou for the info you have given me....i am so bummed about my car...sounds like a HUGE JOB to pull the tranny out and rebuild it....i might go with having it done for me...but thats at least 1500 dollars

[gectek]

pain in the @$$= PITA, and i would help you out by offering a rebuild on it, but i dont like the way the older 4t60s work with the vacuum mod, and all that, my friend rebuilt one and it was ok for a few weeks, then the valve on the module stuck and some of the valvebody was bad and it just snowballed from there. i would def look into a junkyard for a low mileage one,and then just change the filter and fluid and use a new TC

[heavymtl]

ahhhh pita...

HAHHAHHAHHAH..ok i got it..now i understand PITA...now you mentioned a vacum mod?...what is that and whats it do?..and while i am on the subject...is there anything i can do to my computer in my car to get anything different...power...gas milage...or anything else?

[gectek]

the trans vacuum modulator, raises or lowers pressure on the trans in relatoin to the vacuum or pressure in the intake, and yah you can change alot on ur car by using the digital horsepower power tuner

[heavymtl]

mmmmmm power..

that sounds great...now where can i get one of those bad boys ....you keep coming up with answers i like..lol..laterrrrrrr

[gectek]

i thought sappy was looking into that one, but you can get a powertuner from www.pfyc.com its like $394 plus shipping

[sharkey]

i dont like the way the older 4t60s work with the vacuum mod

all 4t60's had a vacuum mod. the 440t4 had one and so did the 4t60e right through till it was phased out in 2000. now the 4t65e does not have a modulator, it uses an epc solonoid to controll line pressure, taking the place of the modulator