Lumina Auto problems

[ak_lumina]

I just want to throw this out here to get an idea for what might be going on.

I recently aquired (more like saved) a 1990 Lumina Euro with the 3.1L v6 that a lady had sitting in her garage for over 2 years. It has the 4spd automatic trans. (4t60?) and the problem is that it will not reliably shift into 4th gear (this problem got steadily worse after got it), it will occationally shift after driving it for maybe 30 minutes, but only stay in 4th for at the most a minute. It has since then had a trans-flush and high performance Red-Line auto fluid put into it, but still the problem persistes. I used some special transmission cleaner aditive and it seemed to help for a little while but is back to where it started. It goes into the first three gears and reverse just fine.

On a side note, what would it take to swap in a 5 spd manual? I am planing on keeping this car for a while and would like to start working on improving its performance in every aspect.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated

[gpse3400]

Just to be sure, are you sure its not the torque converter clutch not engaging? Basically if you are cruising at like 50 and you want to accelerate the tach should not flare in response with throttle change. if it does then its probably somthnig witht he torque converter clutch. mostlikely ythr soleniod

[ak_lumina]

Well, now I'm not too sure...When it does it, it feels (to me) like it's shifting into a fourth gear, but I'm not all that knowledgable with auto transmissions so you could certainly be right. Anyway, when It feels like its in 3rd gear, the engine does can rev up to about 4k rpm before it reaches maximum acceleration, but I'd think that to be a standard thing for an auto trans when in a lower gear....

Now if it is a solonoid or somesuch, where would I find it?

[gpse3400]

Well the soleniod is in the side pan.. requiers you to suspend the engine and to drop the drivers side of the frame to get the pan off. not an easy task...then you'll have to get the car realigned. like i siad if you are cruising at a steady speed and you want to accelerate a few miles per hour and the tach flares a few hundred rpm, your TCC is not engauging..You can live with out it. its benefit is for fuel economy and transmission longevity

[ak_lumina]

Ok, well now I'm pretty sure that must be the problem, the simptoms are exactly as you describe it. I'm wondering though, is it possible to disconnect the leads to the solonoid and wire in a new one without having to lower the engine and placing the new one in a safe/remote spot? Is this a common problem with these cars (automatics in general)?

[3100 MPFI]

The solenoid is located in the valve body in the transmission. Lorenzo can tell you just how much trouble we had getting mine to work right. We finally just swapped out my entire valve body (I had a GM reman, and someone at GM forced the solenoid in, and jammed it).

First of all, make ABSOLUTLY CERTAIN that you have the 4 speed, and not the 3 speed.

does your prndl have OVERDRIVE then DRIVE 2 1, or is it just D 2 1?

Reason why I ask is that a LOT of those lumina's got the 3 speed transmission and V6 engine. There is one at a local yard.

Look at the bottom pan and see if it says 4T60.

It still sounds like the TCC solenoid. Just the 3 speed, and the 4 speed have different ones.

[z34phoenix]

just leave it in D instead of OD if the TCC is having issues that way the TCC wont ever go into lockup

[ak_lumina]

It only has D,2 and 1, no overdive. I can't really get under the car to see what the transmission pan says, so I'm not sure what type it is. But i guess I must have the three speed auto.

[3100 MPFI]

The 3 speed has a torque converter as well, but this way, if you get parts, you can get the right ones.

You still will want to look at the pan. Who is to say that the PRNDL has not been replaced and it got the wrong on? etc.

The oil pan will tell you for a fact which transmission you have.

With the 4 speed, it will feel like you have 5 GEARS. It will do 1st, second, third, lockup, fourth. It FEELS like five, but one is a lockup.

With the 3 speed, it will feel like you have 4 GEARS. It will do 1st, second, lockup, third (or third, lockup. Have not work on too many of the 3 speeds).

From the top of the car, look down the DRIVERS SIDE and see how big the SIDE PAN is. If it is as big around as the tranny, then it is a 4 speed. If it is REALLY SMALL, then it is a 3 speed.

I was trying to find a pic.

This is the side of the 4T60-E. The older 4T60 and 440T4 is SIMILAR. If it looks like this (look in the area under the brake booster. You might have to remove your airbox to see it really good. If you can take a pic, we can tell you for sure.

4T60-E


As you can see. it has a REALLY BIG side pan. If yours is that wide and fat, then you have a 4-speed. If it is smaller, then it is a 3 speed.