700r4 only shifts under extreme 'footage' (throttle) lol

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1low4x4

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Just took this 700r out of a conversion van and stuck it in dads 86 short wide. It ran fine before. Electronic trans. Converted the truck to tbi and swivel port heads and a diff cam.

Anyways now the truck wont shift into second or third without major acceleration and we havwnt got it fast enough to see if fourth would come in. Dad thinks its slipping at 3rd also.

It has good fluid level, altho at first test drive yhe truck was 1.5 quarts low in trans fluid. He thought he may have messes something up driving it low for only a few minutes.

He can manual shift into 2nd but 3rd will not manual shift. But once we hammered it it shifted into 2 and he thinks 3.

Cousin told us there could be air in the lines and reverse take more fluid to operate than anything so back it up and forward several times. Didnt work.

Any ideas??
 

bucket

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I've had a similar issue happen a few times. Nail the throttle and wind it out a bit and let off so it would shift. Each time it was a sticking governor. However, once it shifted out of first, it would always start off in second gear after that.

Does yours do the second gear start too?
 

1low4x4

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I've had a similar issue happen a few times. Nail the throttle and wind it out a bit and let off so it would shift. Each time it was a sticking governor. However, once it shifted out of first, it would always start off in second gear after that.

Does yours do the second gear start too?

Im not sure if it starts off in second afterwards. Can you check the governor from the pan?

Dad wonders if he should buy some of that stuff you run thru your fluid that is supposed to un gum the trans or whatever.

On a side note, we cannot get the speedometer to work, it's not the cluster because we've tried two of those but anyways could that be part of the problem? Does the trains operate on how fast the engine is going, getting that info from the speedometer? Remember it's an electronic transmission. Also the little break clip that holds the brake cable to the pedal isn't on right now, so we don't have any brake lights. We will hook that up tomorrow
 

bucket

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The only electronics in a 700r4 is the solenoid for the lock up torque convertor.
 

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Im not sure if it starts off in second afterwards. Can you check the governor from the pan?

Dad wonders if he should buy some of that stuff you run thru your fluid that is supposed to un gum the trans or whatever.

On a side note, we cannot get the speedometer to work, it's not the cluster because we've tried two of those but anyways could that be part of the problem? Does the trains operate on how fast the engine is going, getting that info from the speedometer? Remember it's an electronic transmission. Also the little break clip that holds the brake cable to the pedal isn't on right now, so we don't have any brake lights. We will hook that up tomorrow

The gov is behind the dome cover on the left rear of the trans.
 

1low4x4

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Hmm. Can we remove that after taking out the dome? How do we check if its stuck?
 

HotRodPC

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Yes, you can pull the governor cover off the side of the trans and pull the governor out. Have a drip pan. It's possible you'll drop about 1/4 cup of trans fluid. No need to drop the pan to check it. But it does sound like a stuck Governor, or a hung up TV cable. Like maybe you went full throttle one time, and the cable stayed out at a full throttle.
 

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On a side note, we cannot get the speedometer to work, it's not the cluster because we've tried two of those but anyways could that be part of the problem? Does the trains operate on how fast the engine is going, getting that info from the speedometer? Remember it's an electronic transmission.

My 700R4 has a ratio adapter that takes a cable with a weird plastic key, instead of the square key drive that most cables have. You can check the cable/cluster by hooking a drill up to the trans end and running it in reverse. If the speed moves, the cable/speedo itself are good.
 

1low4x4

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My 700R4 has a ratio adapter that takes a cable with a weird plastic key, instead of the square key drive that most cables have. You can check the cable/cluster by hooking a drill up to the trans end and running it in reverse. If the speed moves, the cable/speedo itself are good.

Well its not a cable its electronic
 

1low4x4

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Anyone know how to check a elec speedo? We have anorher speedo we will try to swao in and maybe the speed sensor? Ideas?
 

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Ok OK OK, Lets get right here Nick. We might be giving bad info here cuz of what we're being told. What vehicle is this trans in? A 700r4 is NOT electronically controlled. It will have a solenoid for lock up converter, and it CAN BE, a electronic speedo if it's late enough model. But, if it's actually a 4L60-E that is electronically controlled, and the VSS has gone bad, then that could explain why the Speedo does not work, and the ECM not getting a signal from the VSS, then it can act like you're saying too. What year make and model is this vehicle again? I may have skimmed here. Sorry
 

1low4x4

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Sorry guys I qm stupid. We put a 94 4l60e into an 86 truck and the comouter and tbi to go with it. Not 700r like ive been saying.

Sorry! So the speed sensor being bad or the actual speedo itself is the only reasons the speedo wouldnt work?
 

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Yes, investigate that. Most likely the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) has gone bad. If so, the speedo may malfunction or not work, and of course the ECM not not being told the vehicle is moving will not tell the trans to shift. Also look inside the speedo cavity and make sure the Reluctor wheel that the VSS bounces off of is still there. If it's there and not broke off for some weird reason, then I'd say it's the VSS. Sure sounds like it. But that's where I'd start.
 

1low4x4

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Changed the speed sensor and swapped out speedos. Nothing. When you turn the key on the speedo needle jumps a hair up like it has power but does nothung.

Anyone know what color wire controls the speedo going into the back of the cluster and what pin number its in?
 

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