Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

[TYRODD]

Had a nice birthday surprise today

A little background info...
Ive been having a strange problem every once in a while, my drivetrain will bind up severely and I am unable to move in D or R unless I rock it back and forth a little, or give it gas (dont like forcing it). This occurs when I am coming from a stop, or when I have been parked. Also, I have had a low pitch whine/grind at low speeds; coming from or to a stop. The noise and vibration seems to stop once I am in second gear.

When I left for work this morning, my truck would not roll out of the driveway...so after a little nudge on the gas it SNAPPED into reverse and seemed to be fine all the way to work. After work, I was on my way to school and I experienced a nasty driveline vibration/noise/grinding and babied it to a parking spot. Checked the propshaft and driveline visually, seemed fine. Decided I needed to get the ty home an babied it back as best I could. Apperantly I couldnt baby it enough and things really let go

. As I left the parking lot 1st through 2nd were EXTREMELY violent, shaky, and scary. When the tranny finally shifted to third (didnt seem to want to shift, like something was bound up REAL bad) everything was "smooth" and pretty much like normal. I had to come to a stop unfortunatly, and it did the 1st through 2nd thing again, except 3rd wasnt any different. My top speed was 35, but my RPMs were everywhere

. Made a turn to go up my street (dont live far from the college at all) and the truck would not move, no forward gears and reverse really wasnt there either. Parked it.

I have limited knowledge on Automatic transmissions so please bear with me.

In any gear or not (P, N, R, OD, D, 2, 1) and the engine running, something is turning and grinding, sounds like trying to shift gears without depressing the clutch in a manual, just a loud GRIND. Checked the T-Case and Tranny fluids, T-Case is a little dark (blood colored) and the tranny fluid looks and smells fine. My truck is bone stock and RARELY driven hard, in fact my last boost launch was in Nov (at a track)

. I'm sitting at about 81k on the odometer, and this is my DD

.

IMO, this does not sound like a transmission problem, my tranny has shifted pretty damn perfect since Ive had it, and the TV is adjusted properly. Even on the way to work this morning it shifted great. The problem just seems too catastophic to be a tranny related, thats why I am pointing to the T-Case as the culprit.

Anyone had a problem like this? Ask me some questions if something is unclear. Any ideas are much appreciated!

Excuse me while I go pull my hair out.

 

[redneckwonder]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

I have limited knowledge on Automatic transmissions so please bear with me.

In any gear or not (P, N, R, OD, D, 2, 1) and the engine running, something is turning and grinding, sounds like trying to shift gears without depressing the clutch in a manual, just a loud GRIND. Checked the T-Case and Tranny fluids, T-Case is a little dark (blood colored) and the tranny fluid looks and smells fine.

well i, like you, arent totally transmission knowledge filled BUT based on what you said, if you have the truck in park and somethings grinding, its NOT the transfer case, i mean lets think about it, the transfer case is connected to the output shaft, and it the output shaft isnt turning then the TC isnt turning inside either. so my opinion is its something between the crankshaft snout and the "engaging and disengaging" components in the tranny. i was talking to NJTY180 last nite and he said he scattered some " sprag gears" and what not, that might possibly be the culprit. does it make the same sound as if when someone shifts from D to R when an AT vehicle is still moving forward??? if so then Im guessing the converter isnt letting go, and causing the "centrifugal parts" in the tranny to try and mesh gears or something....someone help me out on this

 

[skata]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

it sounds like your transmission is shot. the transfer case wont make noise if the vehicle is not moving.
just for the hell of it, check your torque converetor/flywheel bolts.

 

[JSM]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Text descriptions are never as good as in person, but also check the rear end.

With your description though I am going tranny myself also.

Trannies are like time bombs, you just never know. Heck local guy blew one up yesterday going through emission testing.

 

[Crimson93Ty]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

There's a little spring loaded "finger" thingy that engages the outer teeth of the rear ring gear that the bigger planetary in the back of the trans rides in when you are in park. If it was "snapping" and hard to shift in and out of park, it's possible you've broken a piece of that finger off or broken piece of the ring gear off. That ring gear is usually blue and brown from being hardened so my "guess" would be the finger thing. Unfortunately, there's no telling what it chewed up when it spun up into all of those gears inside there. Revving it up in reverse with the "finger" stuck and it violently releasing like that very well could've done damage. I'm vote #3. Trans is messed up.
What I do with mine when it's parked on a hill is keep the parking brake on so it doesn't load up that piece as much when I park it. I even do that in my van to make it easier to shift into drive from park.

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

well i, like you, arent totally transmission knowledge filled BUT based on what you said, if you have the truck in park and somethings grinding, its NOT the transfer case, i mean lets think about it, the transfer case is connected to the output shaft, and it the output shaft isnt turning then the TC isnt turning inside either. so my opinion is its something between the crankshaft snout and the "engaging and disengaging" components in the tranny. i was talking to NJTY180 last nite and he said he scattered some " sprag gears" and what not, that might possibly be the culprit. does it make the same sound as if when someone shifts from D to R when an AT vehicle is still moving forward??? if so then Im guessing the converter isnt letting go, and causing the "centrifugal parts" in the tranny to try and mesh gears or something....someone help me out on this

Thats another thought Ive had, something between the crank and the tranny. It does sound like shifting from D to R while moving.....but only when Im standing still:? .

Ill have more Ideas tonight...Its getting loaded onto a flatbed today and taken to my mech., should be interesting:tdown: .

 

[J_SULLIVAN]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

When I talked to Rodney last night he asked me to jack up the front of my Syclone to where both of the front wheels were NOT touching the ground and spin both. I spun the right one and it spins and then the left and it locks up/in park like its supposed to. Now his, both of them spin when they are off the ground, front wheels and truck is in park. :2cents:

 

[myclone]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

If youre getting "grinding" or any other noise while in park/not moving with the engine running then my money is on the trans being the issue. If you are in park and the engine is running the only things turning other than the flex plate is the torque converter and the front pump in the trans, nothing else. The TC or the pump in the trans may be your problem now but IMO going by the previous symptoms you had something else fail which sent debri throughout the trans which killed the pump/TC. Kinda a cause and affect thing there.

Rebuilt trans, new torque converter, trans cooler and line flush, and you should be good to go.

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

When I talked to Rodney last night he asked me to jack up the front of my Syclone to where both of the front wheels were NOT touching the ground and spin both. I spun the right one and it spins and then the left and it locks up/in park like its supposed to. Now his, both of them spin when they are off the ground, front wheels and truck is in park. :2cents:

not to mention my propshaft does not rotate with the wheels, Jeremy said his did(?)
Done some serious researching on AT's and would have to agree with everyone. Next is figuring out the extent of the damage and deciding on whether to rebuild mine, or go with a whole "new" transmission.
My mech. is capable of rebuilding mine if I can gather the needed SyTy specific parts and emphasize on the importance of them. But I think it will be less of a hassle and I will have more peace of mind if I go with pre-assembled ready to go tranny. I'd really hate to waste both our time (and my money!) to have mine rebuilt and fail. I only want to do this once.

Any suggestions? The tranny will be dropped next week, I'll be there with a camera!

Thanks guys!

 

[supersports10]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

i would be guarding your sy/ty specific valvebody, govenour (sp) and shifter linkage pieces at gun point at all times!!!:rant:

 

[Crimson93Ty]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

I've dug through the archives on here a little bit and it looks like you do NOT want a "whole new" transmission unless there is no other choice. Looks like the valvebody is special, the 2nd servo is special, the separator plate is special, etc. Ed Hess(?) had a good story on here somewhere. This place has some really good info on it.

 

[Syclone#1992]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Any updates?

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

I've dug through the archives on here a little bit and it looks like you do NOT want a "whole new" transmission unless there is no other choice. Looks like the valvebody is special, the 2nd servo is special, the separator plate is special, etc. Ed Hess(?) had a good story on here somewhere. This place has some really good info on it.

Well, Im looking for an improvement over the stock transmission, not just another stock tranny

. I dont need a "race" tranny, just something Im not going to have to replace any time soon. I think some of the upgrades found on "built" trannys are something that my Mech. would not want to touch (not just the hard parts). On top of that, It will take time to do all of this...time that I do not have. I have a good Idea of which one I am going with....

Jeeze I never thought I'd have to do something like this...thats what I get for thinking

. I guess this puts the SyTy curse even deeper into me...Im part of the family now

.

Anyways...If my Mech. could at least pull the Sonafabitch out of there I'd know more, but that hasnt been done yet

. I would have pulled the tranny myself if it were possible to push up the driveway into the garage...Tys are un-pushable

If it turns out that it is a really simple problem, I'll consider a rebuild...but it didnt sound simple at all, I've never heard anything like that!

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Well, my shit grenaded on me

. Took a look at the tranny pan and saw all kinds of important shit

Everything seems to be working against me at this point, I'm so stressed I'm molting

.
It doesnt look like I can get a new tranny either, theres one available and it might be accounted for. Being extremely pressed for time makes it infinitly more a pain in the ass.
I'm gonna talk to a local AT shop and see If they're willing to build it like its supposed to

.

 

[Syclone#1992]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Well, my shit grenaded on me

. Took a look at the tranny pan and saw all kinds of important shit

Everything seems to be working against me at this point, I'm so stressed I'm molting

.
It doesnt look like I can get a new tranny either, theres one available and it might be accounted for. Being extremely pressed for time makes it infinitly more a pain in the ass.
I'm gonna talk to a local AT shop and see If they're willing to build it like its supposed to

.

I know you probably already know this...take your time, and make sure it is done right so you aren't stuck doing it twice or three times. If you have too...you could always rent a car from Enterprise....

Good luck, hope everything works out.

 

[J_SULLIVAN]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Please Help this poor white boy! Time is not on Rod's side... Life and those f*ing curve balls it throws at ya :tdown: I gotta say I didn't think a tranny fix would be so damn hard for your Ty but I know somebody on here will have an answer for ya :2cents:

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

I'm werkin on getting a beater right now...something I should have done when I first got the truck

.

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Dropped the tranny off at a local AT specialist. Gonna have them disassemble it and see what needs to be replaced, and if this tranny is even worth bothering with. The owner seemed to know a bit about these trucks...he mentioned the specific valve body, 2075 stock TC, 093 servo, 3-4 WOT upshift, and misc. other things that surprised me

. I showed him a list of suggested parts I copied from huryde's site, said he stocked most, and it would be a great idea to include some of the others that he didnt stock.
I mentioned 5 pinion front and rear planetaries....kinda overkill for me I think but is there such a thing

?

Anyway, I'm just interested in whats broke and what will right now. I havent talked $ to him yet...If I dont like what he has to tell me, I'll pay the bill for the disassembly and drive away with my tranny

.

BTW, the name of the shop is Cannon Automatic Transmission Services (CATS)...sounds like a tranny shops name

, and the guy who may do the rebuild is named Slade, sounds like a mechanic to me

.

 

[Crimson93Ty]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

The 4 pinion planetaries hold up really well. Just don't let him put aftermarket 5 pinion planetaries in it.
Big things are torrington bearing type reaction tube, beast sun gear shell, bonded pistons, late model 1 piece sprag, and a late model (4L60E) input drum. It'll all fit right in. A .500" TV boost valve is good too. If he uses a wide band, make sure he uses a new reverse input drum or you'll see burn marks on the band when it starts slipping. The raybestos powerband only costs like $15 and you can use that with your old reverse drum. There's a little trick that I saw over on the hotrodder's BB where they take a rod and block the line bias valve so when your over 50% throttle your oil pressure isn't dropping off.
A last thing I noticed when doing mine was, where the 4th accumulator is, there are two holes in there you can see when you take the piston out. One lets oil in and the other just dumps out into the case. So when you are in 4th, you are constantly loosing oil out into the case. I just took a 1/4 20 allen plug, tapped the hole feeding the 4th accumulator and blocked it. Sonnax has a wide bushing that goes in the rear sun gear (big one) and supports the reaction tube better to help keep you from breaking it. See if he knows about any of this stuff. I did a bunch of crap to mine and it works pretty well still :roll:

Here's a site with some ideas:
http://www.tciauto.com/instructions/376000_inst.htm

What's the huryde site?

 

[TYRODD]

Re: Drivetrain failure, PLEASE HELP!

Well, all the hard parts were nuked...only thing that "survived" was the band

.

If 4 pinion planetaries will work, I will go with them as they are cheaper and I am not going to be paying "bulletproof" prices for a truck that will never see any power mods

. Slade mentioned the beast sun gear shell, much better than the stamped OEM unit, and not a whole lot more $. The TC is gonna kill me

....I imagined that a 2500 would be more fun with a stock turbo...but I dont know about $1100 fun, it is a billet unit though so. They mentioned some of the parts I wanted would make the truck nearly undrivable on a daily basis...said the shifts would be WAY violent, I'm pretty sure the tranny shifted like a mofo before, and it better be way more gnarly after

. Now for the estimate....$3k w/TC

If they truly can build a super tranny, and have an awesome warranty, I may dive in...