4l60e Transmision With No Reverse

GNXFan · March 25, 2009

Hello everyone, newbe here. I have a 94 S-10 2WD truck, 148,000 miles, TBI V-6 engine. The problem I am having is with the tranny. I have no reverse gear at all. It shifts thru all of the forward gears but not reverse. What irks me is I have done something to cause the problem because I changed the fluid and filter and also installed a Transgo SK4L60E shift kit and a new updated manifold pressure switch. Before I did these mods it was shifting fine complete with reverse. Not the most firm shifts but OK. I had installed on of these kits in a 98 Olds Bravada I previously owned because it had the famed 1830 trouble code and this kit solved that problem. I just did it on this tranny to firm up the shifts a little more, that's all.

I simply cannot figure out what mistake I've made. Can anyone here tell me where to look or at least what affects the reverse circuit in this tranny? Thanks in advance.

GNXFan · March 30, 2009

shoulda melted by now... the jelly usually dissolves once the trans makes it to operating temp... 36 miles would defintily be in the normal temp zone... unless you put some kinda weird jelly in it... but it seems you didnt soo

Yeehah!! Well I'm not exactly sure what I did to fix it but I did. I spent this morning going over everthing in the valve body and tranny case. I did find a mistake I made on reinstalling the boost valve up into the case. I had the snap ring clip that holds it in the bore in the lower groove instead of the uppermost groove in the bore. The upper groove is about 1/4" farther up in the bore so I guess it wasn't building enough pressure to shift into reverse. I also had changed one of the valve body check balls with a larger diameter one that came with the shift kit but I put a stock size ball back in that spot. Other than that I don't know what I else I did to fix it. When I got it back together it immediately went into reverse this time with no problems. I test drove it for 7 miles and it shifted fine in all gears.

One side note: the Transgo kit also has springs to change out the 4th gear servo( Big piston on the side of the bell housing) for a firmer 3-4 shift. Can I get that thing out of the case with the tranny still in the truck? Looks like the exhaust cross pipe and heat shield are in the way and that it would hit the floorpan before I could get it out of the case. Thanks again guys! I will test drive it to work tomorrow, 36 miles round trip and see how it does.

Draenor · March 25, 2009

Did this kit require you to drill the valve body? Replaces all the check balls? I dont have the diagram at work, but can post it when I get home. Unless someone else has it handy.

Alljackedup408 · March 31, 2009

sweet dude!!! yes.. you can pull the 2-4 servo apart with the trans in the truck. Its a simple mod!! Its just a cover.. a piston.. couple seals and the spring.

Alljackedup408 · March 27, 2009

shoulda melted by now... the jelly usually dissolves once the trans makes it to operating temp... 36 miles would defintily be in the normal temp zone... unless you put some kinda weird jelly in it... but it seems you didnt soo

silveradobobby · March 26, 2009

technically... the 7 balls actually go up into the case.. you just place them on the valve body to get them in place... the 10 lays in the valve body. if i could show you a pic of the valve body and the case part of it in this book i have.. it would bee soo easy lol. ill try and scan it or sumtin.

Ok I think we're talking about the same check ball. It's the ball that's separate from the others and technically on the opposite side of the plate from the others. If so then I know the ball is there because I had to stick it in place with petroleum jelly before I mounted the plate to the case. Thanks for your patience Alljackedup408.

Should have by now. Only thing I could tell you is to drop the pan and vb again and go over the install again.

it usually takes a while for the fuild to warm up and diisvole the jelly, this could be the case and the ball is stuck right now.

I have driven it 36 miles, round trip to work and back and still no reverse. Do you think the petroleum jelly hasn't melted yet?

Alljackedup408 · March 25, 2009

im trying to remember.. ive also got the gm god book of the 4l60e lol... its gonna be check ball #10... if youre looking at the valve body in ur hands it should be above the forward clutch accumlator assembly.. theres a check ball a little bit above it.. and it feeds the rev/ low clutch. have any idea bout where im talkin about? lol and did that kit come with extra valve body gaskets or no.. because there are different types... and it could of closed the passage. let us know! hopefully drae can get a diagram up

silveradobobby · March 31, 2009

I just leave all the servo springs out of mine! i like the race car shift feel myself!

GNXFan · March 26, 2009

technically... the 7 balls actually go up into the case.. you just place them on the valve body to get them in place... the 10 lays in the valve body. if i could show you a pic of the valve body and the case part of it in this book i have.. it would bee soo easy lol. ill try and scan it or sumtin.

Ok I think we're talking about the same check ball. It's the ball that's separate from the others and technically on the opposite side of the plate from the others. If so then I know the ball is there because I had to stick it in place with petroleum jelly before I mounted the plate to the case. Thanks for your patience Alljackedup408.

Should have by now. Only thing I could tell you is to drop the pan and vb again and go over the install again.

OK. I forgot about my AllData subscription. I have printed off all of the assembly views and checkball locations. Now I see where the #10 checkball is that Alljackedup408 was talking about. I will take it back apart report back what I find.

it usually takes a while for the fuild to warm up and diisvole the jelly, this could be the case and the ball is stuck right now.

I have driven it 36 miles, round trip to work and back and still no reverse. Do you think the petroleum jelly hasn't melted yet?

GNXFan · March 25, 2009

im trying to remember.. ive also got the gm god book of the 4l60e lol... its gonna be check ball #10... if youre looking at the valve body in ur hands it should be above the forward clutch accumlator assembly.. theres a check ball a little bit above it.. and it feeds the rev/ low clutch. have any idea bout where im talkin about? lol and did that kit come with extra valve body gaskets or no.. because there are different types... and it could of closed the passage. let us know! hopefully drae can get a diagram up

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Ok this kit does have the option to drill the valve body so you can change out the spring for the Accumulator Bushing but I chose not to drill it out. I did drill out several small holes in the separator plate to an .093 size with a drill bit provided in the kit. The kit does not come with extra valve body gaskets. Is the #10 check ball the one that goes in the case, not the valve body itself like the other 7 check balls? The instructions call that the 4th Accumulator. There is one of the 7 check balls in the valve body that I have changed to a larger 1/4" ball that came with the kit. The instruction sheet says it is for the 1-2 shift and it says if the hole in the plate(located near the center front of the plate) is worn a little then use the larger 1/4" ball for that hole only so that's what I used there. Hope this info helps.

Alljackedup408 · March 25, 2009

technically... the 7 balls actually go up into the case.. you just place them on the valve body to get them in place... the 10 lays in the valve body. if i could show you a pic of the valve body and the case part of it in this book i have.. it would bee soo easy lol. ill try and scan it or sumtin.

GNXFan · March 25, 2009

technically... the 7 balls actually go up into the case.. you just place them on the valve body to get them in place... the 10 lays in the valve body. if i could show you a pic of the valve body and the case part of it in this book i have.. it would bee soo easy lol. ill try and scan it or sumtin.

Ok I think we're talking about the same check ball. It's the ball that's separate from the others and technically on the opposite side of the plate from the others. If so then I know the ball is there because I had to stick it in place with petroleum jelly before I mounted the plate to the case. Thanks for your patience Alljackedup408.

silveradobobby · March 25, 2009

technically... the 7 balls actually go up into the case.. you just place them on the valve body to get them in place... the 10 lays in the valve body. if i could show you a pic of the valve body and the case part of it in this book i have.. it would bee soo easy lol. ill try and scan it or sumtin.

Ok I think we're talking about the same check ball. It's the ball that's separate from the others and technically on the opposite side of the plate from the others. If so then I know the ball is there because I had to stick it in place with petroleum jelly before I mounted the plate to the case. Thanks for your patience Alljackedup408.

it usually takes a while for the fuild to warm up and diisvole the jelly, this could be the case and the ball is stuck right now.

GNXFan · March 26, 2009

technically... the 7 balls actually go up into the case.. you just place them on the valve body to get them in place... the 10 lays in the valve body. if i could show you a pic of the valve body and the case part of it in this book i have.. it would bee soo easy lol. ill try and scan it or sumtin.

Ok I think we're talking about the same check ball. It's the ball that's separate from the others and technically on the opposite side of the plate from the others. If so then I know the ball is there because I had to stick it in place with petroleum jelly before I mounted the plate to the case. Thanks for your patience Alljackedup408.

it usually takes a while for the fuild to warm up and diisvole the jelly, this could be the case and the ball is stuck right now.

I have driven it 36 miles, round trip to work and back and still no reverse. Do you think the petroleum jelly hasn't melted yet?