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No 1st or 4th gear

B

bhuff30

New member
I bought a 97 buick regal with the 3.8 and 4t65E transmission. From a stop, the car seems to be starting in 2nd gear, then shifting normally to 3rd and locking the converter as normal. The car never gets to 1st gear or 4th gear, but otherwise drives and runs normally, with no shuddering or odd feeling shift. Pulling the shift lever to 1st, it still holds 2nd gear. Park, nuetral and reverse all seem to work normally as well.

I've been searching online for any information I can find, but it doesn't seem to be a common problem. Can anyone help direct me towards the problem or some tests I can perform? I found in another thread that I can check the 'E pin' on the transmission connector for 12v, but which pin is E and how to do that?

Does it sound like a 1-2 solenoid problem, either with the solenoid or electrical system for it?

Trannyman95? You seem very very knowledgable, suggestions please?

I'm just trying to figure out what to do with the car...

If it is a solenoid problem, sounds like I have to drop the transmission which isn't fun! How quickly would the transmission burn up if I just drive it like this? It doesn't seem to slip or have other problems... just missing 2 gears.
 


It sounds like either a bad 1-2 shift solenoid or it could also be a stuck AFL valve in the channel plate which can also cause 2nd gear starts as the fluid can become limited or blocked to feed the 1-2 shift solenoid. If the solenoid had an electrical problem it should have thrown a code for it so you may want to check for codes. You could also have a stuck shift valve or multiple stuck valves in the valve body causing this. You are correct that the trans needs to be dropped to get to the solenoids and valve body. This can all be accessed without completely removing the trans and it can be lowered and the side cover removed.
 
thanks for your reply. It is throwing a CEL and I'll find out which one when I scan it tomorrow morning.

So what items can be left attached if I'm only dropping the transmission to access the cover? Still need to pull the axle out and pull the transmission away from the engine?
 
I pulled codes and the only code is P0753, which is that 1-2 solenoid. I think I'll just drive the car as it is for now. I don't think it'll cause any damage.
Soon as the weather is better, I'll look for an easy fix, incase it is a wiring problem.
 
best way to check intergrity of the solenoid circuit is to pull the pcm connector and check the voltage at the pin returning to pcm. solenoids are ground side switched iirc so if you have 12v on the ground circuit you have no problem with the solenoid or voltage supply

obviously if any circuits are open you will not have voltage. in which case you'd want to ohm out the wire between the valve body and pcm connector before going any deeper
 
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