Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Auto transmission Slippping in 1st & Reverse

[DLausche]

transmission occasionally slips momentarily when in 1st or reverse and truck is at a dead stop. Noticed it 1st time last night when I put it in rev. to back into driveway. Engaged into reverse for 1 sec, then for maybe 1/2 second it was like neutral, and then it went back into reverse. I thought I was tired so didn't pay too much attention too it. Today after work started truck up, put in D, and it went into gear but then acted like it was in neutral for maybe 1/2 second and then back in gear and was normal. Also noticed the same thing several times on the way home only when at a dead stop in traffic that it would unengage and reengage in 1st - somtimes several times repeatedly. Has happened a dozen times or so now so I know I am not imagining it. Everything works fine once I give it just a bit of fuel and get it rolling and it doesn't happen at every stop either - only a few. Checked the fluid level and it looks like it is high but otherwise fluid looks normal and not burnt or anything like that. Currently 78K miles on odometer. Last transmission service I did was 7K ago when I changed fluid and adjusted the bands. I thought the transmission fluid was at right level at the time but... ...



Is it possible the fluid is foaming and causing erratic operation in 1st and rev? If it is over-filled, have I done permanent damage to it? Or should I look at something else as the problem?



Thanks for your feedback!

-Deon

 

[ProMac1K]

Anyone have an answer to this? I'm curious as to the problem as well.

 

[fox]

It sounds like it is low on fluid and getting air. It could be foaming it if quite a bit over full.

With the trans cold I'd get the fluid about half way up the hash marks. Then recheck it warm/hot.

Make sure the filter is tight.

 

[DLausche]

Well, the problem was resolved a month and a half ago when I had an ATS trans installed. I am almost certain that the slipping issue was with the filter being plugged. At low RPM, I just don't think it pumped enough to keep it in gear. Bringing the RPM's up just slightly and it would lock in gear and appeared to work ok. When I dropped the pan the fluid looked very silvery and there was a LOT of metal hunks and filings in the bottom. ATS dealer said he had never seen fluid that bad and thought maybe it was the overdrive that had headed south. I never did find out for sure what had happened from ATS after it was sent back as a core.



-Deon