Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) transmission issue

[hpyman123]

My 01 has started hesitating to shift into drive when you shift from park. If it sets for a day sometimes it takes a minute or so before it shifts to drive after backing out of the garage. Everyday driving I can back out of a place and sometimes it goes right into drive and sometimes it take 4-5 seconds. Truck has almost 170k miles on it. Is there a good place to take it in Phoenix, AZ? I'm moving back to Oklahoma soon and wonder if I should fix it in AZ. or Oklahoma.

 

[GaryOwen]

Make sure your transmission fluid isn't low. It is sometimes hard to read the level on the dipstick.

 

[KKlingbeil]

For sure check fluid first as Gary has said. So after it sits for a day, and you start it up and put it in reverse, does it start backing up right away? Or does it hesitate there as well? After this hesitation going into Drive, how does the transmission act after that?

 

[RIT]

The 727 auto has a known issue with torque converter drain back. If the symptoms happen when the truck is sitting for a few days, I would think that it is drain back. Drain back can happen even when the truck sits overnight. Performance modifications to the valvebody can sometimes make this issue more noticeable.

 

[hpyman123]

The fluid level is fine. I just changed it and checked again. Truck goes into reverse right away and backs right up then just sits there when I shift to drive. Sometimes it goes right into drive but most of the time it takes 3-5 seconds to go into drive. After it goes the transmission works fine. I'm concerned because recently I've had two episodes when I first start in the morning I can back out of the garage like normal then when I shift to drive it's taken 2-3 minutes before it goes forward. I do have an ATS valve body in it but it's been in a long time and this problem has just started over the last few months. I know about the drain back issue but sometimes it seems worse than others.

 

[PatrickHansen]

Since drain back was a known issue when I bought my truck, I always let it warm up in neutral until the heater grids quit. Never have any shifting problems when its time to move.

 

[KKlingbeil]

This isn't a drainback issue because he said it will back up right away with no hesitation. If it was drainback, it wouldn't do anything for 10 or so seconds in any gear.

To me, it sounds like something is sticking in the valvebody. Just for kicks, have you ever tried manually putting it in 1st or 2nd instead of drive to see what that does?

 

[hpyman123]

Yep. I have pulled it down in to 1st & 2nd with the same result. I was wondering if something was sticking in the valve body or if it was a solenoid. I may try some Lucas treatment to see if that makes it any better. I can pull the valve body and check it, that's easy.

 

[ArmandoCantu]

It's likely fluid drain off - common on 727 type of trannies. When you let it sit a while, start it up, put it in Neutral for about 15 seconds or so. Should be OK, it'll run forever doing this simple thing. I've had several... .

 

[WILLD420]

Something's not right. I suspect a sticking valve or something like that. Best thing is to pull the pan, drop the valvebody and start looking. You might even have to pressure check with compressed air, the trans. If you have a blown seal somewhere it can raise hell.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Mine does much the same. One overnight rest and it is okay the next day.

Let it set several days and it takes a while to get the oil flowing again.

I'm cheap, time I have, money I don't. I just let it warm up a bit and move it back and forth between reverse and drive until it feels like it wants to go.

 

[hpyman123]

Well it's not the valve body... . I bit the bullet and bought a new one from ATS. The one that I took out was an ATS with 160,000 miles on it. Put the new valve body back in and still have the problem. Truck does shift and pull much better but still hesitates to go into gear. ATS sent a new Valve Body Assistant that you wire in that they didn't have before. I had added a resistor to the PCM harness to help but had to go back and take it out to do the VBA. Truck shifts great but I've started parking in places that I can get in and pull straight out.

 

[Harlacher]

My 99 takes a few seconds before it will go into drive in the mornings. Just seconds though not minutes. I think mine is because of drain back and normal. If it took two to three minutes I would think it would have to be a relay. If it was mechanical it would not go right into reverse in MHO.

 

[KKlingbeil]

I would contact ATS and see if they have any ideas about what is going on.