Does this 440-T4/4T60 need a rebuild?

[DiscoStudd]

Here's the scenario:

 

Friend of a friend has a 90 or 91 Cutty, and he says he has to warm up the car for several minutes in order for the tranny to engage into gear. After that, it works fine and shifts normal with no slippagge. He said that sometimes he has to downshift it manually into low when he comes to a complete stop, otherwise it has the "delayed engagement" when he takes off with it in OD. He also says the fluid is a pale red and doesn't smell burnt.

 

I'm thinking the filter is plugged or something along those lines and he has nothing to lose by getting a full flush and filter change.

 

Does anyone know off hand if this is just a quirk of the 440-T4, or does this sucker need a full rebuild?

 

Any input from the experts would be greatly appreciated!

[herb427sc]

The Quirk is in the transmission.

 

There is a seal that shrinks when cold.

 

Once the seal expands, it will be allright when warm.

 

My tranny guy said it might last for about 10K miles.

[Crazy K]

herb427sc, that is one of my 91 CS's problems, In addition to the lack of third gear. Do you know the seal name? And if it can be replaced tranny in car?

if so DiscoStudd, friends's car may benefit from having the seal changed and a tranny flush and filter change.. Mine too for that matter.

[DiscoStudd]

Interesting, indeed. I would like to know where the seal is as well, and if it's easily replaceable by your average shadetree mechanic.

 

Just talked to my buddy and he said they took the car to AAMCO, and the guy didn't really test it or anything, just told them that it needed a rebuild (for only $1400 .) Guess there's no money in repairing the simple little things . Still sounds to me like he could, like herb427sc said, get a few more miles out of it by getting it serviced instead of rebuilt.

 

I told him to take it to another shop to have a flush and filter change. I don't see how it could hurt any. I burned up the clutches in the 200-4R in my old Caprice Wagon and after a fluid and filter change, I got another 5k out of it before it went out...

[Regal_GS_1989]

here's what i would do. Call a few different Local shops. Tell them what trans you have (4T60) and what the symptoms are. A good shop should have a clue as to what the problem is. Not just come out and say that is needs a rebuild. IIRC, it is a servo seal that is leaking, and should be accessible while the trans is still in the car, but i'm not entirely sure. And like the others said, a fluid flush and filter change can't hurt.

[DiscoStudd]

A good shop should have a clue as to what the problem is. Not just come out and say that is needs a rebuild.

Very true! After hearing the AAMCO story, I damn sure aint taking any of my cars there.

 

IIRC, it is a servo seal that is leaking, and should be accessible while the trans is still in the car, but i'm not entirely sure.

Thanks for the info!

[Regal_GS_1989]

I worked at one a very reputable transmissions shop in the city over the summer. We had people comming in saying "so and so at this shop is saying that it needs to be rebuilt" and it turned out to be something small, that took all of 20 minutes to fix. As for the seal that is leaking, we has a few 440T4's come in that had no reverse, and it was caused by a leaky servo seal, so i am assuming that the same thing can happen for a foward gear.

[Hairdo12]

I had a mechanic swear on his mothers grave once saying I needed my transmission rebuilt when my ICM went out.

[GP1138]

DON'T TAKE IT TO AAMCO. That's where my old Grand Prix's tranny got rebuilt, and both of the axle seals leaked like a bitch and caused all the fluid to drain out, and that's why I ended up driving it and not my dad. The end!

[gp90se]

try a bottle of lucas first, that stool softner works like a charm.

[pwmin]

if its over 100K make sure you get it flushed so it "cleans" everything off and blows up the tranny and then hell have to have it rebuilt