red93z34 Posted April 9, 2003 Report Posted April 9, 2003 in a 93 Z34 with auto tranny. After a cold night (as in cold temps outside) when I start the car up I have to rev the engine a few times to about 3K RPM's before the tranny will go into first gear. Any ideas? Quote
Redfox340 Posted April 9, 2003 Report Posted April 9, 2003 Ah... sounds like you've fell victim to the intake gasket crisis like all other DOHC owners. When the engine is cold, the cracked gasket inbetween the block and the lower intake has a hole to suck in unfiltered air, therefore the high stand-still RPM's. To double check for sure, take a can of carb spray and shoot the lower intake (lightly of course) while the car is running and if the RPM's fluctuate, you've found the problem. But also, check all vacuum hoses first so you don't tear into your motor and find out it was just a rotted hose. - RedFox340 Quote
Redfox340 Posted April 9, 2003 Report Posted April 9, 2003 Well, depends if you can read some directions and torque bolts to spec. I know the guys here will give you some great pointers if you're in the mood to do yourself... it's an eye-opening experience and if you do, you can replace other things that are accessable when the plenum, fuel rail, and lower intake are off. - RedFox340 Quote
red93z34 Posted April 9, 2003 Author Report Posted April 9, 2003 Well my uncle has access to a car shop with lifts etc that we can do it in but everyone is saying that its a huge job and you have to pull the tranny out and everything. But if its not that huge of a job we will do it ourselves. Quote
Redfox340 Posted April 9, 2003 Report Posted April 9, 2003 Who told you to PULL the tranny? That's a totally incorrect response for this repair... you can do it right in the engine bay, with the hood up or off. All you've got to do is dig into the top of the engine; nothing to do with the heads, exhaust or transmission. Search on this forum and you should find some procedures and guidelines to get a good feel what you could be getting into. - RedFox340 Quote
red93z34 Posted April 9, 2003 Author Report Posted April 9, 2003 Some guy that works at the shop, he specializes in Fords but claims he know about the 3.4L also. He said we needed to rebuild the whole tranny to fix the problem. Quote
Redfox340 Posted April 9, 2003 Report Posted April 9, 2003 RPM's have nothing to do with a tranny, tell him to be re-certified and stop ripping off customers... :shock: - RedFox340 Quote
red93z34 Posted April 9, 2003 Author Report Posted April 9, 2003 Ok, If anyone knows how to do it please post and i'll print it out and give it to my uncle to see if we can handle it, also if this helps when the car is just sitting the RPM needle bounces a bit not much but it never stays still. Quote
mdelorie Posted April 25, 2003 Report Posted April 25, 2003 Hey guys, I've got a nearly identical problem on my 3.1 w/ 4t60, except I think mine's much worse. When I brake for a stop, the transmission will slip out of first into neutral, and I'll either have to rev it, or put the selector into neutral and back into overdrive for it to pick up. It's a friggin' pain in the ass and I hope it's not indicative of serious tranny problems... Also, sometimes when I start it up in the morning and put it in overdrive, it'll just stay in neutral. It started happening after I used some B&M Tranny fluid, probably not a good idea, and in my road to solving this, a tranny flush will be the first thing I do, followed by some GM fluid. Anyone have some insight into what's causing this? stuck valve or something? It shifts fine otherwise into the other gears, it's just first. help!!! Thanks! Quote
96montyZ34 Posted April 25, 2003 Report Posted April 25, 2003 redfox - you may have read the question wrong. he's not complaining about high rpm's, he complaining about the tranny not going into first when it's cold. sounds more like the bands in the tranny are slipping. (he has to rev the car to 3000 before she slips into first) Quote
JS91Z34 Posted April 25, 2003 Report Posted April 25, 2003 Some guy that works at the shop, he specializes in Fords but claims he know about the 3.4L also. He said we needed to rebuild the whole tranny to fix the problem. Make sure he's not talking about the ford 3.4L that he knows all about. There is a difference between the ford 3.4L and the gm 3.4L. The ford 3.4L is a 32V V-8 and the other is a 24V V6. As far as the intake situation goes, all i can tell you is to take your time if you do it yourself. It's not a big job. Now the tranny problem is a little more difficult. You can always trying having the tranny flushed and a new filter installed, just to see if that helps at all. Quote
red93z34 Posted April 25, 2003 Author Report Posted April 25, 2003 it doesn't idle high or anything its just when the engine is cold (been sitting overnight) you have to sit there and rev it a few times in order for the tranny to kick into first. Quote
Redfox340 Posted April 25, 2003 Report Posted April 25, 2003 Oh... yeesh! That's not good. Sorry, Red93Z34, I read your post wrong and mis-inturpreted on what you situtation was. Let's recap, for delayed engagement the manual (Helm Inc, 1992 service manual) calls for: - check fluid level / condition - cooler check ball - reverse servo assembly - forward servo assembly I'd go with JS91Z34 and 96MontyZ34 words... check the obvious first; grab a torque flush or a pan drop if the fluid is smells / looking below par. Best of luck! - RedFox340 Quote
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