GM 4L30E trans question

[kouks]

Every once in a while, after a start, and initially placing the trans in either D or R, it will not engage unless the rpms are increased, and then engages with a thump, as reported by my daughter who drives it. I had it happen to me once so I know she's not making it up. She says it happens when the car is warm, although for me it happened when it was a first start of the day, so hot/cold is not a factor.

This type of behavior means not enough fluid pressure. I checked fluid level and it was fine. The fluid is fairly new and so is the filter.

Shifting while driving is fine with no abnormal shifts, although I think it delays the shift from 3 to 4 since it goes to about 3000 rpm before it shifts during moderate accel, but it is a 6-cyl and not a V8.

I ordered a new A and B solenoid, plus a new shift kit for the throttle body. Not sure if those will fix the issue.

Any other comments?

[Sleepyhead97]

Hi. I don't think solenoids will help. Maybe a fluid change or two. A b solenoids hand off the shifts from 1st 2nd 3rd 4th. You say problems going into reverse so i don't think trey will help.

[kouks]

Hi. I don't think solenoids will help. Maybe a fluid change or two. A b solenoids hand off the shifts from 1st 2nd 3rd 4th. You say problems going into reverse so i don't think trey will help.

Yea, I think what the problem may be is that the fluid is new, but the fluid in there was about 100,000 miles old, so maybe there is some gunk being released by the new fluid and sporadically affecting the Valve Body.

Just yesterday I drove the car 420 miles, 7 hours round trip, with two climbing drives up the Tehachapi pass and Kings Canyon in the Sierra Mountains in California taking my daughter to camp. The car drove like a champ with no bumps, thumps, slipping or strange shifts the entire time. Average speed was about 70mph on the highway with runs up to 90mph.

I'll just swap out the fluid one more time. I know it takes up to 3 times to get a complete fluid change.

[Sleepyhead97]

Be sure to use dex 3. Really don't recommend ANYTHING fancy. I used walmart brand last change on my e34.

[whiskychaser]

IIRC, there are a couple of screen type filters in that VB and the part numbers are 24015 and 24018. Second one is for the 'force motor' which is GM speak for pressure regulator. May be worth thinking about, considering what they control

[kouks]

IIRC, there are a couple of screen type filters in that VB and the part numbers are 24015 and 24018. Second one is for the 'force motor' which is GM speak for pressure regulator. May be worth thinking about, considering what they control

Thats what I was thinking, screen gunk.

[kouks]

Well, I got to this project and I'm not happy.

Purchased solenoid kit, new filter kit, new fluid, and aftermarket shift kit and went at it.

Dropped the pan and unfortunately found parts. Some were just shavings, but some were bigger bits. One was definitely identifiable as a part of a clutch drum (had the inset for the steels still intact). So it appears one of the drums, most likely the first gear drum, is shredding itself. Its just a matter of time before pressure on the drum releases the retaining ring and I loose the gear completely.

Replaced the solenoids just because, new filter and new fluid and crossing my fingers that it holds for a while. If not, its about $2,600 for a complete rebuild with all the upgrades, unless I feel frisky and get a core and rebuild it myself (about total $1000 project) while this one continues to grind itself apart.

Time will tell.

[locknload]

2nd verse same as the first, eh kouks?? No doubt someone will be jumping in soon to say 5 speed swap, but I know your daughter wouldn't appreciate it. Low mileage used trannys should be fairly cheap and plentiful. I would consider just that with fresh fluid and filter plus swap in whatever new parts you already have in the soon-to-expire unit.

[katit2]

kouks,

How many miles on this tranny?

[kouks]

kouks,

How many miles on this tranny?

242,000 original miles, trouble free, until recently.

- - - Updated - - -

2nd verse same as the first, eh kouks?? No doubt someone will be jumping in soon to say 5 speed swap, but I know your daughter wouldn't appreciate it. Low mileage used trannys should be fairly cheap and plentiful. I would consider just that with fresh fluid and filter plus swap in whatever new parts you already have in the soon-to-expire unit.

Actually a few weeks back when I considered the trans may be giving up finally I searched car-parts.com and found one with less than 1000K on it for about $500. May be the way out of this mess.

[kouks]

Searching for used trans. Does anyone know if we can swap a 4L30E from and e39 (1996-1999) into the e34? Electronics the same? Same question for 1996-2000 Z3. Both the early e39 and Z3 models had the same trans but wondering if the electronics or throttle body can be run by the AGS in the e34.

Found a trans in Sun Valley (LA), advertised on car-parts as 99,000 miles. Popped the drain plug and dark brown oil comes out. For the heck of it, I pull the pan and see what appears to be a complete meltdown of a trans. Maybe they forgot the first digit, like it may be 299,000 miles. Pays to do your own inspection.

[ross1]

Used trannys for these things are such a crap shoot. Junkyards can't be trusted either.
I'd be looking for a wrecked car donor, at least the car was ostensibly under it's own power when crashed.
Not sure if an E39 box will work but wrecked E39s are a dime a dozen.

[kouks]

Bit the bullet...Ordered a reman trans from Autozone for $2k. 3 yr/75,000 mile warrantee.

I have 4 choices

1. Used trans, about $500 and roll the dice
2. Rebuild myself (I did the ZF on my e38), about $1000 no warrantee
3. Reman, about $2000 3yr warrantee
4. Local shop rebuild, about $2,700-3,200, 2 yr warrantee.

Since my daughter is driving it I thought the quickest way back on the road to reliable driving was a reman.

The car is worth about $2k itself, but I've already spent about $3k during the rebuild so this is a labor of love, not common sense, as if any of us on this forum have any sense left when it comes to our cars anyway.

[whiskychaser]

Sounds a lot. But when one of your kids is driving it, it is no contest. I wouldn't expect them to appreciate it but you can at least sleep at night

[kouks]

Sounds a lot. But when one of your kids is driving it, it is no contest. I wouldn't expect them to appreciate it but you can at least sleep at night

Trust me, my hand was quivering when the card went into the chip reader. Don't tell my wife please.

The cheapest Reman I could find was online from a company called PowertrainPlus for $1,650 shipped, but the warrantee had some exclusions and I was responsible for shipping back, blah, blah, so I passed. Autozone was actually $1850, the rest was CA communism taxes.

[ross1]

That's a tough pill to swallow but since you were going to need hard parts you don't know what you could have been in for had you chosen to do it yourself. Trans shops usually want more on top of their usual "rubber and paper" overhaul price when hard parts go south, especially if it's something they don't have on hand.
At least you know your done paying.
Can you skim the new parts you bought from your core?

[kouks]

I still have the solenoids I removed so yeah, prolly swap those back in and maybe sell the good ones here. I'd like to rip the core apart just to see what went wrong, but that may delete my core deposit. The goal will simply be to get the Reman, take car to auto hobby shop on base, and use lift to swap out trannys, May be able to do it in a day, but most likely 2 days to be sure. If I did my own rebuild it would prolly take me a month with my schedule now, and I'd have to answer the "when will you be done" question every day.

At least you know your done paying - This will never happen

[katit2]

Sorry, I will hijack this thread... I was replacing oil filter today, pulled both pans. Seems like oil service if was done - pans wasn't pulled. There was a good amount of gunk on a bottom, metal on magnet.. But I guess worst I found is this plastic piece in a small pan. What is it and how bad is it? Car drives normally, shifts OK from what I can tell. I'm not "auto" tranny pro, driving manuals all my life.

Edit: Checked eBay, seems like this is part of "thrust washer" whatever it is..

IMG_1406.jpg

[kouks]

[QUOTE=katit2;29806157]Sorry, I will hijack this thread... I was replacing oil filter today, pulled both pans. Seems like oil service if was done - pans wasn't pulled. There was a good amount of gunk on a bottom, metal on magnet.. But I guess worst I found is this plastic piece in a small pan. What is it and how bad is it? Car drives normally, shifts OK from what I can tell. I'm not "auto" tranny pro, driving manuals all my life.

Not completely sure, but there are thrust bearings and thrust washers in any auto trans, they are between the gear drums on the main drive shaft and maintain proper spacing as the whole assembly rotates. Since one of yours is failing, it will be a matter of time until the rest fails. When that happens the drum will start to rattle and not stay in proper position. If there is a thrust bearing associated with this washer, it will soon fail from the impacts. At this point, just keep driving the car, it may fail in a week, it may take months or longer, I probably would not go on any long road trips with the car. Auto trans are actually pretty tough machines, I've pulled one apart that metal shavings everywhere but was still mostly working.

You should probably start a small savings plan for a new trans if you plan to keep the car.

[katit2]

You should probably start a small savings plan for a new trans if you plan to keep the car.

I just got this car. And just finished _COMPLETE_ suspension refresh. All new rubber front and back! I plan to have this car for a while. Transmission however... I wanted to do manual swap from day one, but it's going to be learning car for my daughter so I wanted to keep this auto tranny for some time (at least a year). I guess I will drive and see what happens. Hopefully it lasts.

Picture shows set of washers. This part looks like red one on a picture.
s-l1600.jpg

[whiskychaser]

Had a quick look at the parts diagram. There is one associated with fourth gear so that is presumably the one you found in the front pan. I'd suggest that just replacing the thrust washer will result in it being broken again. Judging by the size of the lugs, it must be running off a fair bit. So perhaps a bearing is on the way out. It may last a while but I wouldn't plan any long trips with it either

[katit2]

When it fails, what will happen? Will it drive in 3rd? Plan to drive it only around town.

[whiskychaser]

When it fails, what will happen? Will it drive in 3rd? Plan to drive it only around town.

We know there will be front to back movement as that washer is missing. I doubt the input shaft will disconnect - the splines on the end are too long. So 1-3 and R should still work provided they continue to get pressure. If there is also lateral movement, the seals on 4th may be the first to go. But you could start to lose pressure to all clutches due to the end float. Given that you are going to swap it anyway, maybe just keep it local and ensure your towing cover is up to date

[kouks]

Started swapping out the trans today. QUESTION: To erase the trans adaptation codes, is it just a battery nap on the e34?



New trans oil cooler, required to stay in warantee, replaced coolant level sensor while I was at it.




New one going in in the AM

[locknload]

Pretty sure the tranny in these cars doesn't adapt, so a battery nap will reset the ECM, but not the TCM.