TH400: doesnt shift into gear at cold start

[kikkegek]

recently the temperature over here goes down to around freezing at night and during the day it is only about 50F.

I dont know if it is just a coincidence but ever since the temperature dropped, our Burb does not shift immediately into gear after a cold start in the morning.

You'll have to waite a little, 2-3minutes, and then it will shift into gear and it drives fine all day. No more problems. Just the first time.

We park in front of our house on the curb (yes, small streeths in the Netherlands) which tilts the car a little to the left or right, depends on how you park it.

NOW: could it be that the small tilt AND the cooler weather cause a just too low oil level to kick it into gear? or is tilt compensated someway in this transmission?

[dmwphoto]

sounds like one or more bad seals on the input shaft. Probably gonna need an ohaul to repair it. Check the fluid level for sure but I think that is not your issue.

[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by dmwphoto

sounds like one or more bad seals on the input shaft. Probably gonna need an ohaul to repair it. Check the fluid level for sure but I think that is not your issue.

thanks for you reply, but wouldn't it loose oil if I had some bad seals? because It hasn't lost a drop in over 5000 miles.

[dmwphoto]

no, these are internal seals that hold the pressure you need for it to shift. once it warms they can expand enough to seal the pressure and therefore you can feel it shift into gear once warm. they are split seals that go into grooves on the input shaft.

[Moostifer]

Originally Posted by dmwphoto

sounds like one or more bad seals on the input shaft. Probably gonna need an ohaul to repair it. Check the fluid level for sure but I think that is not your issue.

x2.... first thing that came to mind

[babyJay]

I've never had any luck trying to use those "miracle fix in a can" stuff like transX or whatever, but it hasn't been from lack of trying.

[kikkegek]

okay guys! thanks for the advise.

but could it be that it does not shift into gear because the car is tilted? causing a strange oil level in the tranny? or is the design of the tranny fixed for this?

[motornut]

well i've tried the dura-lubes in both the engine and tranny stuff and years later can say it was worth it.but make sure the tranny is full,and check it warm not cold,and the colour,red

[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by motornut

well i've tried the dura-lubes in both the engine and tranny stuff and years later can say it was worth it.but make sure the tranny is full,and check it warm not cold,and the colour,red

sounds good! but what does this dura-lube do? I am not familiair with it.

[motornut]

it's a "quick fix"
https://www.duralube.com/

[kikkegek]

okay, I filled it up to MAXed out. It was in HOT when I checked, but now I made sure it was up to the top of HOT.

Now it seems to shift into gear every morning.

I think I am going to replace the filter. Any idea what a filter costs?

[GmtGmt]

use www.rockauto.com they are great services and prices

[3r!c84]

a filter and gasket kit its like 10$ at any auto part store

[kikkegek]

made some photos of the bottom of my car this afternoon. Lots of oil. Seems like my engine is lossing oil somewhere, because is is brownisch of color and not red like the ATF.

To bad I dont have a oil drain plug in my oil pan yet. Can I add this myself?

Can I change the oil myself with the car just standing on its 4 wheels? Or do you need to lift it to do this? I have never done this before.

I think I an leaking engine oil somewhere, because the oil that is everywhere is brownisch.

What sensor is this??


is it OK that this wire runs over the trans like this?


gasket does not look like it has been changed this summer? does it?


This gasket has been changed this summer. The difference is very clear.


What is this? and can it hurt that it is so greasy?


another photos


another photo

[3r!c84]

Drop the pan and drain it out. It's kind of messy but it works. And yea do it on te ground
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[swampfox]

Does the trans have a whining noise ? My th 400 was sucking air around the o ring on the filter ,which caused it not to move untill the fluid warmed up.

[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by swampfox

Does the trans have a whining noise ? My th 400 was sucking air around the o ring on the filter ,which caused it not to move untill the fluid warmed up.

nope! no strange noise at all.

I am gonna change the filter and oil this weekend. If I can find the courage. And hopefully the weater is better then it is now:
- hail
- rainshowers
- temperature at night drops already below freesing...can you believe it!

[motornut]

check the valve covers for your engine oil leak,maybe around the back of the covers
the oily part your worried about,(for shifting)has a little rubber bit of hose best to replace this bit
for a good seal,the oil will break down the rubber
(looks like it has a wire tie down holding it?)
and i would say the trannys been opened recently by the lack of oil and dirt on it,and newish gasget
kinda looks like it might have been painted (i think i see brush strokes on the pan)
that wire could be an electric kickdown switch( not sure tho)
is there some switch by the carb,connected to this wire?

[dmwphoto]

Looks to me like you are leaking trans fluid pretty bad especially around the modulator valve in your pic. Brown fluid could still be trans fluid that is old or burnt
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[lucjensen38]

2 questions kinda related to trannys. Looking at buying a GMC C25 truck,8 lug wheels,2 wheel drive,has 4.8 liter L6 engine. Has automatic but is it a TH400 or TH350? And 2,how much "could" I tow with this setup? I'm up in iowa,looking to drive down to texas or somewhere south and tow a 1974 caprice 2 door coupe,weighing roughly 5,000 lbs on a roughly 3,000 lb trailer. Would it work?
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[kikkegek]

Originally Posted by lucjensen38

2 questions kinda related to trannys. Looking at buying a GMC C25 truck,8 lug wheels,2 wheel drive,has 4.8 liter L6 engine. Has automatic but is it a TH400 or TH350? And 2,how much "could" I tow with this setup? I'm up in iowa,looking to drive down to texas or somewhere south and tow a 1974 caprice 2 door coupe,weighing roughly 5,000 lbs on a roughly 3,000 lb trailer. Would it work?
Posted via Mobile Device

what does this have to do with this topic? I think you would be better of opening a new topic on this subject?

[kikkegek]

For whoever is interested.

I found this partly manual of the TH400:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...remlin/TH-400/

Because of lack of time, I am gonna bring the car to the garage thursday or friday. I'll check back to tell you guys how it ended.

In the mean time I found out that I am 99,9% sure that the transmission oil and filter have not been changed since the car came to the Netherlands.

Since I don't know when the previous owner did this for the last time, I'll have them check that, just to make sure.

[kikkegek]

CASE SOLVED!

We had the tranny oil and filter replaced and the problem at cold start is gone.

me=happy!