4EAT 2nd Gear Problems

[A1Fiddler]

My second gear in my 4EAT doesn't work. 2nd gear will almost like half-engage (in Drive) if I start it up and drive up my hill while the tranny is still cold. Other than that, it acts as if it's not there. I've been using Manual mode to get the tranny to shift from 1-3 as it would 1-2 normally, then move it into D at higher speeds. I hate having a 3-speed transmission! Any ideas? I had it checked out by AAMCO and they couldn't find anything. No codes, nothing. It feels mechanical anyways, so I'm not surprised. Could it be a blocked passageway or something? I already changed the tranny fluid and added LubeGuard ATF Protectant and it didn't change anything.

[jg09]

Wow, that's a hard call. You say it happens when the trans is cold. Does the actual temperature/weather affect it, too?

[Huffer]

Time for that tranny swap then... when you drained the old fluid did you see any shavings attached to the drain plug?

[decke48]

2nd gear is usally the band the stops the sun gear from spinning making it a so-so ratio (tranny lingo) the only parts to it are the band, acutator, band shaft, acutator rod solinod a. so think that might cause it is the band is worn out(the dont put much fricton material on these 1/16in at most) and it cant grab the sun gear to stop it or it slips, or the band is broken, the acutotor rod fell out of the assembly(usally caused by worn bands), the acutator seal is blow causing fluid to pass by and not pushing the acutator out. or the valve body seal has a leak in the gasket, solnoid a isnt working (should have a code for that) or the TCU its self has a problem..

[A1Fiddler]

Wow, sounds like it's a difficult if not impossible fix then. I guess I'll just save for a 5MT swap.

[decke48]

either $1500-2500 avg what a tranny shop cost to go into the tranny. or a used 4EAT or a swap

[jg09]

A 5MT swap is going to cost much, much more than a rebuilt auto trans. Be prepared for a lot more work to get the manual.

[decke48]

jdm wrx 4.11(v1-2) or wrx 4.44(v3-4) $1400 for tran and diff. driveshaft $100, axles $300 shifter assembly $100-300
thats $1900-2200. $300-600 for a flywheel and clucth. than labor and small wiring
plus 2,2t eat 4EAT's

[1-3-2-4]

wow that much for the band? Must be really all labor? I'm sure that's what happened to my impreza but it never effected any of the 4 forward gears it just started slipping when trying to back up... It was really bad backing up at shell and I had to back up a incline. Not worth to fix (FWD) and 162K for the millage so I just got rid of it.

[A1Fiddler]

Yeah, I'm considering selling it now and just buying another truck.

[decke48]

wow that much for the band? well a tranny shop will completely disassemble the tranny and only replace part that need to be. but you get stuck with a bill for all the parts. a tranny overhaul kit only cost $250-400. you just get stuck will lots of labor. you can rebuild the tranny in a good 4-6 hours and make sure everything is working but they over estimate the labor time. its about 15hrs for labor but they might be only working on it for 8-10hrs. thats flat rate for you