tranny dropping gear on steep hills

[ben10]

so I have a problem with my 4r55e tranny. when Im wheeling and going up a steep hill, it will randomly drop out of gear. I cant get it into 1st or reverse. sometimes if I just rev the piss out of it, it will hop back into gear, but I dont like doing that... the fluid is pretty fresh, maybe 10k on it, and the filter was replaced at that time. I have checked the fluid, its full. what next?

 

[Rose2300]

trans is slipping. maybe a vlavebody gasket blowout, bad solenoids, or you may need a rebuild.

 

[ben10]

hmmm why would it only do it on a steep incline? on mellow hills and flats it shifts perfect.

 

[Explorin94]

By the way you describe it sounds like it is low and is sucking air on the hills. I have a question that I have to ask.....Are you cheking the fluid while it is hot or cold? It should be at running temp when checking it. And you say that the fluid is fresh.......Meaning you just changed it out along with the filter? If you did do a filter change did you get the filter for the 4X4 trans and not the 2wd trans? The 4X4 trans has a deeper snout/suction area that goes into the part of the pan the protrudes down in the middle.

 

[buzzferd]

Trans prob

Have you checked ALL the motor mounts,trans linkage, correct filter (as

mentioned) and seal where filter fits into pump/valve body?
4X4s 4ever

 

[ben10]

yes I have checked the tranny after driving for 30-40 minutes and it was running, checked in both park and neutral. I put the correct 4x4 filter on, and it looked identical to the one I took off. I have checked the linkage for play, and its all tight. I dont think its a motor mount or tranny mount issue either.

 

[Explorin94]

When you changed filters did you get the old seal off the old filter and install the new one?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I've had this happen on my 91 4x4 many times on really steep climbs. The fluid goes to the back of the pan and the trans cavitates as the pickup is no longer in the fluid.

 

[ben10]

yeah i pulled the seals off and replaced them. dont know if I should try over filling it and risk flooding the tranny or what...