Questions and Answers
Shiftless Chevy Z-71 Pickup
Q. Hello. I have a 1995 Chevy Z-71 pickup, 5.7 liter, 700r4, 140,000 miles. My problem is, a few months back a friend and I replaced the intake gasket and thermostat due to an overheating problem (leak at the corner of manifold, near thermostat housing). A short time later I began to lose power to the drive train.
What happens is, I lose tachometer, speedometer, and shift indicator. The problem is intermittent, but may be worsening. (Haven't driven it in a few weeks). I did learn, however, that I could shift it manually when this happens and it seems that I have second and third gears (but no first or fourth).
Diagnostic codes show 66, 67, 81, 82, 83 Solenoid and TCC faults. The Chilton book I bought is vague, and a good honest professional mechanic is hard to find around here. (I know, cause I'm in the HVAC business and I am good, honest, and professional, but just not very trusting anymore... that's another story).
I've been told to check such things as pin connectors (for moisture, etc), vacuum lines, and cables, but I don't know physically where to look. I've read a lot of your responses over the last couple of years, and I'm sure any advice or resources you could share would be very helpful. I just want to exhaust all of my efforts before I take it to someone that will tell me it (transmission) needs to be rebuilt whether it does or not.
Should that be the case, I will drop it and take it to a guy 75 miles away that I do trust!
Thank you so much in advance, and keep up the good work.
JoelA. If you only have second and third gear, the problem is not inside the transmission. It is with the shift solenoids. I would check the TRANS fuse in the fuse box. You might have blown it while you were doing the other work. That fuse supplies power to the shift solenoids and if it is blown it will cause the problem you describe.
If the fuse is good, then check for power at the pink wire at the transmission connector. If there is no power there, then the wire from the fuse to the connector is open.
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