94 grand prix trans issue

foxbodydave

Club Member
my uncle has a 94 grand prix with the 3100 and an auto trans. when he starts the car and puts it in gear it wont move. but as soon as the car is at 180-200 degrees it goes into gear just fine and everything works. the car has been sitting for 2 years in the garage. any clue as to what it could be??
 
you need to determine if its pumping fluid when cold. either attach a guage(on top near center 1/8 pipe plug, look it up in a manual if you need to, should have aprox 80psi@idle) or disconnect a cooler line and attach a hose into a drain pan. If it does not move forward or backwards at all when cold, its most likely not pumping fluid.
Check the fluid level before starting, see if it way over full or ?
start it and re check while running, did it drop?
 
my 94 buick almost does the same thing... when its really cold i have to wait a minute after starting before it will move... any insite would be great
 
My 95 Buick does the same thing. I have to wait a min before shifting. 185k on it though
 
there is a half a dozen things that can cause delayed engagements in the morning with a 4t60e transmission. If the delay is in reverse and forward gears, one common problem is torque converter drain back and slow converter fill. (several causes for this). One way to confirm drain back is to check the fluid level before starting. If the fluid level is 4-6" over the full mark, then its draining back into the pan. Start the engine and recheck the fluid level several times, seeing how fast it drops to normal level. bad input rings can cause slow fill (usually with a 1870 code for tcc slippage) along with worn channel casting sleeve.
1994 and 1995 models had problems with a roller clutch that fails often. The clutch was updated in late 96-1997? i think. When its going bad, reving the engine in park makes a popping sound.
Low fluid level, bad or torn filter seal, broken/cracked filter(look for smashed pan), slipping/worn fwd sprag. the list goes on and on.
Check your fluids and observe the condition. Replacing the fluid and filter does not harm anything, and should be done often. hope this info helps you.
 
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