4T60E: TSB for Valve Body R&R

1997 Pontiac Transport with 185,000 miles.

I have determined that my Pontiac minivan needs a Sonnax valve body rebuild kit. Does anyone have access to the GM TSB on Valve Body R&R?? (See below for background info.)

Thanks, Justin Koch

History.............. A month or so back, I started getting a 2-3 second squeel that sounded like a slipping belt that eventually engaged at the end of the 2-3 second squeel. I noticed the power steering was dripping onto the Serpentine belt and dismissed the problem as a slipping belt. Then on a subsequent trip down to South Carolina, the Service Engine Soon (SES) light appeared and the tranmission would no longer lock up the torque converter.

Autozone found two (2) error codes, both of which were P1870.

After surfing the web last night I found a bunch of info on the P1870 that had to do with slipping Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) problems. Most of the posts had to do with Chevy Trucks, not minivans. It appears that GM replaced cast iron their valve body with Aluminum and suffered loss of wear resistance. Apparently the valve gets worn and fails to generate proper pressure to the TCC, and causes it to slip. Last evening I pulled the PowerTrain Control Module (PCM) fuse in effort to clear the code. This didn't work, but this morning I once again experienced the 2-3 second squeel as the TCC tried to engage.

I have called the Transmission shop and they are quoting prices from $800 to $2000. I am about ready to sell the minivan for $2000-2500; hence, this sort of investment seems foolish.

Reply to
Justin Koch
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Reply to
David J and Lynne J Shepherd

Dave,

I spoke with Ray at Sonnax ( snipped-for-privacy@sonnax.com) and he recommended I seek out the TSB on the internet. Is the most risky portion of this operation hanging the engine from a cherry picker or the damage one can do once they get inside of the tranny?

Justin Koch

Reply to
Justin Koch

Actually to remove the transmission, you need an engine support bar. Do not attempt to hold it using a "cherry picker". You will strain or break the mounts that way.

Cornwell tools makes a decent one, that retails for around $100 to $150 US.

As for the damage one can do to a transmission, if you do not know what you are doing working on them, it is best to let someone who does do the job. Other then Removing or replacing the unit and filter changes, leave automatic transmission serving to people with the proper tools and experiance. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

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