1994 GMC 4l60e transmission shifting problems

300

Asked by lostsoul Jan 17, 2011 at 07:46 PM about the 1994 GMC Sierra 1500 C1500 SLT Extended Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I've got a 1994 GMC Sierra 4X4 5.7 I purchased from an older couple. It has been sitting a year. She said years ago they had tranny trouble; it would stay in low. She took it to a shop where she said they cleaned a switch and reset the computer.
After that it worked fine for a long time, then would intermittently have the same problem, then be fine. I got the truck and it wouldn't shift out of low.I pulled the pan, which was real clean, just a very light coating of gray. I changed the 2-3 solinoid, new fluid and filter.  I also noticed the speedometer wasn't working.  I then changed the speed pickup on the transfer case, which did not help the speedometer.
Now the truck will shift 1-2 manually, but when you put it in drive, it free wheels: nothing at all; no drag or anything.  The computer just checks code 12.  If you put it in drive, it stays in low.  If you put it in low and lift the handle, it will go into second immediately and when you move to drive---nothing.
Will a bad computer do this? there is no governor or TV cable on this tranny....any ideas?
Today I must have gotten my 20 minutes on the computer, because I got error code 16, which is vehicle speed buffer....!  I need to know where it is....don't even know what it looks like!
Thanks---Stuck in the 70's

49 Answers

1,250

it'sbehind the glove box. open the box,and take out the black liner with 4-7mm bolts. look for a white square flat box with 2plugs going into it. thats ur vsb. make note of the numbers on it, they make many different ones!

125 people found this helpful.
300

Where can I find one? Dealer in town can't get one! Have any on-line ideas?

30 people found this helpful.
565

sounds to me that it is the computer going cuz i replaced mine twice already and there not cheap!!!! but its worth it now cuz since i put this second one in ive never had a problem with it!!!

44 people found this helpful.
850

my tuck is doing the same thing and ur saying its not the shift sencer or anything cuz i also changed the one on the transfer case witch done nothing for me what did u really have to do to fix the problem??

85 people found this helpful.
1,270

I have a 94 Chevy Silverado 5.7 2wd 4L60e transmission. I had no head lights speed odometer quit working an trans would quit shifting out of 1st gear my diagnosis was to replace solenoid s A/b 1\2 2/3. An the TCC solenoid the signals from the power control model tells it when to shift check the Orange an yellow wire on the harness that connects to your driver side fire wall. 12volts to transmission to carry proper current

102 people found this helpful.
370

I have a 94 Chevy Silverado just used trany in it and it won't shift out makes noise going up hill

37 people found this helpful.
580

I had a similar problem a few weeks ago. Speedometer stopped working and my truck stopped shifting. I changed the speedometer censor located at the on the tail end of the transmission on the driver side. I purchased it at O'Reilly for $34

58 people found this helpful.
1,565

If you have a trans code reader and it codes 72 have a dealer check for bad selector switch. Regular code readers like a snap-on mt-2500 can read transmission data, as where other odb2 readers will not. Specialized tools are required to accurately diagnose trans problems! Leave this to the professional trans shops or GM Trained Professionals, it will get fixed faster, and cost less in the long run. Time is money, don't waste either guessing. 40 + year veteran in automotive repair.

32 people found this helpful.
640

am having problems after 71/2 years n i have 250,000 miles its sayn P0753-P0758 shift solenoid ssb n P1864 nodef n P1886 nodef , can sum one tell me what i need to do , its still running n shitn out n am driven it but seam like sumthing is holdn it back !!! can sum one tell me what i need to fix to get it straight ????

64 people found this helpful.
2,890

I have a 94 Chevy 1500 just put a tranny in and 1 and 2 nd work good but nothing in drive

136 people found this helpful.
2,890

Somebody help please it's my 3 tranny and all same issues no drive

40 people found this helpful.
2,890

I bought a new computer and rebuilt tranny still no drive

29 people found this helpful.
400

can my trans make engine to lose power when gets hot?

40 people found this helpful.
1,380

my 94 gmc 1500 is acting likr this also. its an automatic , but when i put it in drive it will not shift out of 2nd, even when i shift from first to second manually it will go from first to second gear fine, then i put it in drive or overdrive and it will not shift again. also my speed odometer is acting really funny, its flying back and forth , definately think its an electric problem

138 people found this helpful.
390

Yes that's has happen to two of my 93 Chevy Silverado 4x4 , 1 and 2 fine then free wheel in overdrive. Just change 1-2 - 3-4 solenoids first and if that doesn't work change the computer per Ebay it's the cheapest. Hope this helps JJD

39 people found this helpful.
580

I had the same problem I couldn't shift out of second and when I could my overdrive was not working so I would burn through the gas i and couldn't figure it out. But I finally looked at where the wiring went into the Trans and found out the 4x4 linkage was to close to the wiring so every time I locked 4x4 in it would hit the wiring and push the plug in the transmission causing it to leak. You have to clean out the plug going into your Trans I used wd-40, probably not the best thing but that's all I saw and then blow some air into it and lwt it dry unplug the battery for 30 mins and worked just fine. I don't not know why that 4x4 linkage is so close to the wiring ont the trans though. Oh yeah I have a 97 gmc k2500 350 4l80e

32 people found this helpful.
190

i was having problems as my trans would not shift unless i shifted manually so i changed output sensor and nothing changed so after reading hotrod333s post i also disconnected my battery for 30 min and it is all good..thanks!

19 people found this helpful.
1,200

We have the same issue with our 93 gmc sierra 1500 4x2. Wont shift into second until we let off the gas then itll shift but then theres no over drive. Ive changed the solenoids, fluid and filter and even added lucas antislip. Nothing as worked. Any suggestions. Shop says it needs to be rebuilt. I dont have $1500 to have it done and its my husbands work truck. He needs it fixed asap. Im tired of driving him around. Thanks

120 people found this helpful.
750

I have a 95 1500 Silverado 2wd and it revs very high before shifting in 1st and 2nd and sometimes in third but driving it aggressive and full throttle in the low gears it'll just bang out until you let off so I change the screen and 1-2 & 2-3 silinoid in transmission and It did fine for about 10 minutes and now its doing it again transmission is a 4l60e

75 people found this helpful.
410

I have a 1998 chevy silverado 5.7 2wheel drive was driving down freeway and all my gears went out oil good just no gears at all and no previous slipping. What could this be . Also I was told I could only use a tranny From a 98 or 99 whY's the reason

41 people found this helpful.
650

Well usually when u have gears 1 & 2 but no 3 or od the front hub in the trans needs repaired or switched out with another. May as well rebuild the whole trans or go to auto zone and get a reman for $1330.00 with exchange and a compleat 3 year warranty instead of some shops $49.00 seal kit for $1500.00

22 people found this helpful.
650

Isaac; 92-94-same. 95 is a stand alone year. 96-97 same. 98-99 same. Differances vary. Electrical hook ups .pan design. The way its read by the ECM/PCM. Servo diameter. Dust cover design etc Example: 1994 is OBD 1 with five solenoids. A 1995 is OBD 1 with six solenoids. And a 1996 is OBD 2 with six solenoids. Which forces 1995 to be a stand alone year.

31 people found this helpful.
190

It seems like my truck sits on the top of the ground and spins. Don't go in Reverse?

19 people found this helpful.
370

Will a 95 chevy truck transmission fit in a 94 GMC Sierra?

37 people found this helpful.
250

Trubadoor, 93 chey 1500 silverado, no od no one has daid anything about the brake switch witch has 3 contact's in it. one is the od. it burns out-- no od. it is locatted in the cab at the bottom of the steering collum.

25 people found this helpful.
190

Had the same problem fix the speedometer it makes the computer tell the trans to shift !i payed to learn i replaced the v.s.b.box the 1-2 3-4. Gear solinoed the transmision the computer the speedsencer. All that time i had the same problems ..the speedspencer never worked. Once i got the speedsencer working. Trans. Changes fine now

19 people found this helpful.
270

My 94 silverado was doing the same thing transmission wasn't shifting and speedometer wasn't working change the brake fuse under the dash and now truck working like it should

27 people found this helpful.
140

My 94 gmc sierra k1500 speedometer was acting up,brake light came on and it wouldnt shift into 3rd or od without slipping out of gear. Changed speedo sensor and cured all problems.

14 people found this helpful.
290

I have a 94 GMC Yukon with a 350 5.7 it'll ship go in first gear I can throw it low first and it pulls fine and I can throw it up into like changing the gears it'll go to direct me to 3rd gear and it doesn't have OverDrive but my service engine soon light is on all the time but it'll go off when it goes off the truck runs fine

29 people found this helpful.
320

I have a 1991chevy silverado 1500 4x4 wheel wheel drive transmission is on floor i was told that this is my Tranny number 700r4 and WHAT other trannys fix my truck plzzzzzzz help i I'm out of a way to go to work but need flywheel and torque converter needed to see it is the flywheel

3 people found this helpful.
320

I have a 1991chevy silverado 1500 4x4s on floor what kind of a tranny cau a 91 chevy Silverado 4x4 wheel drive transmission 700r4 use ??? And i need help i jacked up back up to where tires off the ground i and put Tranny fluid d in Tranny fluid is good cover from around flywheel is out of that be thedamn 803 put fuild in Tranny fluid is good

8 people found this helpful.
220

I have a 2000 GMC Sierra, I installed a slightly used transmission, and now the gears won't shift. What went wrong?

22 people found this helpful.
140

I HAVE A 1994 CAMERO AND I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PUTTING ANTIFEEZE IN IT IT I,WHEN WILL THE WATER PUMP START WORKING BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT SPITS IT OUT.. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

14 people found this helpful.
10

pallio__8005 did you ever get the issue fixed. as i have a 93 gmc suburban 454 does the same thing . the truck sat for over a year had minor problems. over heated got that taken care of then this happened which only started after i fixed the over heating...

1 people found this helpful.
210

I have a 94 Silverado 4x4 4L60E transmission and 241C transfer case. Started shifting hard, found that the rear main output seal went out. Replaced the seal, filled transfer case, topped off transmission, and now it won't go into reverse and driving forward will not upshift out of 1st. Any ideas?

21 people found this helpful.
190

There is a harness that runs behind your motor to your transmission. It collects grease and what not then with that and heat it eats away at the wiring harness causing the wires to short out. This is where a lot of these problems are originating.

19 people found this helpful.
220

I have a 1994 k1500 4*4.just got the tranny rebuild also new motor...I have all gears 123 but have too switch manually on the column.can the computer cause this problem?

22 people found this helpful.
100

I have a 93' Chevy GMC Series Truck 1500 4L60E Transmission that was at first not wanting to reverse at all. It would go in Drive but had no pull until I reached about 30-40 mph. Would not go into overdrive. Now It's not pulling at all and will not move.

10 people found this helpful.
390

I have a 1995 Chevy K1500 4x4 4L60e , just rebuilt the transmission completely and after I've put little over 600 miles on it and now the transmission won't shift into Overdrive unless you stop turn the truck off wait a few minutes, then start the truck back up and drive down the road, after that it'll start going into Overdrive again like nothing ever happened also another thing is it'll be very sluggish taken off from a dead stop like it's taken off in 2nd or 3rd gear. Anybody knows what could be causing this? I could realy use the help ASAP

32 people found this helpful.
50

Justin having same problem, how did you fix

5 people found this helpful.
70

I have a 96 Silverado with a 305 and a 4l60e my daughter was driving it home and she just lost all gears drive and reverse is this a tram or a sensor issue

7 people found this helpful.
30

I had the same problem gauges went out and only had 1st and 2nd ended up being the switch behind the where yhe key goes its basically the ignition switch. 5 dollar part and a 2 dollar specialty bit problem solved

3 people found this helpful.

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