Hi, I hope someone can help me, you guys are awesome so I know you will be able to help me. I thought this morning since it was going to be a nice sunny day, I would take my car to work today. I checked the oil, tire pressure, started it up and backed out of my driveway and was on my way. I thought, I feel so awesome driving my car and I havent taken it out much so I just went for a short drive and thought, Timmies for a coffee would be nice, I will just back this show piece in a spot and head in. I pull up, go forward a bit and go to back in, my car was not cooperating, I thought, what's up with this, no reverse? Forward gears worked but I was now in a position that unless I wanted to drive forward through the flower bed and tear off my oil pan, I had to back up. But no, not going to happen on this fine day. I put it in neutral and stuck my foot out the door and pushed it back enough to avoid the flower bed. I though wow, this is crazy but I better take it home and get the explorer instead. I had planned to back it into my garage but by myself and with having armstrong steering that was not going to happen. Now my car is in my garage and unless you fabulous forum members have some ideas as to what my problem is, it isn't going anywhere soon. HELP me please. P.S. I have a C4 tranny that has been rebuilt and maybe has at the most a thousand miles on it.
Sorry to hear about your delemma. It sounds to me like a linkage isue, but I am not an expert. Paul S. would be the one to hear from on this problem. You do have a floor shifter on it, don't you? I don't know if there are any vacume lines that effect reverse or not. PAUL!
Linkage or low reverse band/servo issue. Not likely linkage if park through drive is OK. Not much involved in reverse on a C4. Probably have to go to trans shop for repair.
Tranny problem: Sorry to hear of your problem. "Who" rebuilt the transmission ? If its a shop take it back to them and ask them to make it right .. If its a friend, I'd still ask them to look it over again and correct the problem. Cometized
Linkage is definitely in the equation but don't forget to look at the fluid level too. Weird things have been known to happen when tranny's run low on fluid. (at least to me)
Take it to a transmission shop, they can adjust the linkage, or see whats going on. If it's a floor shift car, it's easy for them to move out of adjustment.
I would be willing to bet that the reverse servo is ruptured. It is a common problem with the C4 with so many years on them. You can replace the rear servo without removing the transmission. First get your parts - pan gasket, rear servo piston and seal assembly, rear servo cover seal (its a square cut o-ring) get six to eight quarts of fluid (type "F") and a yube of Loc-tite or Permatex #518 sealant. You don't have to drain the transmission but it might be easier than fighting the oil. If you don't want to drain the fluid then jack the back of the car higher than the front to keep as much oil in the transmission as you can. Tighten the rear band to 10 foot pounds (it will keep the band links in place when you remove the servo piston). Remove the four bolts that hold the rear servo cover in place (be sure to have your drain pan under the servo and that you are out of the way) the spring pressure on the servo piston will likely push the cover off for you. The piston may or may not come easily but when it comes there will be a half-pint of oil that comes with it. It does pull straight out but with oil behind it you can have some difficulty with them. Once you get the old piston out, clean the mounting surface on the case and the angled seal surface. Clean the old seal ring off the cover. Coat the new cover seal liberally with some 518 sealant and place it on the cover - make sure it doesn't twist. Lubricate the new piston seal and shaft with some Vaseline. Put the spring on the piston shaft and insert it into the case. To install the cover use a couple of pieces of 5/16" coarse threaded rod and nuts to get it in place far enough that you can start the four bolts. Put the two in that you can then remove the threaded rod and install the other two. Tighten them evenly so you don't pinch the cover seal and then torque to 18 foot pounds - or good and snug. back off the adjuster 3 turns and tighten the locknut. All thats left is refilling the transmission and cleaning up your mess. If you take it to a shop they will tell you that they have to remove the transmission to replace it and then they are likely to tell you that you need a complete rebuild because they found such and such in your pan. I suggest you fix it yourself.
How long ago did the tranny shop have it? Less than 1000 miles should warrant some consideration from the shop unless it has been more than a couple of years. Even then I'd sure go and talk with them. If they give you enough info that leads to PaulS's tip hold em to doing the right thing.
This is why I always replace all the wear parts in a transmission when I rebuild them. Bushings - "they never go bad", Thrust washers - "if they look good they are probably OK", front band - "If it doesn't have a lot of wear reuse it", rear servo piston and seal - "If its not torn use it" I have heard that from customers and bosses and it doesn't fly with me. If it wears replace it! well almost - I don't replace the rear band unless it is past the half-way point on the adjuster. I do use reconditioned/remanufactured pumps because new parts aren't available. Just about everything else can be replaced.
Just give Jimmy a call ,he will get it fixed for ya for free,parts and labour with NO strings attatched .
