[angst]

Automatic transmission makes several clunks as it is coming to a stop. Trying to start from a stop it will rev and make a grinding noise and will only go when you put it into L2.
Im exhausting every possibility before going to a shop to drop thousands of dollars I don't have.
After reading old threads for a week the only possible scenarios that I can hope for are a shifter cable adjustment, or a plugged up cooler.
I just received an Edge Evolution I bought to read the trouble codes. No transmission related trouble codes found.
The Edge Evolution gives a real time readout of the transmission pressure. I have no idea what correct pressure is though. It will read 5 at idle and 30ish under light acceleration. What should normal pressure be?

 

[angst]

Anyone?
All last night on the internet and I could only find this Diesel Power Mag article and this thread which both suggest that 1st gear idle pressure should be in the 60 to 70 neighborhood.
Is the 5 to 30 reading from my Edge Evolution to be trusted? Does the Edge Programmer take the reading from the correct place?
If I was to hook up a gauge to the side of the transmission what equipment do I need? Would I simply get a threaded to hose nipple adapter from the hardware store and connect it with some poly hose to a generic pressure gauge from Harbor Freight?

If these pressure readings are accurate does that spell hope that my problem can be as simple as clogged lines? Does it suggest what internals of the transmission need attention?

Also can someone confirm that the Edge Evolution is capable of reading all the transmission codes that are available. A buddy that is familiar with what "P" codes are suggested confirming that my reader does indeed retrieve the TCM (tans. control module) codes.

 

[Jason01stroke]

have no idea what normal pressure is but it sounds like its either the converter or tranny

 

[MX_STROKER]

have no idea what normal pressure is but it sounds like its either the converter or tranny

X2 what he said.

 

[angst]

So a Torque Converter is the most likely culprit for very low pressure ? (assuming I do indeed have very low pressure)

 

[Mark Kovalsky]

It's not the converter. If it were the converter it wouldn't work in any gear.

No tool can read transmission pressure from the PCM. The PCM doesn't know transmission pressure, so it can't send out the data. All it knows is what pressure it is commanding, it doesn't know what is actually happening. You MUST use a pressure gauge to find out the pressure.

All you need is something that will go into a 1/8 NPT thread. Everything MUST be rated for a minimum of 350 PSI. Anything less is likely to burst.

 

[angst]

Where is the port itself? Is it the small 4 sided nut high and forward on the drivers side of the transmission?
Ill go hunt an 1/8th npt nipple. 350 burst strength huh? Whats the regular poly stuff rated to? Should I rig up something with an air compressor hose?
How high does my pressure gauge need to be capable of reading?
Can I use a regular "dry" gauge?

I drained the fluid last night to take a look. There was some very fine metallic glitter in it, but the fluid did not look unusually bad.
When poured through a paint strainer there were only a few particles big enough to be caught by the strainer.
bottom of the drain bucket has quite a bit of black but not really much worse than prior changes.

The Edge Evo. describes its data stream for trans. pressure as :

Transmission MAIN line pressure (this is controlled by the PCM)

Does this mean that the data stream is of what pressure the PCM is requesting as opposed to what is occurring?

Update: talked to a local rebuild shop today that seemed pretty good and that he could rebuild it for $1500. When I described my symptoms he immediately said it was the "center support" in the trans (a $60 part)
I quizzed him on what parts he used in his rebuild. He uses Daco Torque Converter, He uses Borg Warner premium rebuild kits. He also described it as the Gill Younger update kit.
I couldn't find out much about Gill Younger on the web other than it seems the he is the guy that runs Transgo.
Is Borg Warner the equivalent of the OEM? From what I remember reading here that equals junk. He said the kits were steels and not aluminum though.
Should I be reading up on the different aftermarket kits like ones that use Red Eagle brand clutches, or just drop it off with this guy and be done?

 

[Mark Kovalsky]

Where is the port itself?

It's on the driver's side, towards the front, just above the pan.

How high does my pressure gauge need to be capable of reading?

350 psi.

The Edge Evo. describes its data stream for trans. pressure as :
Does this mean that the data stream is of what pressure the PCM is requesting as opposed to what is occurring?

Yes, that's what it means. The PCM, and therefore anything reading data from it, does not know the actual pressure. It only knows what it's requesting.

Is Borg Warner the equivalent of the OEM? From what I remember reading here that equals junk.

I don't think the OEM is junk, but if you don't like it, don't use it.

Should I be reading up on the different aftermarket kits like ones that use Red Eagle brand clutches, or just drop it off with this guy and be done?

That's up to you.