c4 goes in gear but does not disengage from Park

jonlorio · Nov 6, 2011

I'm finally getting to where I can drive this thing after the resto... The c4 will not disengage from park, but it will shift into gear. With the motor running, I try to shift, and it will load the engine, but will not move. The tranny dipstick is getting pressurized for some reason, also. Please tell me these are signs of some quick, simple fix...So far I've got 10 quarts in it, and the dipstick is showing a little over full. I have the oversized B&M pan as well.

turbotim2 · Nov 7, 2011

Hmm, sounds like the rod from the shift arm to release the parking pall might be missing or not disengaging for some reason. To check would involve dropping the pan and maybe the valve body to see if it is functioning correctly.

jonlorio · Nov 7, 2011

would that cause pressure to build at the fill tube as well? My buddy just called. He checked the lines at the cooler and fluid is circulating in and out of the cooler. He pulled the drain plug and let out a few quarts bc the dip stick was showing a lil too much fluid. He noticed black and clutch material coming out of the tranny at the drain plug. Looks like this c4 will be coming out soon! Is it worth rebuilding this or should I just look for another c4 / or diff type auto?

turbotim2 · Nov 7, 2011

I am not surprised about seeing clutch material, its like holding the brakes on and giving it gas, something has to slip. I am not sure it would cause the pressure build up. The park pall is totally mechanically operated but by it locking the output it may force fluid somewhere else. I would tear down your trans, it may be a routine rebuild unless you see broken parts or damage to the case.

Rustytruck · Nov 7, 2011

Check to see if you get neutral on the transfer case. Maybe the transfer case has issues locking the front and rear in high and low range.

jonlorio · Nov 7, 2011

transfer case goes into neutral.

MooseyFate · Nov 8, 2011

I had similar issue. As you can see, the pin that goes into the side of the case wasnt staying in. When I would put it into park, the pin would pull out allowing "the plate" to get cock-eyed. It would then bind when trying to take it out of park.

jonlorio · Nov 8, 2011

Did it bind at the shifter? Mine will run through all of the gears at the column and at the shift lever on side of the case. The shifter never actually gets "stuck" in park, but the motor/trans acts as though it is shifting into gear, but also staying in park.

Perry Brady · Nov 8, 2011

Drop the pan and go through the gears. You might see an easy fix. If not, the hardest part of a rebuild is taking the trans out and putting it back in. Read the instructions on the C-4 shop manual several times before opening it up and you should be fine. If you ever thought of upgrading the tranny, now's a good time. Parts for a total rebuild are around $200.00. Good luck

jonlorio · Nov 8, 2011

So after work I spent some time removing everything in order to get the trans out. I cannot for the life of me get the driver's side crossmember bolt off. The bolt is not frozen or stripped... It is dam impossible to get a wrench on the top to hold the bolt while I zap the nut from the bottom side using a battery impact, because the J-shifter is in the way BIG TIME. What trick are yall using to remove this one bolt? Everything else is off, just have to get the one crossmember bolt out, then VOILA!

turbotim2 · Nov 9, 2011

Are you referring to the bolt that goes through the adapter and crossmember or the one on the frame bracket and crossmember? I almost wonder if it would be easier to remove the 8 bolts that hold the crossmember brackets on the frame and drop as one unit.

jonlorio · Nov 9, 2011

yes the bolt through the adapter under the flags of the transfer case.

turbotim2 · Nov 9, 2011

I think I would try to remove the frame brackets and drop the whole assembly.

crustyhorse · Nov 9, 2011

Where did this transmission come from? You stated that you just finished resto, so you do you know the history on it? Was the truck always and auto truck? If there is still a clutch pedal and remaining components I would go manual, its more fun anyway IMO!

jonlorio · Nov 9, 2011

crustyhorse said:
Where did this transmission come from? You stated that you just finished resto, so you do you know the history on it? Was the truck always and auto truck? If there is still a clutch pedal and remaining components I would go manual, its more fun anyway IMO!

Everyone has their own opinion... I prefer an auto in this truck for what it will be used for.

It was a manual before, and I switched to auto. The trans came from a member here who had it listed in the classifieds. Hindsight would have been to just go ahead and rebuild the tranny before installing it during my build, but I figured I would take the chance since I was told the tranny worked fine when it was taken out. I wish that I would have just rebuilt the tranny before installing, but we can't always make the right decisions the first time around. Lesson learned.

turbotim2 · Nov 9, 2011

Please post back when you find out what the problem was.

c4 goes in gear but does not disengage from Park

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