904 Not Engaging

[JedIEG]

I went to pull my Satellite out of the garage and it would not move. No feeling of engaging in reverse or drive. Since it's in the garage I don't want run it long enough to check the trans fluid warm but when I checked it cold the fluid was down below the add line about 1/4". Would that level of low fluid really cause a no engagement? I assumed it would slip in gear first and I have not lost much transmission fluid since last time I moved it.

My other thought: I have been fighting with a no start issue where the safety switch was not grounding so I have been working on the manual shift linkage. I pull up on the shift shaft to get continuity on the ground and am concerned I have pulled the lever up far enough to disengage the manual shift lever from the valve. Is that even a possibility?

 

[Aeronet]

You can check it cold. Start it, run through the gears, put it in neutral and check. If the level is good it should read Add One Pint.

 

[493 Mike]

I went to pull my Satellite out of the garage and it would not move. No feeling of engaging in reverse or drive. Since it's in the garage I don't want run it long enough to check the trans fluid warm but when I checked it cold the fluid was down below the add line about 1/4". Would that level of low fluid really cause a no engagement? I assumed it would slip in gear first and I have not lost much transmission fluid since last time I moved it.

My other thought: I have been fighting with a no start issue where the safety switch was not grounding so I have been working on the manual shift linkage. I pull up on the shift shaft to get continuity on the ground and am concerned I have pulled the lever up far enough to disengage the manual shift lever from the valve. Is that even a possibility?

The selection lever shaft that extends up thru the case is retained by a snap ring in a groove on the throttle pressure actuating cam. The snap ring, if missing, possibly could let the shaft come up enough to release it from the manual valve. I have never seen the situation or heard of it happening. To test push and pull the throttle pressure cam shaft up and down. There should be no movement if the snap ring is OK. Next check is pressure tests. Good luck.
Mike

 

[66Satellite47]

As Aeronet said, check it cold. Start, go through all gear positions, check while running, should be slightly below "normal". If you have questions about gear selector adjustment, check it. Disconnect the linkage from the valve body lever, manually put the lever in the neutral position, then put the shifter in neutral position, the linkage should drop in smoothly don't force. If it's OK, move the shifter to reverse, the linkage should come out smoothly, not forced. Adjust the linkage rod to get the lever position to match in each shifter position. Might be the problem, don't cost nothing.

 

[JedIEG]

Thank for the feedback guys. The fluid was a little low but not too bad. Unfortunately the NAPA I ordered curb side pickup at for a few quarts of atf closed at 3 instead of 6 so I was out of luck with getting fluid to try adding some.

In the mean time I drained off the fluid so I could pull the neutral safety switch to check and found I couldnt put the trans in park now. Looking through the switch opening it looked like the shift valve was not with the lever, so I just pulled the pan and sure enough...

 

[JedIEG]

The selection lever shaft that extends up thru the case is retained by a snap ring in a groove on the throttle pressure actuating cam. The snap ring, if missing, possibly could let the shaft come up enough to release it from the manual valve

For the record 493 Mike, you where dead on. The snap ring on the throttle pressure shaft was missing. I didnt get the seal for the shaft seated correctly when l replaced it this winter and the clip must have not seated in the groove. That caused issues with the neutral safety switch not grounding and the lever popping off the valve. There is a lot more play in this 904 than the 518 I have sitting on my bench.