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Shift Solenoid Nightmares - Please Help


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Hello all,

My car went into limp mode and I pulled the codes and had P029. I drive for work so I decided to just let a shop do it so I didnt have any unforseen problems. However I did search it so I would know what was going on when I dropped the car off.

Anyway they did the repair and when they ordered the solenoids they recieved them one at a time from the local autozone.

I got the car back and it was shifting fine for about two hours then started shifting hard going into first. This stopped for about 10 minutes and the car went back into limp mode again showing code P029.

I brought the car back to the shop and they told me the transmission was bad right away, I asked them being they did not order the kit did they put the L bracket on and they said yes and insisted the transmission either had a short or was shot and said they would have someone else come look at it.

The next day this guy came and drove it, was gone less then 5 mins and comes back and tells me the transmission is shot it can not build up enough pressure to shift into third and when it tries to it falls out and I owe him $50 for his diagnostic.......I almost smacked him.

Anyway I pulled the pan and found no bracket and one of the solenoid plugs had a broken lock tab. The solenoids both looked new but who knows. I did not see any damage though.

Like I said I can not go without the car so hoping for the best I fabricated a bracket.....well more like a quick fix to see if it would help.

I also zip tied the one broken wire to the solenoid so that I can order a new harness. I also visually inspected the other wires.

I put all back together and test drove, shifted fine no problems. Drove at all different speeds for 10 miles or so and stopped for gas. Pulling out the car goes into limp mode with code p097.

I reset the code and continued home where the car again went into limp mode but showed code p029 this time!!!

Couple questions -

Is the bracket mandatory or precaution against breakage in the future.

How much pressure comes from that filter, I used a pretty sturdy hose clamped and bolted it on same as the bracket would have. Is there enough pressure to bend a hose clamp?

Can the broken lock tab be causing this?

I am really in desperate need to fix this car, I deliver for work and have lost lots of days. I paid that shop $260 to do the job and that guy $50 not including loss of work and other expenses I am over 500 now and am in no better shape. I am kicking myself for not just ordering the kit while it was apart and putting in new solenoids and the bracket then at least I would no I dont have a defective one, but why would the code keep switching between the two.

Please Help

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Changing the solenoids is not a big deal. You need a transmission shop that knows their way around a 4T80E.

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Jim, I pretty much did the job, just no local stores had the kit or even knew what bracket I was talking about. The Cadillac dealership tried to give me the wrong solenoid so I am going to order the kit and change them and be sure it is done correctly.

Is their anything I can check/test while I have it apart so I do not have to put it all back together again before I find out if it worked or not??

I have noticed first thing in the morning it will shift thru the gears a bit until it warms up.

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There are two shift solenoids and the support bracket. The GM parts counter should be able to provide that kit using the last 8 digits of the VIN. A broken plug retainer could be causing the issue if the wiring is making an intermittent contact. The trans. is not shot if it will shift fine for a few minutes/miles and then acts up. Your shop is not being truthful and is attempting to cover up their botched repair...

I would NEVER use an Autozone part in the transmission.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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  • 2 years later...

I really wish these types of problems came to a finality, posts like this with no solution are frustrating

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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There are two shift solenoids and the support bracket. The GM parts counter should be able to provide that kit using the last 8 digits of the VIN. A broken plug retainer could be causing the issue if the wiring is making an intermittent contact. The trans. is not shot if it will shift fine for a few minutes/miles and then acts up. Your shop is not being truthful and is attempting to cover up their botched repair...

I would NEVER use an Autozone part in the transmission.

You can say that again

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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This was a 95, I am going to send the member an email to see the outcome of this for our experience base.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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I saw this and thought it a current post , but alas it isn't. I can say that I did both my 95 Eldo and my 95 Seville and it worked out great.

The Seville was put up on blocks when I got a $3,000 - $3,500 transmission shop estimate , that is until I joined here and saw a post on the selenoid issue when the Eldo's went bad......so fixed them both !!

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I saw this and thought it a current post , but alas it isn't. I can say that I did both my 95 Eldo and my 95 Seville and it worked out great.

The Seville was put up on blocks when I got a $3,000 - $3,500 transmission shop estimate , that is until I joined here and saw a post on the selenoid issue when the Eldo's went bad......so fixed them both !!

That is terrific. Give us any tips and advice you learned doing the job

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just really keep everything clean. Keep track of the small check balls and where they came from. Be methodical , and clean. Make sure you get the nice flat gasket that is not all folded up. when I went to do the Eldo , the first gasket they got for me was folded up , different supplier I guess, told them to keep it , and re-ordered another.I actually think the one set-up came with the flat gasket, and the scavenger screens. Ordered the 2 selenoids and bracket off of fleabay , no issues............ I also usually take a piece of cardboard and punch holes in it mimiking the bolt patterns and take one out at a time and sick in the hole in the cardboard when taking things apart.

How do I add some pictures to this ?Is it possible or does it have to be my post originally ?

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You can open an account at photobucket.com upload the photos there and then link them here using the image choice and paste here. That will get you around the 100K limit here.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here is a good photo of the shift solenoid kit with the bracket.

31E6ZwBRV6L._SY400__zpsgfmh5rpx.jpg

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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