LS 400 How to replace transmission solenoid??
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
LS 400 How to replace transmission solenoid??
I have a 1998 LS 400
I've gotten underneath the car and removed the transmission fluid pan. I'm not sure how to remove the solenoids after that point, I can see them clearly but also looking at them I can't see any obvious ways to remove them. The connectors plugged into the solenoids also don't budge when I pull on them. Specifically I'm removing the Lock Up solenoid, does anyone know how I can remove solenoids in this car?
I've gotten underneath the car and removed the transmission fluid pan. I'm not sure how to remove the solenoids after that point, I can see them clearly but also looking at them I can't see any obvious ways to remove them. The connectors plugged into the solenoids also don't budge when I pull on them. Specifically I'm removing the Lock Up solenoid, does anyone know how I can remove solenoids in this car?
#5
Racer
When I did my lockup solenoid, I had to remove the transmission filter and then there was a 10mm bolt that held in a bracket, securing the solenoid and the one adjacent to it to the transmission. You'll have to slide it out of the housing as well once you get the 10mm bolt off.
#6
When I did my lockup solenoid, I had to remove the transmission filter and then there was a 10mm bolt that held in a bracket, securing the solenoid and the one adjacent to it to the transmission. You'll have to slide it out of the housing as well once you get the 10mm bolt off.
#7
Driver
Thread Starter
I've noticed it take me 10 seconds to shift from reverse to drive, after a 10 second wait, the car shifts. The shifting action itself is smooth but it takes 10 seconds for it to start. I got a bluetooth scanner and it gave me a error code for the Shift Solenoid SLU.
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LS400FAN (02-25-19)
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#8
Have you changed it out yet? And if so, did it help? I saved all my solenoids from my bad transmission when I swapped it out. It didn't seem like it would be too hard to change them out underneath the car.
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LS400FAN (02-25-19)
#9
jaaa....if you get the time could you share your experience swapping out your tranny? Such things like yr and mileage of your LS, and what issues were you having with it at the time, and how big of a job was it for you? Thanks.
#10
I was 67 years old when I did this so I think it took me a total of around three days with all the fumbling around I did. Had help from a neighbor when the time came to drop it and install it(he maned the jack as I guided it in and out). No doubt a young person with greater knowledge than me could have done it a lot faster. But, I think most of the neighborhood betting was against my actually getting this to work!
#11
Last edited by jaaa; 02-25-19 at 04:54 PM.
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LS400FAN (02-26-19)
#13
Just for fun, I tore the transmission apart to look at it. I found what looked to me like bearings that had high temps for long periods of time. I harvested all the solenoids, but never found a cause for the leak, but then again, I'm just a duffer with almost no knowledge about transmissions. And yes, it was quite a kick to see the wheels spinning when I fired it up while it was still up on jack stands.
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LS400FAN (03-08-19)
#14
Just for fun, I tore the transmission apart to look at it. I found what looked to me like bearings that had high temps for long periods of time. I harvested all the solenoids, but never found a cause for the leak, but then again, I'm just a duffer with almost no knowledge about transmissions. And yes, it was quite a kick to see the wheels spinning when I fired it up while it was still up on jack stands.
That is interesting about the bearings. Those bearings are very very hard. I haven ever seen them damaged. You would almost have to run it in a lack of fluid situation for a while. How far down into the case did you go and which bearing(s) did you find burnt?
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LS400FAN (03-08-19)
#15
Well done on the trans R&R jaaa. That's not an easy job for anyone to do by themselves. If you were having a big leak from the converter seal you really have to replace the seal AND converter. The sealing surface on the converter is usually grooved and will forever leak with a new seal. The input seal is also pretty fun to replace with the pump in the trans as the input shaft is stuck through it. You have to get creative with pulling the seal out and be very careful not the mar any of the soft aluminum on the pump. Personally, if I were to replace the seal on a known good trans, I would remove the pump and disassemble it to drive the seal out from the rear. I could do that much faster than replacing the seal as it sits in the trans all together.
That is interesting about the bearings. Those bearings are very very hard. I haven ever seen them damaged. You would almost have to run it in a lack of fluid situation for a while. How far down into the case did you go and which bearing(s) did you find burnt?
That is interesting about the bearings. Those bearings are very very hard. I haven ever seen them damaged. You would almost have to run it in a lack of fluid situation for a while. How far down into the case did you go and which bearing(s) did you find burnt?