So I un-installed and re-installed everything today. I read several threads on the proper installation of this kit, and also checked the GM 4t65e service guide to ensure proper install. I am certain that I installed this kit correctly, an I am unfortunately the victim of a 1/1000 chance of something else going wrong at the same time as the install of the kit.

From what I have read, it looks like the most common reason for no reverse on this transmission is either a blown seal on the reverse servo piston, or the reverse servo piston pin not being properly aligned onto the band. I know that the piston pin should be aligned correctly, and I never even touched the reverse servo.

So I'm guessing, completely guessing here, that the problem is the a blown seal on the reverse servo piston. I've got two ideas why I think this may have happened during the servicing of the transmission/install of the shift kit.

1. I went from a pure petroleum based fluid to a semi-synthetic. I'm thinking this may have "shocked" the tranny and taken out an already failing seal.

2. I drained the tranny and let it drip for hours. the vast majority of the fluid was removed. When I was filling the tranny back up, I initially added 6 quarts of fluid. While stopped with my foot on the brake, I shifted through all the gears, staying in each gear for 10 seconds. I did this to ensure fluid got back into all the nooks and crannies of the transmission. I'm wondering if the reverse servo piston was dry, even for a second or two, if it could have blown the seal, or been the death nail in an already failing seal.

Any thought/Ideas? THANKS!

Garagerog,

Even though I am having issues, I recommend this kit. I seem to be the only one having any issues, and even with my problems, it is now shifting great (going forward!) with no more hard shifts.

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So I found the above plastic part in my drip pan after I double checked the work from the install of my shift kit. I didn't mention it earlier, because my 5 year old was out with me and figured he dropped it in there- I couldn't see anywhere at all where it belonged under the tranny. I searched high and low through all the 4T65e schematics and could not find this as a part anywhere, especially from the area near where I performed the shift kit install. I found this part last weekend- Still no reverse, still shifts great going forward. Yesterday, I pulled the Reverse Servo, and the seal was fine. I went ahead and replaced it with the long-lip style seal, since I had it and the piston was already removed. So, a bad seal on the Reverse Servo piston did not solve the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas? Any clue as to what and/or the significance of this tiny plastic part may be?

Im trying to find my extra filter/kit to see if it came with a plastic plug that would have gone into the end of the new filter.....Maybe ur son dropped it in there..??

Well that'* what in actually hoping for! Much better to have him drop something in the drip pan than for it to fall out of the transmission! It does look like a plug of some sort.... Still perplexed with the no reverse. I've reached my mechanical ability, I think I'm going to have to take it to the transmission shop ( swallowing my pride!!)

I also just noticed yesterday while rotating my tires that my steering wheel isn't locking while no keys in/ignition off/in park. I was jacking up one side of the car and the wheels starting turning, which is the only reason I noticed. This could have been like this for a while, or it could be new. This is most likely an entirely different issue, but just throwing it out there is case there might be some tie-in to having no reverse. My linkage is fine, all gears and park work properly and in their proper place on the gear selector.

With my AC Delco Filter Kit, it came with a plug kind of like that, but it was black, and did not have those ridges of whatever on the outside of it, that makes it look like something that does not go flush into whatever it is it goes into, so I don't think it is that plastic plug for the transmission filter.
That was the only thought I had on it though, I am no transmission guy so I am clueless.

Sooooo... Ummmm... Filters come with plugs in them? Uh-oh. I didn't remove anything from the filter end tube before installing. Would this have been a black plug on a black filter and easily missed?