What can I spend $1,462.89 on...Why a new transmission!!

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:03 pm

(edited title to clear up the fact that I no longer have the $1400)

The Mystery lift? No, no flares for the rear of blazers yet.

A new stereo - nah, I don't need much bump anymore.

The superlift 6" - nope, I don't want the headache that some appear to have had with it.

Nope - today I had to buy a new transmission.

Yep - 56K miles and my truck quit going in reverse, and would barely upshift.

the fun continues.....[/b]

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:33 pm

just buy some tranny fluid

ludwis · Post by **ludwis** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:16 pm

You can make a donation...my friends call me ca$h

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:16 pm

Unfortunately, it had plenty.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:31 pm

What did they say the problem was?

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:27 pm

I described the issue, and he stated that it sounded like something he called a "star housing" that was torn up. Says that what ever it was that goes on these, then causes increased pressure on the lines and usually you'l get a check engine light (like I had been intermittently for the past few weeks) and it will start shifting harder (I had noticed that as well- thought it was me getting a little more torque out of my new catalytic converter) and eventually something in the internals lets go. He said he was surprised that it was still driving in forward gear.

I don't know transmissions past a torque converter - internally, I don't ever plan on tearing into one.

Had the truck in at 9am, had it back with a new/remanufactured transmission and a 1 year warranty by 1pm.

BADs Crew · Post by **BADs Crew** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:40 pm

Had you ever had the tranny serviced before? Like fluid or filter change?

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:36 pm

No services that I'm aware of - I'm the second owner, but I've haad it since it had 16K on the clock.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:40 pm

adrenalnjunky wrote:I described the issue, and he stated that it sounded like something he called a "star housing" that was torn up.

Are you talking about the sun shell? Usually when this goes you lose reverse, 2nd, and 4th gears. The splines on the sun shell are usually what fail.

Did you have a new 4L60E put in by a GM dealer? If you did then it should have either a 3 year/100k mile warranty on Goodwrench transmissions or a 1 year/12k mile warranty on GM Parts Service transmissions.

Steve

Blaze One · Post by **Blaze One** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:22 pm

well that sucks , i know what it feels like the tranny in my blazer went at 80000miles . but atleast you have a better warrenty , mine only had a 6mo warrenty .
also , mine is making metalic clunky sound when shifting from 1st to 2nd when slowly accelerating . So take good care of the new tranny .

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:16 am

killian96ss wrote:
adrenalnjunky wrote:I described the issue, and he stated that it sounded like something he called a "star housing" that was torn up.
Are you talking about the sun shell? Usually when this goes you lose reverse, 2nd, and 4th gears. The splines on the sun shell are usually what fail.

Did you have a new 4L60E put in by a GM dealer? If you did then it should have either a 3 year/100k mile warranty on Goodwrench transmissions or a 1 year/12k mile warranty on GM Parts Service transmissions.

Steve

That's it - I knew I wasn't saying the right thing earlier.

No - my trans was replaced by a local trans specialist, not GM - My dealer wanted over $2K for the job if they had to replace everything.

That has to be it cause the truck wouldn't upshift properly - I would have to just about redline it in 1st and then let of the gas for it to shift - and when it did shift, then it would lug if you weren't going fast enough, and drop back down to 1st. Even on the highway. Had to drive it around like there was an egg under the gas pedal.

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:54 am

The tranny in my Jimmy was replaced by the dealer at 38k because of a sun shell failure.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:02 am

I know it's common to see the 4L60E fail behind V-8's in the Camaros and Impalas, but I'm shocked that our little V-6's have enough power to also cause damage. The 4L60E can be a great transmission if it's built properly. Personally I wish my Impala and my Crew had the 4L80E which is basically like a TH400, but with overdrive. I highly doubt we could break one of those even with the raw power that our Crew Cabs have.

Steve

1337vending · Post by **1337vending** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:13 pm

Speaking of 4L60E's failing behind V-8's in Camaros...the one in mine died...right after i bought the car too! Apparently some !#*!$%* clamped a vise down on the driveshaft tube to change the u-joints, causing an imbalance

and tore up the rear bearing. It wasn't too bad to change the trans myself, but i did have the help of a lift

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 2:58 pm

heh - I helped a buddy install a high performance torque converter in his firebird - no lift, just jackstands. Was a royal pain trying to get to those bolts on top of the trans housing - had to get 2 36" long 1/2" drive extensions and go in from way back.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:47 pm

I know it's only a matter of time before the 4L60E in my SS dies. I currently only have 54k miles on it, but my car is heavy and I drive it hard. When it does go I will probably get one of the new 4L60E Extreme Street Fighter transmission from TCI. They are rated @ 600 hp, which should work just fine.

Steve

coffeedrnkr · Post by **coffeedrnkr** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:31 pm

Mine is starting to go out again. I had mine replaced at 55ish and now I am at 75k and my reverse grinds if I get on the gas hard in reverse. (kinda my fault though...I am sure I broke it on one of my offroad trips....

)

I am just going to try to drive mine for maybe another year b/c I will have been through my transmission class in auto tech. then I can rebuild it myself!!!!!!!

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:04 pm

TCI is in Ashland, Miss - sweet - I can drive there and pick my next one up

Ack!!! 3 grand for a trans though - and that's just the Streetfighter model - I don't se an application for the 4.3 in the Super Streetfighter.

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 7:40 pm

I am sincerely starting to believe that ignorance is bliss

I did nothing to my 97 ZR2 except oil changes, 1 alternator, learned to use my trip odometer, one set of tires, plugs and wires. At 65k there was nothing wrong, other than the fuel gauage! A dealer employee was in my rig before the ink dried. The more I see members try to baby their Crews the more stuff seems to fail

I recall some ridiculous study from the 70s that the more a car is washed and waxed that the odds increase that it will be involved in an accident. Maybe only Barch will see my resoning here but, the bottom line seems to evade me.

Would welcome any opinion.

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:20 pm

My 89 S-15 Jimmy went 230K mikes with nothingmore than a heatercore, new motormounts, one front brake caliper, one set of rotors, a new radiator, and replaced the steering idler arm once.

Some little stuff here and there, but it was a damn solid truck - even was one of the rarer models with the all digital dashboard, and mine never developed issues like most of them did (It did create a wicked amount of RF interference for my high end stereo components).

JimmyDiamond · Post by **JimmyDiamond** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:06 am

I drove my 1991 Lincoln Mark 7 from 1991 to 2000. I waxed it almost monthly and was very #### about everything on the car and when I sold it in 2000 with 134k all I had done to it besides tires and brakes was replace the battery, alternator and one door lock actuator. That was by far the best car I've ever owned. I've been driving new GM crap since 1999 and every GM I've bought has needed various repairs, luckily all were under warranty! I'm to the point now, with the exception of the Jimmy, that I trade before the warranty is gone.

killian96ss · Post by **killian96ss** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:53 pm

adrenalnjunky wrote:Ack!!! 3 grand for a trans though - and that's just the Streetfighter model - I don't se an application for the 4.3 in the Super Streetfighter.

For the S10 you would need a 4x4 transmission like TCI's Truckmaster transmission. The 2 I see that would probably work would be part # 371416, 00-02 LS1 truck 4x4, $2200 from Summit, or part # 371430, 98-00 4x4 Vortec, $2100 from Summit. Another option would be to send them your transmission and have it built the way you want, but that's usually how you get into the $2500-$3500 range with these transmissions.

Steve