chevy suburban transmission question

tractorwheel · Jan 9, 2006

today my transmission shelled on my 2000 chevy suburban. I had no prior warnings, no sounds, knocks, or grinds. I was just driving along and all of a sudden I see the rpm gage was going nuts. Pulled off onto side road and put it in park then shifted back to reverse and to drive, but still not but reving up engine.

How could this happen? I have babied this vehicle? It just rolled 90,000 miles and it has been serviced every 3,000 miles. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif ' Can anyone offer any reasoning, advice or suggestion?

KAB · Jan 10, 2006

Looking at the bulletins for the 2000 Suburbans there appears to be a couple of bulletins for transmission problems. They are both able to be repaired. See if somebody can check for any codes. But regaurdless you would need first to find out the problem (cause of failure). That transmission is electronically controlled so it keeps everything adjusted. If you justs plan on replacing the transmission with a replacement you might never know what caused the problem. The only way to find out is a tear down.

Kurt

millsnhills · Jan 10, 2006

Be interested in knowing what you find. By the time my 96 had 160K miles on it I had re-built'd the transmisssion twice. I have always heard the transmissions just don't last that long with the suburbans (weight?).

tractorwheel · Jan 10, 2006

My husband had 2 chevy trucks (for work and play) that both had transmission problems. I thought it was because he was not taking care of them and he kept telling me he did. Now I have the chevy suburban and I have had the trans. go out on me and I know good and well that I took care of this thing.

I will get a knew tranny put in- thank you for the comments.

tractorwheel · Jan 10, 2006

I have always heard the transmissions just don't last that long with the suburbans (weight?).

All a suburban is, is a pickup with an extra seat isn't it. Is there that much more weight in it?

texbaylea · Jan 10, 2006

The problem with the transmissions is the electronic controls. The transmissions are mechanically very good but can be affected by things that have nothing to do with the transmission itself. Also Suburbans are generally used in a manner to qualify as severe service and should have transmission fluid and filter changed every 30k to 50k miles.

As an example, on my 1993 GMC diesel pickup, every so often the transmission would stop shifting as it should. It was the throttle position sensor gone bad. Once replaced the transmission worked properly. I have become very familiar with that job.

Vernon

tractorwheel · Jan 10, 2006

Vernon, do you think it may be the same with my suburban. All I know is the mechanic said my trans was toast and I needed a knew one which of course will cost just over 2,000.00

Highbeam · Jan 10, 2006

Is this a half ton suburban? If so, it has the same transmission as the half ton pickups which hasn't changed since the mid 90s. I have that tranny in my 98 half ton 4x4 pickup with 140,000 miles that works hard towing my 7000 lb trailer. I take care of it, meaning actually take care of it with filter changes and fluid changes, for all of those miles to the present day where it purrs along like new. Heck, I even have a trans temp gauge to make sure I don't overwork it.

The suburban itself is no harder on the tranny than a pickup, but the way people use a suburban as compared to a pickup is harder on the tranny.

millsnhills · Jan 10, 2006

"All a suburban is, is a pickup with an extra seat isn't it. Is there that much more weight in it? "

Well I have both a Silverado and the Suburban an besides the extra seating&body I would say the Suburban weighs a good bit more. My Suburban has a 42-43 Gallon tank compared to the 26 or so on the Silverado. Both are 4 wheel drive.

texbaylea · Jan 10, 2006

tractorwheel

The transmission may be too far gone but I would sure insist that your mechanic put a scan tool on the Subutban and check out all the Trouble codes shown. This would be insurance in case there is a more basic problem waiting.

I spent $300 for an AutoTap which lets me use my laptop as a scan tool. I initially used to check out used Suburbans as my 1990 Suburban had finally gotten unreliable. I found a good clean 2002 which I really love.

Vernon