chevy suburban transmission question

[texbaylea]

tractorwheel

I am always suspiscious of mechanics that say "oh you need a new one". In fact I don't trust very many mechanics and have always done all of my own work up until recently but my back is getting bad enough that auto work is hard but I still diagnose the problem before I call the mechanic.

If I were you I would talk to another shop and look into rebuild of your transmission if you can spare the time. 4L60E transmissions are not all that hard to rebuild if you have the tools.

Vernon

 

[Tx_Firefighter]

I used to be a dealership mechanic before a career change.

I saw plenty of VSS's fail and cause the same symptoms.

The VSS is the vehicle speed sensor. If it fails, the truck's computer doesn't know how fast the truck is going, so it disengages the transmission, since it wouldn't have any idea what gear to put it in.

Fix was simple and cheap.

 

[tractorwheel]

Yes, it is a 1/2 ton suburban. I too have always had the oil changed, you know 'serviced' when it should have been.

Oh well..."Maybe this thing was built on a Monday?" haha

 

[tractorwheel]

Tx Firefighter: I am going to call my mechanic in the a.m., I don't want to go assuming that he knows about this.

To everyone else: Thank you so much for your posts! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AL_Josh]

I have a 97 Chevy 1500. It has the 4L60e transmission in it. I had to rebuild it at 100,000 miles for $1000 and then at 129,000 miles for $1700 So I am on my third transmission. I have never really towed anything beyond its limits. The first time it was rebuilt it had a "durability shift kit" put in it. Suppose to make the shifts firmer for less slippage. also allowed for more flow throught the valve bodies.

The first time it was a combination of shift selonoids and a gear. It was shifting so hard from 1 to 2 it would chirp the tires. The second time a ring gear went out.

I personally will probly pay for a new transmission if it happens again. When they rebuild them they pull parts like gears from transmissions they have in shop. So you pay for good money for used parts that have seen just as many miles possibly as the transmission you have being rebuilt. I would buy a new truck but this one is paid for.

So this is just somehthing to think about. Good Luck!

 

[Highbeam]

You can purchase brand new GM transmissions for less than 2000$. I want to say 1700$ for that brand new 4l60e with a warranty from GM. If you got 100,000 out of the first one there is no reason to get less out of the second. It is just like buying a crate motor from them which, by the way, also costs about 1700$ for the vortec 350.

 

[RonR]

I have 125K on mine and its still original engine/transmission. The body is starting to show its age (1995), but it is paid for, so I will likely do a crate engine and new tranny if/when either die.

It's too nice a road beast, and newer ones are SO EXPENSIVE, I hope to drive it another 100K.

ron

 

[Hambone]

Been a couple days. Figure anything out? Get a second opinion?

I agree with the GM transmission route. But get yours checked out first by a competent mechanic.

 

[tractorwheel]

I talked to my mechanic about the VSS that was mentioned in another post. I was told that if it was the Vehicle Speed Sensor then my gauges and things would be going crazy also. So anyhow, I was convinced after a longggg decussion that it was definately my transmission. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

My mechanic did tell me he did not feel he could do the repair for what the chevy dealership would at 2,000 so he towed it there for me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gifOn that note I think he wasn't after my money since he towed my sub. to the dealership for me. ??? Otherwise, if I had time I could've shopped around, but time is money and I need my vehicle quickly- today is Friday and I have been told they have 2 hrs. left before completion. Dealership mechanic does not work on weekends so I can't pick it up until Monday afternoon. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif (geez, I work on weekends because I like money /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

 

[Dargo]

I am in the business, so to speak. Here is one of the suppliers I have used a few hundred times for replacement transmissions over the years. Actually, here is a link directly to the exact transmission you would need assuming that your Suburban is a 4X4 and a 1/2 ton GM 4L60E 4WD 00-04 If I didn't get the model right, navigate around until you find exactly what you need. If you can do the swap yourself, you will have a new dyno tested transmission with a 12/12,000 warranty for well under $1000 done. If you have to pay someone to do the swap, you will have about $1400 in the deal with the same 12/12,000 warranty.

Their transmissions are dyno tested and reliable. We had a guy who had over 500hp in his modified Suburban and they built one to handle what he had for less than what his local transmission shops were going to charge for a simple rebuild. My 3500 Dodge's Cummins puts out 460 hp and has 1150 ft. lbs of torque. I can lay down 4 (it's a dually) black marks for a hundred yards or so, and my transmission takes that no problem. That, and I pull 15k on a trailer behind me like it's nothing. Try that with your standard rebuilt unit!

If you can do the swap yourself, you can have one heck of a setup for under a grand total. If not, you can still pay a shop to do the swap for you and still come out way ahead of the game. Being that I see a couple hundred transmission jobs a year, I'm more likely to use a manufacturer of the rebuilds than have a local shop do the rebuild. The quality level varies considerably between your local rebuild shops as to where your quality level where I posted a link to stays at a constant. Good luck!!