Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

[Johnshan1]

'96 Chevy K1500 4x4 350 V8 was plowing today and I got stuck, went in and out of Drive and Reverse and couple of times to try to rock it out, and I just about had it when I put it into reverse and it bogged right down, will not rev over 1600 rpms in reverse even to the floor and does not even attempt to move.<br /><br />I put it in Nuetral and it goes forward. So now I have Nuetral, Drive, 3, 2, 1 that all move the truck forward.<br /><br />Park is park. Reverse doesnt work just seems like its locked up.<br /><br />I went to some car dealers to buy a new truck, one told me its a common problem with the linkage inside the tranny and needs to be adjusted. I went home, dropped the pan and I cannot find any adjustments in there at all.<br /><br />Tranny has 66K miles on it and I just serviced it this past fall, no metal in the pan or magnet.<br /><br />Took the linkage on the outside of tranny apart, and did it all manually with no change in condition.<br /><br />Any ideas guys, I was in 4wd low at the time and may have broken something I am afraid, Thanks<br /><br />-John

 

[KRS]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

John, I don't have any help but I can say that 66,000 miles and plowing.... it may be time for a new tranny.<br /><br />I hope someone has an idea, good luck man.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

Doesn't help you now but I'd make sure that you have a heavy duty transmission cooler on it.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

It does have a cooler installed, and I should say its just a light duty plow on the truck this is its second year on it, just been doing my drive and the neighbors <br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts guys, keep em comming

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

Hi Johnshan.. Which trans do you have in the truck? A 4L80, or a 4L60?<br /> http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/resources/pdf/TransmissionPdf/Transmission Identification.pdf

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

Im pretty sure its the 4L60, thank you for any help.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

Off she goes, $1400 for a tranny installed, 3 year warranty, oh well, there goes my new boat trailer :-/

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

66k is not many miles even for a Chevy tranny. I have seen this problem a lot in chevy trannies. Mostly it is caused by overheating. Working it under a load is not a lot of problem, it is the sitting in one place burning the tires rocking out of getting stuck. Did the fluid smell burnt> If so it is an easy fix. Expensive but easy. If it wasn't burnt or dark then probably a clutch pack or band in bad shape. <br />The linkage is definately a problem with these, but doesn't sound like it to me. All the linkage will do is throw all gear selections off by 1 notch. Park would be reverse, neutral would be drive, reverse would be neugtral etc.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

Originally posted by Johnshan1:<br /> Off she goes, $1400 for a tranny installed, 3 year warranty, oh well, there goes my new boat trailer :-/

Sounds like ya got off easy. A friend of mine just had to spend $2100 for a rebuilt tranny for his 2001 Tahoe. I'm begininnig to suspect Chevy transmissions!

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

I'm begininnig to suspect Chevy transmissions!

You are correct in your suspect of the chevy 4 speed automatics, Boomyal, particulary the 700R4 and it later counterpart the 4L60.. I've blown up two 700R4's..<br /><br />Call me nuts, but I'm currently getting parts together to rebuild another 700R4 to swap out my TH350... I'm building this one myself with all the "tuff" guts.. I need that overdrive for mileage...

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

In all honesty I am the one who killed that tranny, I rocked it in and out, while in 4wd low and I KNEW i should have stopped but it was almost out so I kept going, and then it happened. The original tranny lasted 100K and this one just 66K. I dont have anything to blame but myself on this one, I am happy im "just" paying $1450, oh well live and learn.<br /><br />-John

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

It is not too hard on a tranny if you rock it to get it un-stuck. As long as you allow it to fully enguage before shifting gears. The hardest thing on a tranny when stuck is those who run it to a high RPM and hold it there spinning the tires. This gets the fluid flowing hard but does not allow any air movement through the cooler resulting in an overheated tranny. I have found that most newer GM trannies are rather weak. If your moving snow or pulling a heavy load add an auxilury tranny cooler or add some off road parts when rebuilding. <br />By the way just so everyone knows, the rebuilt transmission game is a huge ripoff. They are good quality when done and done right. BUT I used to rebuild them at a cost to me of less than $500. I would then turn around and charge $1200 for the rebuild. Plus what it took in hours to remove and replace the tranny, usually totaling around $2000. And I was the cheapest in town. I would warranty all my rebuilds because I knew the quality of my work. Never had to re-work one yet. <br />Good luck to you, you are getting a good deal on this re-build.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Silverado Transmisson Problems, Help!

Good post DD, totally agree. Especially about the GM trannies being weak.<br /><br />Aldo