97 4*4 Tahoe Transmission Failure

There have been numerous updates the the 4l60 trans since they have come out. It is now a much more reliable tranny. I would suggest to put and after marker cooler on also. Have them flush the existing cooler with the gm flush machine. It will test the cooler to make sure that it is flowing properly. On the extra cooler make sure that they still go through the existing cooler also.

Alan

zdriver wrote:

BTDT - I put a Goodwrench warranteed Transmission in my 1996 GMC Yukon about a year ago. FWIW the warranteed gearbox broke after 8400 miles and 11 months. they of course replaced it under warranty but I'll never feel comfortable knowing there are some inherent weaknesses in that transmission. There are ( I understand) rebuilders who know about all of the GM weaknesses and can do an exchange with a substantially better warranty and know how to replace all of the standard GM parts with stronger ones. I am scared of this thing failing again and will move the truck ( as nice as it is along) the first chance I get. As with most things I'm sure GM goes with the lowest bidder for core rebuilds and you do not get what you paid for. It's easier for GM to pay the dealer to replace it. Remember the warranty of 3 Yrs. and 50,000 miles is only on the original rebuilt, not any subsequent replacements.

Our local trans guru will tell you.

Your good wrench tranny will be exactly the same as the one that just fried. Go to a local independent shop that deals with allot of trucks. Put on the biggest cooler you can fit behind the grill. If you want a temp sensor, put it in the oil pan of the tranny.

~KJ~

WRONG. Make sure the new cooler is INDEPENDENT of the old cooler. The old one probably has chunks of metal in it, not all will get out. Power flushes can weaken the barriers between the tranny fluid and the engine coolant - causing contamination of one in the other - if not now then further down the road. And coolant into the tranny is a DEATH sentence. Now on the other hand, with an *independent* tranny cooler, there is never a possibility of this.

~KJ~

RE/

Anybody know if GM has remedied the valve body problem?

yes

no

other than the change from on-off TCC operation to PWM then to controlled-slip, what changes ?

good grief

GM dealers will NOT intall an after-market external cooler

Just be happy you don't own a earlier model Dodge or Plymouth Grand Minivan that blows transmissions every few years....There are SO many of them in the junkyards----assuming most from blown tranni's

Speaking of which, my father own's a 95 caravan. Should I suggest anything to him to help him keep it alive?

~KJ~

keep the fluid and filter changed

be very careful on icy streets, what kils them is allowing the wheels to start spinning and then hitting a dry spot.....the shock load will tear it up inside

He's very good about not letting them spin - no traction if they don't spin. But I'll tell him anyways. It came with no manual, but I would figure about every 15k for the fluid?

~KJ~

Put the ATF temp. sensor on the HOT line (outbound from AT to cooler) as this gives you the "worst case scenario" reading. Drilling and tapping a pan is just one more place for it to leak...................

Doc

Don't forget to use the "special" fluid too 7176 I think is the number. The Havoline 7176 compatible did not work on mine (yes I owned one of those lemons). Also you have to use the special 7176 compatible gasket sealant for the pan, anything else will react with the 7176 fluid and soften up and leak. Be very careful of the antifreeze level and the engine temp, the electric radiator fan and A/C fan and compressor share the same fusable link, on a hot day after we bought ours the fan and ac running almost constantly caused the fusable link to blow which was wrapped so tight it burnt up several other wires. Fixed by warranty but it burnt up again later when the radiator overflow tank developed a slight leak in around the mottom mounting tab and let the fluid run low. I bought two fusable links and separated the radiator fan and ac system so they wouldn't take out each other.

yes

the trans gurus want to sell their snake oil. thats why they say that. gm also does the needed upgrades. -Pete

there is no prevention, the prob with the dodge trans was the diffpin letting go and flyin through the case. -Pete Re: 95 Dodge Caravan - TranSurgeon Group: alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks Date: Sun, Apr 4, 2004, 3:30pm (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (KJ) =A0=A0Speaking of which, my father own's a 95 caravan. Should I suggest anything to him to help him keep it alive? ~KJ~ "ken" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@storefull-3335.bay.webtv.net... Just be happy you don't own a earlier model Dodge or Plymouth Grand Minivan that blows transmissions every few years....There are SO many of them in the junkyards----assuming most from blown tranni's

Really? My family had a REAL early model one of those, like 1988 Grand Voyager. It towed a pop-up camper from NY to SD the first summer we owned it, without a single problem. That van towed the same trailer many more times, including trips to Myrtle Beach, and even held up to a bigger trailer for a year or 2. Van was bought practically right off the car carrier in 1988, traded in in 1993 and I don't recall it having any tranny problems. Don't know the mileage that was put on it, but it was up there.

really

then why do I see 00's and 01's with the SAME problems that first cropped up on the 96's and 97's ?

Re: 97 4*4 Tahoe Transmission Failure

The Coquihalla climbs do not themselves cause failures, rather it exposes the weaknesses of the 4L60e design. Torque converter clutch slip is the most likely cause of your trucks tranny fluid boil-off . The valve body issues (leakage) allowed the clutch slip with no coolers capable of dealing with the resultant heat! Did you tackle this climb in OD? This climb equates to towing at max gross weight with max frontal area of trailer in tow whilst pushing a 60 MPH head wind in Gary's neck of the woods.

The Mighty Coqu demands respect: it has mine! Mighty Semi Tractor units meet their match here. This ought to be GM's severe duty test track! There are no equals anywhere else as this is where I see 260*f temps at cooler inlet on my Suburban loaded to max with family and tent trailer behind. Climb in 3rd with speeds between 85-90 Km/h also 18L/100km (14 MPG).We may be passed by almost everything but we'll pass anything that has failed to respect the Mighty Coquihalla. My Motto: You're beyond Hope if you need the tow back to Hope BC