1995 Suburban mysterious problem: electrical? Transmission?

I'm trying to figure out if my 95' suburban is worth fixing....

(243,000 miles (not individually fuel injected) This is in Massachusetts)

One very cold evening a couple of weeks ago, it refused to start - good electricity, headlights, the engine turned fine, but refused to catch. About an hour later, it did start, but would only run as long as I kept my foot on the gas - it would die if I tried to idle.

Driving off, I had very low power, and the engine revs were very high - almost like I was stuck in too low a gear. After about 15 miles, suddenly I had full power, and drove the rest of the way home without a problem.

I've had similar erratic problems since then; it is clearly temperature related. My first thought was an electrical problem, with one of the cylinders failing to fire. Replacing the spark plugs and cables did not fix it.

My garage now claims I have transmission problems; they say that the system is sticking in low gear. (of course, this is only after charging me for the electrical work).

Fixing the tranny runs into major bucks, and I'm trying to decide if it's now time to call it a day. Does the garages' diagnosis sound plausible? Are they just looking to rip me off? They are quoting $3500 to replace the tranny, if it comes to that.

I'd been kind of planning to get a different car this summer anyway, so spending more than around $1000 to fix it is probably not on the cards.

Any ideas or advice are welcome.

thanks,

Peter Trei

Reply to
Peter Trei
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3500 is way too much for a trans replacement!! GM SERTA is only about 1200 bucks I believe!!

My .02 cents

David Short

Reply to
Acura God

Greetings,

It is quite reasonable to believe that the tranny might in some way be involved, espeicially if it didn't receive good, regular maintenance. 243k miles is a lot for your tranny, after all.

It sounds to me that the most important thing you need to get is a second opinion by someone actually looking at the vehicle. Try another private garage or the dealer.

Cheers - Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

========= ========= ANY..ideas or advice ..?????

~advice~

Walk or suffer through the symptoms untill you can get the "different" car.

~ideas~

that tranny's gonna cost more than a grand to rebuild...

close to a grand, and a lot of aggrevation to put in a used one......

and.....then.....

you still got that "it don't wanna run sometimes" problem.

which AIN'T THE TRANNY.....so...there yee go...

you're well out of that $1000 limit of yern.

~:~ MarshMonster ~is full of advice and ideas~

Reply to
Marsh Monster

Well seeing you said the truck didn't start and then would not idle I'd say replace the TPS first. Throttle Position Sensor. ($21 at parts america)

Assuming you have a 1500 series your tranny is a 4L60E you can pirate one from the following. B ---------- 4x2

CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E, gasoline, 8-305 (5.0L), w/o ext cab

CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E, gasoline, 8-350 (5.7L), w/o ext cab

CHEVROLET 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.0L, w/o ext cab

CHEVROLET 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.7L, w/o ext cab

GMC 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 8-305 (5.0L), w/o ext cab

GMC 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 8-350 (5.7L), w/o ext cab

GMC 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.0L, w/o ext cab

GMC 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.7L, w/o ext cab

SUBURBAN 1500 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline

SUBURBAN 2500 95 A.T.; 4x2, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline

TAHOE 95 A.T.; gasoline, 4x2

YUKON 95 A.T.; gasoline, 4x2

4 spd. A.T., 4L60E, M30

|A| & |B| interchange by switching output shaft housing.

B -----------

GM $1633

4x4 info CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E, gasoline, 8-305 (5.0L)

CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E, gasoline, 8-350 (5.7L)

CHEVROLET 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.0L

CHEVROLET 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.7L

GMC 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 8-305 (5.0L)

GMC 1500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 8-350 (5.7L)

GMC 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.0L

GMC 2500 PICKUP 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline, 5.7L

SUBURBAN 1500 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline

SUBURBAN 2500 95 A.T.; 4x4, 4L60E (opt M30), gasoline

TAHOE 95 A.T.; gasoline, 4x4

YUKON 95 A.T.; gasoline, 4x4

4 speed A.T.

GM $1633

4L60E, M30.

16 bolt oil pan.

Reply to
Sunshine&Lollipops

=============== ===============

that was a lot of wasted hyperspace.......

see the OP... spending over $1000 is NOT likely to be an option.

though well intended.....yer reply was not inline with what he's wanting.

~:~ MarshMonster ~sips his coffeeee.....mmm....needs more crown~

Reply to
Marsh Monster

Why? You using your cellphone for a connection and paying by the byte? ;) Wasted space? Really? I posted everything he can snag a trans from because lots of times I buy the whole truck for what I want and sell the rest.

  1. I did mention it really sounds like a TPS problem for it's worth a shot.
  2. I'm sorry your not familar with the system I use. Those prices are retail dealer and not the junk yard prices. And before some of you knock the junk yards most know that there are some good deals and finds there if you know what your looking for. His trans about 0 used and I'd crack it open and look for one with a new harness and the updates.

I th> One very cold evening a couple of weeks ago, it

Notice the above? This was before it was even put into gear....... Ahemmmmm TPS $21

Again nobody is 100% sure it's the trans and as far as I'm concerned I saw "electrical work" mentioned but it did not say what was done. Did the tech own a scanner with a trans module? How does he know it's not a shift solenoid or a modulator?

243K with regular sevice does not mean the whole unit is dead.

Read the above.

SnL ~ sips his coffee with out booze as he post.

Reply to
Sunshine&Lollipops

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