My 96 K1500 Tahoe started having problems with the transmission tonight, or last night as it were. I was on my way home from about
15-20 miles away and on pretty much all interstate driving. I had the shifter set to OD. First, it would only shift up through 3rd, not hit the final gear, so I was stuck at pretty low speeds, as far as interstate driving is concerned. I pulled of onto smaller, in-town roads about this time. After stopping at a light, it would no longer shift up to 3rd. Only 1st and 2nd. The closer I got to home, it just kept degrading, until 2nd stopped working, and then nearly 1st stopped working. Almost as if the clutch were half-way engaged, medium to high revs, not much speed. Pulled quite a bit when coming to stops also. I got it limped home now, but am afraid to drive it.I was hoping when I bought it with about 84,000 miles that I would have either missed the transmission going out, or that I would miss it altogether. Unfortunately, it seems to have struck around 101,530 miles. Is this the common symptons of these transmissions going out? or is it something else entirely that is relatively easy and inexpensive to fix? I never heard any kind of odd noises the entire time it was degrading or beforehand. I just seemed to gradually stop shifting up.
Aside from the questions above, does it sound like this is going to be something where I need a new transmission? or that it can be repaired? If replaced, would an aftermarket tranny be a better bet than say one scrounged from a junk yard or refurb/rebuilt?
Any insight would be appreciated. THanks
Brandonb
-Good thing I have a 2nd car to get me to work...