New Trans - Yes or No?

[mrb5314]

Ok. I have an 04 Suburban Z71. It has 205k on it.
While my wife was driving, the trans disengaged. What I mean is there was nothing. The engine would run. You could shift the column shifter, but it would no longer engage. She was able to coast to the shoulder and leave it.
She left it sit for a little while, and restarted it. It re-engaged and she was able to pull a little further so she wasn't it as bad of a spot. It then disengaged again.
When I got there, about 10 min later, I was able to get it into 4wd high and drive to a parking lot. Then that was it.
It seemed if you left it sit for a bit, it would run then would disengage again.
I have a transmission guy looking at it. He explained it was the trans sucking up the fluid to the filter and clogging it causing the problem. He also said it was shot and needs a total rebuild. $1600 was the estimate.
My question is this (for those that read this far) - would a fluid and filter change fix the problem? It was due (over due actually) for one. It runs really well, except right now lol, otherwise. I can swap a junkyard trans in but we may be looking to trade it in in June possibly, so I don't want to put a huge amount of money into it if a fluid and filter change won't fix it.
I also have an 03 Yukon with 226k that is starting the 2/3 shift issue where it revs up between shifts. I might be able to fix one of them, but not both at this point.

 

[adventurenali92]

the fluid and filter are just a bandaid and you're more than likely going to need to have it rebuilt. I tried all the small stuff like the solenoids and fluid and everything and. None of it fixed my transmission. I needed to just have it rebuilt. And I spent more money trying to bandaid the little things than I would have to just have the transmission rebuilt. $1600 is a lot cheaper than what I spent or have mine rebuilt so that's not a bad deal. A junkyard trans might solve the problem, but you never know what kind of condition that transmission will be in so it's always a gamble.

 

[rockola1971]

What was the trans sucking up out of the pan? Is the pan full of debris (clutch material)? Your fluid is suppose to be sucked up through the trans filter out of the pan. That is the fluids beginning point.

 

[Merc1973]

Get a reman, not a rebuild

 

[mrb5314]

What was the trans sucking up out of the pan? Is the pan full of debris (clutch material)? Your fluid is suppose to be sucked up through the trans filter out of the pan. That is the fluids beginning point.

I believe he said it wasn't the clutch material clogging the filter. I don't think it was ever changed. I bought it with 160k on it. I was planning on trading it in this summer and was hoping to make till then. Guess not. Lol. Now it's just time to weigh putting money into a vehicle I am going to trade in or not. Will it increase the value enough to make it worth while, or save the mo way and put it towards the new(er) vehicle.

 

[mrb5314]

Thanks for the replies. Gives me a better idea of which way to go.

 

[MrBalll]

I honestly don't think a rebuild will up the price any. May give the potential buyer a warm fuzzy feeling inside and may sway them more towards buying it, but doubt it's going to up the price any.
If you want to sell it faster then fix it. I'd rather buy a rebuilt than a "it's on the way out" transmission.

 

[rockola1971]

Id buy a Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban dirt cheap with a blown tranny in heart beat. But the owner would take the hit not me. Change the filter and fluid and see what happens. If there isnt clutch material in the pan then it is probably ok.

 

[dantheman]

we paid just under 2k for the trans reman from GM last year for my wifes GTO. not the 4wd unit, but still a 4l65e with the 3 year 36k mile parts AND labor warranty. cant beat it.

 

[jerryjoe28]

if there is stuff in your fluid a fluid and filter changed will NOT fix your problem. don't really know what the difference is in a reman vs rebuilt where u are but here the trans shop will not patch one I will haft to be completely gone trough and all wear parts replaced and hard parts inspected. if you only replace the problem then you will have more problems on down the road.

 

[rockola1971]

More than likely the tranny never had filter/Fluid change and isnt flowing like it should. This is common at the dishonest shops. They say it needs a rebuild when it doesnt. Ive even heard of some shadey shopes wiping down the tranny, changing the fluid/filter and charging for a complete rebuild.

Jerry there is always "stuff" in the fluid. What do you think the purpose of the filter is? Where do you think wear and tear clutch material goes? The pan/filter.

 

[jerryjoe28]

F*ck it ...... its only a 4l60e with 205k miles on it! change the filter and let it go for another 200k ..........

 

[rockola1971]

F*ck it ...... its only a 4l60e with 205k miles on it! change the filter and let it go for another 200k ..........

OP never said it had 205k on it. The truck does but I bet the tranny has been rebuilt once already. Why rebuild it if it doesnt need it? It is quite possible that its shot but I wouldnt condemn it by one shops words, especially if I didnt know the shop very well.

 

[jerryjoe28]

OP never said it had 205k on it. .

Ok. I have an 04 Suburban Z71. It has 205k on it.
QUOTE]

im just going to leave this here

 

[rockola1971]

im just going to leave this here

The comprehension is weak with this one.... The OP said the vehicle has 205k on it. Doesnt mean the TRANSMISSION HASNT BEEN REBUILT ONCE ALREADY. (Pay particular attention to words in caps).

 

[jerryjoe28]

The comprehension is weak with this one.... The OP said the vehicle has 205k on it. Doesnt mean the TRANSMISSION HASNT BEEN REBUILT ONCE ALREADY. (Pay particular attention to words in caps).

what makes you " bet the tranny has been rebuilt once already"? I don't recall seeing that in the original post, but like you said my reading comp sucks

 

[rockola1971]

what makes you " bet the tranny has been rebuilt once already"? I don't recall seeing that in the original post, but like you said my reading comp sucks

Because the 4L60E usually doesnt make it much past 125k before dying and usually even less than that when used to tow with or plow snow. Sure there are some out there that are babied to death. Grocery getters but most arent.
My Sierra Z71 has 145k on it since i rebuilt it at 125k mark but I towed with it (a 32ft 5400lb travel trailer) but I built that tranny for towing. The Sierra is pretty much retired now for towing duty.She is old(1999) and tired. I rarely drive it since getting Tahoes and a Yukon Denali.