Possible TCC Failure

[Magallon0820]

So just got my 2016 5.3 tahoe with 130k on it. About 2 to 3 weeks ago I bought the AFM because I read on the horror it does to the transmission. I had no issues but I didn't like that I could feel the truck changing from 4 to 8. I put the AFM in and haven't had any issues..until today.

I was driving like normal and I felt the truck sluggish. Still shifts where and how it's supposed to but the rpm needle fluctuates up and down. Trans temp stayed at about 187 and got as high as 194 or something. I took AFM off and it got worse. I was getting on highway and it wouldn't shift and I heard a almost screeching noise. I pulled over checked oil and it's where is supposed to be but really dark there are no alarming smells. I put AFM back on and truck still shifts good but still sluggish didn't hear the screech anymore and was able to make it home slow. No CEL btw.

I am going to go cheapest and easiest route and give it a flush. Tomorrow. What kind of oil and perhaps additive should I add and what are your thoughts. I appreciate the help ahead of time.

 

[Geotrash]

So just got my 2016 5.3 tahoe with 130k on it. About 2 to 3 weeks ago I bought the AFM because I read on the horror it does to the transmission. I had no issues but I didn't like that I could feel the truck changing from 4 to 8. I put the AFM in and haven't had any issues..until today.

I was driving like normal and I felt the truck sluggish. Still shifts where and how it's supposed to but the rpm needle fluctuates up and down. Trans temp stayed at about 187 and got as high as 194 or something. I took AFM off and it got worse. I was getting on highway and it wouldn't shift and I heard a almost screeching noise. I pulled over checked oil and it's where is supposed to be but really dark there are no alarming smells. I put AFM back on and truck still shifts good but still sluggish didn't hear the screech anymore and was able to make it home slow. No CEL btw.

I am going to go cheapest and easiest route and give it a flush. Tomorrow. What kind of oil and perhaps additive should I add and what are your thoughts. I appreciate the help ahead of time.

When you say AFM, do you mean an AFM disabler like the range device? AFM is the cylinder deactivation technology by General Motors itself.

 

[Tahoe14]

Are you changing the engine oil or transmission fluid. Cheapest is probably Walmart. Look in the owners manual for the proper transmission fluid type and the oil viscosity.

 

[Magallon0820]

When you say AFM, do you mean an AFM disabler like the range device? AFM is the cylinder deactivation technology by General Motors itself.

Yes a cheap.on I got off Amazon. When I put it back on it shifted better, not fine but at least it shifted

 

[Magallon0820]

Are you changing the engine oil or transmission fluid. Cheapest is probably Walmart. Look in the owners manual for the proper transmission fluid type and the oil viscosity.

Transmission fuild and filter

 

[Geotrash]

Yes a cheap.on I got off Amazon. When I put it back on it shifted better, not fine but at least it shifted

I use Valvoline MaxLife in mine and Some folks like to add LubeGuard additive but I’ve never found it necessary.

 

[Marky Dissod]

I use Valvoline MaxLife in mine. Some folks like to add LubeGuard additive but I’ve never found it necessary.

LubeGard makes a Dexron6 ATF.

 

[Magallon0820]

So I added a stick of lubguard and it heloed, i had planned on adding another once I change the fluid. How much quarts do yall usually add back? I am only doing the pan

 

[NickTransmissions]

So I added a stick of lubguard and it heloed, i had planned on adding another once I change the fluid. How much quarts do yall usually add back? I am only doing the pan

Drop the pan before you spend any money on fluid. If there's a whole bunch of fine, sand-like metal debris, burnt clutch material, etc put the pan back on with a few bolts and yank it out for overhaul.

Otherwise, here is the 6L80 fill procedure

 

[Magallon0820]

Drop the pan before you spend any money on fluid. If there's a whole bunch of fine, sand-like metal debris, burnt clutch material, etc put the pan back on with a few bolts and yank it out for overhaul.

Otherwise, here is the 6L80

Drop the pan before you spend any money on fluid. If there's a whole bunch of fine, sand-like metal debris, burnt clutch material, etc put the pan back on with a few bolts and yank it out for overhaul.

Otherwise, here is the 6L80 fill procedure

I sure hope not. I am in the military and our hmmwv have these transmission typically when they go out soon as I pull lipstick I can smell it but this one I can't, so hopefully it's not shot yet can I replace TCC with out replacing transmission? What's that cost?

 

[NickTransmissions]

I sure hope not. I am in the military and our hmmwv have these transmission typically when they go out soon as I pull lipstick I can smell it but this one I can't, so hopefully it's not shot yet can I replace TCC with out replacing transmission? What's that cost?

Won't know until you drop the pan but if you've caught it early enough no transmission damage will have been sustained...If the transmission is otherwise healthy by all indications then you can replace the TC without digging into the transmission but I'd def drop the pan before doing anything or spending any $$$.

 

[Magallon0820]

How much oil you guys think Pan will take?

 

[B-train]

Probably 6 quarts. Luckily with a dipstick, you can start with 4 and move up. Or, just drain it into a container of known capacity and estimate what came out and use that as a baseline.

 

[West 1]

I think someone already stated how much crud can be inside the tranny oil pan. I would not do a flush on any used tranny. The flush process can mix up the junk in the pan and plug up the important valves in the Techm and cause it to fail. If you want new fluid do it old school, drop the pan, clean it well and install a new filter before finishing up.

There is a company in Florida that rebuilds the Techm, I had one rebuilt, they programmed it to match my Escalade exactly, plug and play for well under $500 delivered. I do have a scan tool that helps on the install but I am not sure it is necessary with their programming. If you are pulling your pan off most of the work is done to install a new Techm.

A trick for those doing this job on the 2007 and newer trucks. If doing this on jack stands to support the vehicle. Take a small trucker ratchet strap, you can attach it to the exhaust and ground it to the bottom of your jack stand. Tighten it up slightly and you will have clearance to get the pan off with the exhaust pulled down by the strap. I have done this 3 times now, saves a lot of time pulling the pan on a 6L80 trans. Without doing this the pan will almost come out but you will get stuck. Some instruct you to remove the exhaust pipe which takes a lot of time. The ratchet Strap trick works. I have one that is only 1.5" and it does the job.

 

[Magallon0820]

Thanks everyone for the advice, I have never owned a chevy, but after 17 years in the military I was certain the last thing that would go bad on this truck was the transmission, I have brought some of these back from the dead with a good cleaning so I hope I can the the same to this one.

 

[Magallon0820]

well results are in what yall thing? Time for a new tranmission? Can I just get a TCC or normal for 136k with never doing tranmission, feels alot better feel a very small.sputter still

 

[West 1]

At 135,000 miles that looks about perfect. Tranny clutches wear as you use the car and you end up with some stuff in the pan. Sorry, no experience with the TCC, I hope others chip in.

 

[Magallon0820]

I am so worried about this dam transmission I hope it gets better but either my mind is messing with me or it hasn't gotten any better I feel like it shifts wierd between 2 and 3rd, not check engine light still

 

[NickTransmissions]

I am so worried about this dam transmission I hope it gets better but either my mind is messing with me or it hasn't gotten any better I feel like it shifts wierd between 2 and 3rd, not check engine light still

Time to yank it out for overhaul. All that fine, ground up metal is everywhere inside the transmission as well as throughout the trans cooling system. Id replace the radiator and any external trans cooler currently installed.

Here's a recent example of a converter disintegrating internally (A904 from a 02 Jeep Wrangler).

 

[NickTransmissions]

At 135,000 miles that looks about perfect. Tranny clutches wear as you use the car and you end up with some stuff in the pan. Sorry, no experience with the TCC, I hope others chip in.

Posts #16 & #19 are textbook examples for what torque converter failure looks like.