Transmission issues on '97, Hard shifting, clicking...

[HotCarl]

I have a '97 K1500 4 door Tahoe Automatic. I have been noticing some transmission issues lately.
When I shift from Reverse to Drive, I hear a loud click from under the vehicle, same with shifting from Drive to Reverse. It almost sounds like a hammer hitting a piece of metal.
Also, when I go from a stop, the shift from first to second shifts VERY hard, it jerks the vehicle forward even with very little throttle. any other shift is fine but 1-2 is very hard.

I checked the fluid level, it is normal. What could be causing these problems?

Mileage- 144,***

 

[retorq]

The "hammer" sound is probably a ujoint ....

 

[HotCarl]

Anyone have an idea on the HARD shift from 1-2??

 

[99COOP]

any codes? more info is needed for a diagnosis. Kinda resembles a p1870 code which is not good, but again more info is needed.

 

[HotCarl]

I don't have a code reader.
HOWEVER, today when I drove it the HARD 1-2 up-shift is gone. Loud clang from R to D is still there tho. I am taking it to a tranny shop here in town later today to have them check it out.

 

[99COOP]

Thats your best bet, but don't let them tell you it needs a full rebuild before you have done some research on it.

 

[txhoescrapin]

I had p1870 and my tranny was trashed. Total rebuild. Luckily a lifelong friend owns a tranny shop! cut 50% off labor. out the door for $900.

 

[grimm]

check the quality of the fluid, check your u-joints, etc. if the transmission fluid looks black or burnt, something isn't right. like 99coop said, don't let 'em tell you it needs a full rebuild before doing some research. there's a lot of shops out there that'll try to make some extra money in unnecessary labor. find a good, honest shop, or you could save some money if you try to tackle it yourself if you've got the patience, the right parts, the right tools and equipment, and a good space to work.

 

[HotCarl]

Just spoke to the tech at the shop. Bad U-joints in the front and back, but no codes what so ever, which is strange, but when I drove it over to the shop the hard up-shift was gone. He quoted me at $125ish for U-joints installed, another $100ish for having the transmission serviced, and another $8 for the transfer case flushed.

Does this sound legit?

 

[grimm]

that's not too expensive, at least not compared to what some shops in my area would quote for the same services. some times things run differently at different operating temperatures. my truck shifts a little harder than usual when cold, however everything smooths out after its warmed up slightly. i'd say have the u-joints replaced, have the fluids and filter changed, at the very least and see how your truck runs. be careful as sometimes when you let a shop do something, like an inspection or typical maintenance, they'll "notice a problem" and work on it before letting you know and suddenly you're paying 500-1000 dollars more than you were planning.

 

[HotCarl]

This shop seems pretty legit, I live in a small town in Northern Idaho, and most people around here are genuine. They called me after they found the problems and didn't start work until I called them back an hour later after, I consulted my dad. Hopefully it will be done before I go to work this afternoon.

 

[grimm]

right on, well good luck and hopefully all is well again with your truck when everything is done.

 

[young_2010_chris]

shouldve done it all ur self easy stuff

 

[HotCarl]

Just picked it up, $291.18 in the end for 2 new u joints, transmission and t case serviced. Sure it would have been nice to do myself but I lack tools, and a place to do it at, not to mention the time as my rig
is my daily driver.

 

[RobYates27]

Ok, not going to beat a dead horse here but I have a 98 HOE with the 5.7 and having the very same exact problems, so throw a update up about the tranny. Mine only shifts hard after about a 1/2 hour of driving and the tranny has "warmed" up.

The "clicking" or "banging" sound from underneath, can I inspect that myself without removing anything to make sure its the U-joints?

My HOE is also my "DD" so any more help is highly welcomed. The info from this post is giving me a sweet starting point.

 

[HotCarl]

Banging= most likely the U-joints. I wouldn't know what a bad one looks like though.

On the hard shifting, mine did it for a little bit but went away and no codes were thrown. I got the hoe from the shop Tuesday, and I have driven it every day and no more hard shifting... Sorry dude.

 

[RobYates27]

Well thanks for the update. I am taking it in Monday morning to get the trans flushed and service and the filter changed. I guess thats a good place to start just going by your story.

I have no idea what a bad U-joint looks like either so I have a friend coming to check it out tomorrow morning. Thanks for the help though.

 

[TheBeast99]

my Yuk sometimes shifts hard from 2-3 depending on how much throttle i'm giving it. but since i got 121k in mileage, i just assume i'll need a new tranny soon and i got the money saved up for when it finally goes.
but this isn't a problem as i just came from a crap car with a tranny that really was trashed, so this is like a freaking chariot to me

 

[ravingmadman]

Yeah, your U-joints are easy. Just get underneath your truck, and find the driveline. It's the shaft that connects the trnsmission to the rear end. You'll have one that goes to the front axle if you have a 4wd. Just grab hold of it at the transmission side, and see if you can move it up/down or side to side. If it moves, you need a new one. Do the same at the rear differential. They are easy to replace yourself, and cost ~$10 at the parts house.