Transmission Service ?

[Heelz3]

I just had my transmission fluid and filter changed at a local transmission shop. I have a 03 Tahoe with 113,000 miles on it. The guy showed me my pan and said it had excessive metel in the bottom. It did have a film of dark type stuff on the bottom, but it did not look like alot to me, expecially considering its never been changed.

Im getting ready to drive about 7 hours on vacation and he asked me if I had another car I could drive, I dont. He said I may have about 2 months on this trans. Its never given me any problems and I only had the fluid/filter changed due to it needing it.

Do you think this guy was just trying to scare me into getting it rebuilt? After he realized I would sell it before doing that he said I will drive it after we do the change and see how its doing. He did and said it was good to go.??????

He also said those trans were only good for about 100,000 miles.


Is he correct? Im a little worried about driving so far for vacation now.

Thanks,

 

[BOSS]

Hi Robbie,

I don't think you'll have a problem based on what you've told us so far. I would definitely drive it a little harder before your trip to be sure the new fluid didn't cause any dynamics to change in the trans and surface a problem.

The comment about 100k miles on the 4l60e trannies is definitely not true. There are NUMEROUS guys on the board with over 100k.


B

 

[BOSS]

BTW do you have a tranny temp guage on your dash cluster at the bottom right? Check it periodically, and check your fluid level again before you go on your trip.

If I recall there is a magnet at the bottom of the pan to collect small metallic debris. It sounds like he cleaned out the bottom of the pan?

 

[Heelz3]

Hey and thanks BOSS. I do not know on the trans temp light. I will look this afternoon and see. Yes, he did clean out the bottom of the pan and to me it just looked like very, very fine, almost dust like particles covering the bottom of the pan. Like I said, its never been changed before so I would think it would have more stuff than normal in there. I will tell my wife to drive it harder the next day or two before we leave like you suggested. We have never had and trans problems before and I sure do not want any right before a 7 hour drive. Thanks again.

We have the "clunking" sound when accelerating like most of the tahoes do but I understand thats from the drive shaft and not the trans.

One more ?, sometimes when we start it, we hear like a rattleing type sound for a few seconds just as it starts, what is that? Its been doing it for a long time and seems to start just fine.

Thanks again

 

[Chucktown Mako]

196k on my trans so far.

 

[BOSS]

We have the "clunking" sound when accelerating like most of the tahoes do but I understand thats from the drive shaft and not the trans.

One more ?, sometimes when we start it, we hear like a rattleing type sound for a few seconds just as it starts, what is that? Its been doing it for a long time and seems to start just fine.
Thanks again

Not sure, does it sound like it's internal to the engine? These v8s have a known issue called piston slapping which is a knocking from the engine and iirc it gets worse in winter from lower temps. Try running a can or two of seafoam in your next oil change. Just dont forget to tell the shop to account for the extra volume of the seafoam and subtract a little oil - especially if you use 2 cans in a single change.

B

 

[blueflamed03]

yep, sounds like piston slap, normal.

while 100K is just his shot in the dark, like BOSS stated, some go 200K, some ( like mine) went at 75K.

If you didn't have any slips, or tranny sputters, don't worry about it and enjoy the trip.

 

[Heelz3]

Thanks for the info. Im going to go ahead and not worry about it (to much). Guy was probably trying to sell me a rebuild, I dont know.

Piston slap? Does that sound pretty loud just as you start the car, then stops after about 3 seconds? I was thinking it may be something with the starter? It does not really sound internal, like the valves or something, its really kinda loud.

---------- Post added at 06:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:44 PM ----------

Just to follow up on the trans pan, wouldnt you think a light coating of very fine shavings would be expected in a trans that has 113,000 on it? If I had changed the fluid/filter at 50,000 like the book says, it probably would not have been that bad.

 

[BOSS]

Just to follow up on the trans pan, wouldnt you think a light coating of very fine shavings would be expected in a trans that has 113,000 on it? If I had changed the fluid/filter at 50,000 like the book says, it probably would not have been that bad.

I can't say I've ever seen it, but I would expect it. That's one reason it's not advised to change the tranny fluid on very high mileage vehicles. There are small shavings in the fluid that contribute to the friction of the tranny as it operates. Once that's lost, sometimes it can lead to a tranny failure of some sort.

What I can tell you from experience is a couple things. I use magnetic oil drain plugs on all of my vehicles and there's always a small amount of something there...how every teeny tiny or microscopically small, it's still there in all the vehicles. I also broke in a few brand new sport bikes when I used to ride, and those engines always left some fine shavings around on the first few hundred miles.

B

 

[mrtrill]

good info...besides that, a trans has different parts.
So a piece or 2 could need to b replaced....
I had a couple pieces replaced @ 98,000 miles..
but since iv been ryding 24" wheels for the last 5 yrs,
as well as driving like Ricky Bobby on da freeway,
I wasnt surprised to have trans issues of sum sort.

 

[blueflamed03]

yes, piston slap will sound like a knocking in the motor, only for a few seconds up to a couple minutes ( warm up) depending on severity.

No worries tho.

 

[Heelz3]

Thanks man, Im heading out today at noon on a trip to the Outer Banks. Its about an 8 hour drive for me from the NC Mountains. After listening to y'all, Im pretty confident my tranny will make it.

Thanks again for the info on the tahoe. I think I need a new e-brake pad also so when I get back I'll post to see if anyone can offer any advice on doing that. I've done the front and rear pads already, but never a e-brake.

 

[M.M. 700]

When I worked at a dealership, if I vehical came in with high miles. And didn't have regular tranny flushes, or fluid- filter change. We would advise not to do it, due to the fact it is very likely to have tranny problems shortly after having the new fluid put in....

Or if they were having tranny problems, we also advised not to do it....which is not your case.....

 

[suppersz71]

hey guys, i just purchased an 03 z71 with 77k miles, without any maintenance records on this vehicle. i was wondering if it would be best if i did a tranny flush right now or just wait til 100k? I rather be safe than sorry and prevent future problems to the hoe. Any other problems i should be aware of? thanks...

 

[03YukonNH]

One more ?, sometimes when we start it, we hear like a rattleing type sound for a few seconds just as it starts, what is that? Its been doing it for a long time and seems to start just fine.

Thanks again

I do not think this issue is piston slap like others have stated. I believe I have the same sound you are hearing as well. I believe it to be the starter. It sounds like the starter is being overcranked every now and then. Only does it once or twice a month. It lasts about 2 seconds not minutes like some have stated. I think the shaft gets stuck trying to retract from the flywheel. I have been ignoring it since it happens only occassionally and a starter from GM is about $250 bucks.

 

[ChazMan]

I do not think this issue is piston slap like others have stated. I believe I have the same sound you are hearing as well. I believe it to be the starter.

+1

Piston slaps don't go away in 2 seconds.
I hear the same noise from my '03 6.0L with 75K miles, and I verified it's coming from the starter area. In my case, the noise is less than 2 seconds, more like 1 or 1.5 to be exact. Some kind of engaagement or disengagement problem between starter gear teeth and flywheel.

For the trans fluid, I also found some metallic sludge on my oil pan on my newly acquired Escalade. Not a lot but noticeable amount. First trans oil chagne was done at 50K (as the previous owner claims), and I just did for the second time. I sent my supposedly 25K mile old trans fluid to a oil lab for chemical spectrum analysis, and the result wasn't good. Too much lead material at 157 ppm and iron at 137 ppm. Lead debris indicate some kind of bushing or thrust type bearing material, and the iron can be eithre gear/bearing material. I will drive another 1000 mile or so and send out the used oil for lab test again.

 

[ScottL4619]

Yeah, mine makes the starter noise maybe one out of 30 starts. It just sounds like rattling when the started disengages. I have never cared enough to try and fix it.