Question: I changed the fluid and filter last summer in my 99. I haven’t checked but I don’t think I have enough miles on it yet to merit another change. Anyways my trans started slipping from 2 – 3 and 3 – 4 a couple of days ago. I checked the fluid level and it is fine but it does have a “stinch” to it.
I haven’t hauled anything too extremely heavy lately imo. Last weekend I hauled a washing maching and a stove to my house but I wouldn’t think that they would’ve put too much of a strain on my transmission.
The truck has approx. 140,000 miles on it. Is this common? Am I going to have to replace/rebuild the tranny in the near future?
The previous owner did pull a trailer and lawn mowers with it. The trans has always acted “funny”. I’ve put around 20,000 miles on it since then though.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Answser: I have to preface this with saying that if I can’t personally examine the vehicle, than what I’m about to say is an educated guess. You will have to have it professionally diagnosed. Everything you have mentioned, from the stench of the fluid, to the mileage on the transmission and some of the usage it has had in the past would lead me to believe you probably need some sort of replacement transmission.
As far as I’m concerned, every vehicle needs some transmission cooling help from the factory. In the form of an auxiliary add on transmission cooler. Even if your vehicle has a factory external cooler, it needs a special Tru-Cool brand auxiliary cooler. This is especially true if you haul anything like a trailer with lawn mowers. The extra heat generated by the extra work load on the transmission when hauling stuff breaks down the transmission fluid, thus causing problems to start.
Synthetic fluids rule, in fact they come as standard fills in all cars nowadays. So the first thing is don’t use any other Automatic Transmission Fluid than Pure Synthetic ATF. It takes the heat better. All conventional fluids are null and void now, almost useless in most cars built n the last 20 years.
The 2-3 and 3-4 shift problem indicates the 3rd clutches are burnt up, which is very common in your 4L60-E transmission and also upgradeable in the best transmissions.
Get a professional to re-examine it and make a competent diagnosis. The longer you wait the more likely you will need to know the professionals at GotTransmissions.com @ 866-320-1182. If you need a rebuilt Chevy transmission call us, we have exactly what you are looking for in stock for shipment-ASAP.
GotTransmissions.com @ 866-320-1182.
