Hey my truck is a major tool for me as well as many of you, maybe some of you know this problem/fix
I dont belong to any truck forums, maybe this should be in the “tavern” but it woul dget lost with all the political BS going on there right now
Truck is a 94 3/4 ton 4×4 350 (gas), 4 speed automatic, extended cab, long bed, lumber rack, tow option, canopy, street tires this time of year, 157k
this is my second truck with an automatic, my personal cars are all manuals
problem: pull up to a stop light/sign and there is a rotating sound coming from the transmission tunnel, soundeign like a bearing going out. It is not all the time. Been about three months now, starter replaced last month, ring gear etc all looked good
tranny fluid was changed about 40k ago, looks good now, no discolor or shavings on the stick, absolutely no leaks
one of my guys, former mechanic says its the tranny because they rotate all the time evn when at a stop ( but manual trannys dont). another one of the guys says its the torque converter and the trannys do stop spinning when at a stop ( no slipping going on)
another says its the transfer case
trany shop says they cant pin point sound , lets flush the system for 69 bucks, if that does not work , lets pull it apart and see
how much for a tranny, $1200
hey but what if that does not fix it and its the transfer case , another 800 minimum
(wish I could go up on a roof and say, well 1200 to fix roof leak, if that does not do it, another 800 will do it, maybe)
anyway. any of you chevy work truck drivers with a similar problem ????
again, maybe not wood working, but my truck gets me to my woodworking !!!
thanks
Replies
I dont have an answer to your question, but was wondering if anyone could recommend a website (auto) to visit that might be able to supply the answers. Ive got an older chevy work truck ('78) and could use a site similiar to breaktime but on the auto side.
-m2akita
gm-trucks
chevytalk
townhall-talk
This should do it, I have used the chev talk one quite a bit. The Red Tahoe on the link is mine.
Bob
Isa,
I would find another transmission shop and have them properly troubleshoot the problem. If the noise is there when the truck is sitting still, it is NOT the transfer case. Nothing in the transfer case is turning when the truck is not moving. It could be the torque converter, or the front pump assembly in the trans, they are both turning any time the engine is running, irregardless of whether the truck is moving or not. If the fluid looks ok, a "flush" will not help a thing. I personally am not a fan of transmission flushes ... they do nothing to help the filter if it is clogged up. In my opinion the only proper service for a transmission is to drain the fluid and change the filter.
Now, as far as fixing it if it is indeed the transmission. A price of $1200 is too cheap for a GM 4sp od trans, especially in a 4wd vehicle. I dont think it is possible to do a complete, proper rebuild of the trans for that price, never mind remove it and reinstall it. If the trans is bad, I would have a GM factory remanufactured trans installed. They are a bit more expensive (you will probably pay $1300 for the trans alone) but it will be done back to factory specs with any upgrades that have come along, and will last as long as the original did. The GM trannys also come with a torque converter so there is no guesswork. Great warranty also. If you go this route, make sure the shop that installs the transmission also flushes out the trans cooler and lines. Failure to do so is one of the biggest causes of problems with remanufactured transmissions.
With as many miles as you have on the truck, it would probably not be worth just repairing the noise. You might as well do the whole job. If you need to find a good reputable shop, try the shop finder feature on the following web site. Seems like most of the shops that are members are of a bit higher caliber than most. http://www.iatn.net
Hope this helps,
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Mr. Bill
see all this is what I am talking about. I remeber over the years Mr. Bill has been at this site many a times, and is a knuckle buster and not a nail pounder ( by trade). wanting to know more about his hobbies and side jobs, like me with my "side" trying to find help with "ma chebby" See all the differnt kinds of help you can get here
thanks Mr Bill
Iz
Edited 10/17/2004 4:18 pm ET by Isamemon
Edited 10/17/2004 4:20 pm ET by Isamemon
its the lockout on the torgue converter
Isa,
I have done a bit of everything. I worked for Xerox as an electronic tech for 15 years, have always worked on engines and drag raced as a hobby so decided to make it my occupation 15 years ago. I also did some part time remodeling for about 5 years when I worked for Xerox ! That is the great thing about these and other forums, you never know who is here and what they know. Everyone can help each other and and we are all smarter for the experience.
Glad to help,Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Great post Bill.
I hope my tranny goes bad soon so I can get this good advice.
blue
Ps did I really say that?If you want to read a fancy personal signature... go read someone else's post.
Blue, do you still have that backhoe you used to use to destroy things around your place?
Maybe it needs some web help.....
Joe H
I would have a GM factory remanufactured trans installed. They are a bit more expensive (you will probably pay $1300 for the trans alone) but it will be done back to factory specs with any upgrades that have come along, and will last as long as the original did."
Bill,
I beg to differ. First off, they are "remanufactured" in Mexico (at least they used to be).
I had a T/A that had one installed under warrantee at 25K miles (at the dealer), that "remfr'd one lasted 20K miles and was rebuilt again to last another 10K miles. Finally replaced it with a "new" junkyard transmission and it worked fine for another 100K when I sold the car.
WSJ
John,
The GM transmissions are remanufactured by Hydramatic, the original manufacturer. Where they are done does not matter in todays world, my 99 Tahoe was assembled in Mexico and it has by far been one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. You must have had a bad experience because we have replaced 6 or 7 GM transmissions in high mileage vehicles in the last 5 years and have not had a single problem with any of the replacements, which were all GM Remans.Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
A former employee of mine had a factory reman tranny
he also had a lunatic for a wife
he put the tranny in himself. ran great.
wife caught him cheating, on way home at 50+mph, threw tranny into park
he pulled it out, chevy gave him a replacement ( all in same week)
of course he didnt say why the tranny was no good
as far as built in other countries
my 3/4 ton extended cab chebby has a sticker, built in Canada
"GM transmissions are remanufactured by Hydramatic,"
Bill,
Are you sure? Not subbed out to the lowest bidder. Just like new GM high perf crate engines are "built" by GM.... lol.
Most OEM's rely heavily on subs, which change often over time.
Yeah, I probably had a tranny that was junk from day one, just like the GM re-mfr'ed replacement. The scrap yard replacement was still half the price and lasted 5x as long.
WSJ
Jon,
My son had an 86 s10. had the tranny pulled, rebuilt and replaced for 13k.
Still a piece of crap. If its OLD, real old, I'll take a Chevy. New, I go with Ford now.
Eric
Hey, did you here the F&A North burned down a few months ago?I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Not to hijack, but did you say the Fore & Aft burned ? Used to spend alot of time there in the 70s . The Muscoot in Somers was also on the list.
Yeah, the one on Rte. 6 outside of Brewster.
A thread of some subject turned into Westchester Road Houses a while back.........I think it was wj and Andy C in there.........maybe it was you (too).
It's been a 100 other joints and has been closed for a lllllooooooong time.
Recently new owner got a call at 4am that her place was on fire. Strange.
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Alas,
It is no more.... I spent a lot of nights there myself "back in the Day" in the '70's! I may even have hurled on your shoe!!! Remember the Good Rats? Peppi and the boys? They're still touringggggg!!!!! http://www.goodrats.com/
The Good Rats, ~(::)> Did'nt think My mind could go back that far, I do remember that band! Thanks, that put a smile on my face
"My son had an 86 s10. had the tranny pulled, rebuilt and replaced for 13k."
Huh?? Sometime in the late 80's I bought a brand new S-10 for around twelve thousand dollars.
So spending 13k for a rebuilt tranny sounds a bit high to me.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool
slipped.........1.3 k!! ($1300.00)I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
wsj,
The last one I did was about a year ago for for a friend. It came in a "coffin" just like the rest of them with "Remanufactured By Hydramatic" on it. As far as I know they are still doing them. Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
I own a FORD! I go too FordTruckWorld.com for their message boards and find them helpfull. You may want to try ChevyTruckWorld.com They are from the same magazine publisher. Hope this helps, I know the uncertany of a vehichle can be stressfull to say the least. Good luck
Stephen P.
All Things Wood
Stephen Prunier Carpentry
one thing with Chevy's: the routine maintence needs to be done on schedule on the tranny, esp. if you pull anything. Every 30k miles.
You may have done it, but your post said it was last done 40k ago. I have seen a lot of chev trucks where the owner let it go for 75k or more then changed it for the first time and the trans goes out within the next 20k.
If you haven't adhered to the service schedule on the trans and you have a lot of miles you're better off just leaving it alone unless it's showing signs of problems anyway.
Someone else may have a different observation. Just mine from experience managing the manintenance of a fleet.
Hate to say it, but you probably will wind up needing a tranny.
And here I was thinking about swapping my manual 4 speed for an automatic. Found the manual was the same one used in a 5 ton stakebed I have. It was made to be rebuilt. When I pulled the tranny, transfer case, etc it was the size of an engine. This on a 1973 Chev 3/4 ton four wheel drive. The 350 always goes but never fast. 2nd one of those I dropped in. 3rd set of doors. 2nd hood. Front says GMC but back says Chevrolet. Amazing what you can replace. Guy who does emissions for older vehicles in Denver says it would pass the requirements for a new truck. No catalytic converter, no air pump, no anything except new oil every 3000 miles. Sure glad we spent all that money on computers, fuel injection, and testing. Found some electronic parts in Kentucky after dealers quit carrying them. How about going to a manual? Tyr
Hey,
I have pretty much the same truck: '94 K1500, but a manual. Have your mechanic (or yourself) check the fluids in the 4WD. Get's real noisy when low! I also recommend changing the serpentine belt idler, it's about due and it's, like, only 1 bolt. That makes a REAL bad noise when it seizes!
The good news is it's worth it. Mine has 228K on it and still runs smooth. Others in the 'hood have 260-280K.