Transmission Failing on my Silverado

[bigmike]

So I was going on a 180 mile trip to South Carolina to visit my wife's grandparents and I didn't make it past 60 miles.

Some history on my truck:

It only has 48,500 miles. The ATF was serviced at 25k by my service shop. I did a cooler line flush at around 45k with Dexron VI, which is FF. Added a magnefine filter at that time as well.

Fluid level was checked before the trip in Park, while the vehicle was warmed up. Fluid looks good and smells good, reddish color. It should be as I just changed it only 3k miles ago.

I was cruising at 70 MPH with the cruise control set and I heard a grinding noise, almost sounded like I was dragging something, so I got off the interstate and dropped it into neutral. Once I came to a stop, I was going to limp it to a gas station and it barely made it across the road. A pretty loud squealing sound and it felt pretty bad.

Needless to say I got to the gas station after checking everything I could (fluid levels, leaks, etc.). Nothing I could really do so, since it would still drive, I drove it to the gas station.

It would shift from 1st to 2nd, but no 3rd. It has reverse.

I had it towed home and now it sits until Tuesday before I can get it in the shop. I have an extended warranty which will most likely cover the cost.

I'm pretty disappointed right now. I don't tow anything and never have. I don't even have a hitch! I baby this truck and I don't push it too hard. It was shifting perfect, so soft I barely noticed.

I am pretty certain that the transmission on these trucks are supposed to be a good ones - am I wrong?

I guess I'll find out more this week once the technician has a chance to check into it. I'll update you guys then.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
The ATF was serviced at 25k by my service shop.


Do you know what transmission fluid was put in, hopefully you got the right fluid during this visit.

 

[bigmike]

The paperwork says Dex 6. It's a GM service shop and they have always been spot on with the work they've done for me.

But you never know....

 

[OVERKILL]

That really sucks. Makes me glad that my transmission is massive overkill for my application. I'm the opposite of your driving style. I tow frequently and drive hard.

You have the same engine as my uncle in his Sierra, maybe the same transmission? I don't know. I don't think his has ever been serviced, and has been problem-free. Go figure.

 

[HM12460]

The 4L60E's are not the greatest transmission on the road by any means.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
The 4L60E's are not the greatest transmission on the road by any means.


Yes, but failing at 48K miles in an '06 is very unusual. It would be different if it was a '98 with 130K miles or something.

There's no reason the fluid change should have done anything if the correct fluid was used and there was enough of it...it sounds like that is probably the case. I guess it was just a freak failure?

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
The 4L60E's are not the greatest transmission on the road by any means.


They are not, but as 01rangerxl points out, they typically last quite a while.

The first one in my truck lasted a bit over 200k with no fluid changes. Other people I know have had them last at least 150k with no issues, even some people who have run their trucks pretty hard.

I will say this, 1 of 2 weak links on the 4L60E is the lock-up shift and the 1-2 shift.

 

[mrsilv04]

My next door neighbor is the general manager for a construction equipment dealership, and they don't baby their Chevy/GMC pickup trucks at all. He's got a small fleet of GMT800's ('99-'07) and a few GMT900's right now.

I'll send him an email and see what his history is as far as transmissions. Since I have a Silverado, I've asked him about changing the transmission fluid and filter on his trucks, and he's told me that he doesn't worry about it.

I know that he's had a 1999, a 2002, a 2006, and a 2009 (all Silverados) since he's lived next door to me, and I can't recall him ever having a major failure of any sort, with any of them.

When he gets a new one, they throw his old one (usually with around 90k on it) into the pool for the mechanics to finish off.
I know that they're still using the 2002, I just saw him driving it the other day.

That's odd, Mike.... will be interested to hear what is discovered.

 

[Manny_Ramirez]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, Mike. Keep us updated.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: HM12460
The 4L60E's are not the greatest transmission on the road by any means.


They are not, but as 01rangerxl points out, they typically last quite a while.

The first one in my truck lasted a bit over 200k with no fluid changes.


Exactly. I've seen beat up delivery trucks with 4L60E's do 200K on factory ATF. As far as domestic ATs go, the 4L60E is one of the better ones. A failure at 48K on a gently used truck is very rare.

Joel

 

[Propflux01]

Have anything to do with the installation of that mag filter? I mean, 3500 Miles after install and Wham, dead transmission....

 

[sciphi]

It could be a solenoid. The solenoids in GM transmissions get flaky with age.

Also, the Magnefine hasn't shown to cause transmission failure. If anything, it'll enhance transmission life. There's a first time for everything...

 

[addyguy]

FIL has an 04 Silverado 4.8. I don't know the details, but I believe his transmission failed, or developed serious problems, soon after he bought it at about 75-80k miles, and it had to be replaced. This was a 'gently used' highway truck.....

 

[The_Jeff]

coworker had this happen with his 2003 s10 4.3 at ~80k. He's still driving it in 2nd b/c he doesn't have $750 for a used trans.

In his instance he was throwing a "4th gear ratio wrong" code for a couple months before he got locked out entirely.

 

[Steve S]

Transmissions fail due to poor design. The quality is engineered out for the big CEO bonus. Not because syn oil wasn't used.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Horsecrap!

That's a freak failure, could easily be due to the filter install or wrong fluids used.

We have run many 4L60E's and their brethren, 4L65E's for OVER 200k. And they are never babied here!

 

[caravanmike]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Horsecrap!

That's a freak failure, could easily be due to the filter install or wrong fluids used.

We have run many 4L60E's and their brethren, 4L65E's for OVER 200k. And they are never babied here!
i agree, way to many examples out there that show oem 4160e going 200k plus! i think this case is a low statistic!

 

[bigmike]

Just a brief update...

The truck will drive, but it's not real good. I tried to drive it yesterday and managed to get down the road and back. When I put it in Drive or 1st, the truck RPM drops almost where it feels like it's going to stall out, but then recovers. It also has a slight noise.

It shifted from 1st to 2nd but made a squeal or squelch noise. It didn't jerk or shudder. I didn't try to get it into 3rd, because it wouldn't go into 3rd at all on Saturday.

Reverse feels perfect so I backed it back into my driveway. I'll still get it towed to the shop tomorrow.

It does feel like a freak problem. It gave no warning of any failure at all. I wouldn't have taken on the trip had I suspected anything.

I've been under the truck 3 days in a row prior to that - once to grease the zerk fittings, another time to do an oil change, and lastly just to check for any problems (rust, brakes, any sign of leaks, etc.). I normally do a check before I go on any long trips as well.

We'll see what happens. I purchased this truck used in 2006. Manufacture and sale date were in July of 2005. It only had 13k miles on it and was driven by a construction foreman. Because of the lease terms, there should have not been any towing on it although it was sold with towing package, the hitch was removed. I figure I would have noticed something if there were a problem long before now.

With almost 49k, it still looks new and drives perfect. No clue what could have gone wrong.

 

[MrCritical]

Betting they'll find a big crack in the low/reverse shell when they take it apart. Should replace it with new design/stronger shell.

 

[Michael_P]

I have had a healthy exposure to 4L60E's and 4L65E's. They are a decent, adequate transmission in my book. If they don't break in 60,000 miles you'll get 500,000 miles out of them.