Lost the Transmission Today - WED 10/2 Update

[BurbMan]

*Update at end of thread*

Well at 144K miles it finally gave up. Had a great drive today down to Western KY for some camping. Campsite was challenging to say the least...trees on both sides of the road, high blacktop edges to back over but I was getting it done and looking forward to a cold one when I got her in the spot.

Much maneuvering and watching the trans temp hit 220, which it has never done, but one last push and I am in the site. Shift to reverse, and nothing...no noise, no drama, no puked fluid, just no motion....and here is where I am:



I unhitched the TT and Good Sam sent a flatbed to park the TT in the site. I had a tow strap and a fellow camper pulled me back out of the neighboring site. Still have all forward gears, just no reverse. Drove it around the CG, pulls strong and lots of torque, shifts fine, just wont go backwards...

Went in and had a beer waiting for the tow truck



The word from the locals here is to go with a Jasper rebuilt and hav it installed by a local mechanic...apparently the last good trans rebuilder here retired and now there are none.

Anybody know of a good shop in the area that can rebuild a 4L80E please post or PM or text me 631.404.0131 ASAP. I am at Kenlake resort on 80 just west of LBL.

[T_in_Michigan]

I had the exact same thing happen to mine, I messed around with an aftermarket before finding out it was too short by a few inches, then the muffler shop I took it to told me they could get the replacement pipe for $45. I was pretty mad they didn't mention that earlier.

[BurbMan]

Thanks for the links.

[Norskeman]

Don't get me wrong - DEXRON-VI is a good fluid. GM upgraded to it for good reasons.

There is a "sticky" on you model of tranny - many postings on no reverse. Probably a good place for GM 4L80/85E Transmissions. 6L90 Transmission tranny info.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/57-gm-transmissions/134-4l80-85e-transmissions-6l90-transmission/

[covetsthesun]

Thanks Burbman... One less thing to think about.

cts

[BurbMan]

I never had any indications of failure...I just changed the fluid and filter this spring, fluid looked good, no debris in the pan, etc. When I lost reverse there was no drama in terms of noise, smoke, fluid loss, nothing. Just no reverse.

I was telling a friend yesterday that I always had it in my mind that when the trans started to go, I would track down a rebuilder that specializes in 4L80E's and get the HD upgrades on the TC, internals and whatever else. I was confident that there would be signs of slippage, erratic shifts or whatever that would let me know it was time for a rebuild. Well, either there were no signs or I completely missed them. Since I had all forward gears left, I thought about limping home and finding a rebuilder, but in the end I concluded that it was just not possible to hitch up to an 8500 lb TT with no reverse, especially when the terrain slopes away from the front of the TT.

At any rate, Jasper claims that they "address" known weak points in transmissions with their rebuilds. Frankly, there are few if any factory weak spots in the 4L80E, it's a pretty stout unit. The way I look at it, it took me 12 1/2 years to put 145k miles on this truck. So if I "only" get another 150k miles from the new transmission, the engine will be at 300k and the truck will be 25 years old, and most likely retired from towing duty.

I am well within all the ratings on the truck so I am not asking it to do magic tricks. The best part is that Jasper gives me 3 yr 100K mile warranty on the unit, so any problems and I get it replaced.

NOTE to covetsthesun: The ONLY approved fluid for the 4L60E in your Silverado is Dexron VI. BUT, Dex VI is not a brand, it's a specification, and is made by several manufacturers. valvoline makes a Dex VI, see here. If yiu had the work done at the dealer I can guarantee you they used Dex VI spec fluid, and Valvoline happens to be a good brand, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[covetsthesun]

Just had my 2004 Silverado 1500 tranny serviced yesterday... I said ONLY use GM approved fluid.. they used Valvoline Professional. Now I'm feeling a bit nervous because my trans has 204K miles on it.

No issues...no spots on the floor...no grinds, hitches, catches, vibrations etc. At this mileage though... I think I'd better get a back up plan. I'm often on some stretch of highway between the middle of nowhere and heaven knows.

Great post...makes me wish I'd listened to my Dad a little more.

cts

[Lantley]

wnjj wrote:

down home wrote:
When designing the drive trins for towing they do it sell it with the most profit.
They don't thin of things like heat build up from slow backing with a heavy, or even light load on them.
Logical solution is an additional cooler with thermostat and effective FAN(s) that kicks in before it gets hot. They make them.
Additional fluid capacity also very good for the life of tranny as is better filtration. Notice that most auto trannys now, all they do is flush? Get an extra capacity pan too and an external smaller micron filter. It might cost you three, four hundred or so but it would give peace of mind and a longer life of the tranny.

A longer life for this tranny means nearly 300,000 miles on the truck. I don't think that would be a priority for me on a replacement.

My truck has currently 152K on original tranny and motor it is not unrealistic to expect 300K out of the Duramax. I would hope my Allison is good for at least 150K as well. 2x 150K= 300K
There is nothing wrong with building things to last vs. built in obsolescence.

[Gale_Hawkins]

Good point wnjj.

[wnjj]

down home wrote:
When designing the drive trins for towing they do it sell it with the most profit.
They don't thin of things like heat build up from slow backing with a heavy, or even light load on them.
Logical solution is an additional cooler with thermostat and effective FAN(s) that kicks in before it gets hot. They make them.
Additional fluid capacity also very good for the life of tranny as is better filtration. Notice that most auto trannys now, all they do is flush? Get an extra capacity pan too and an external smaller micron filter. It might cost you three, four hundred or so but it would give peace of mind and a longer life of the tranny.

A longer life for this tranny means nearly 300,000 miles on the truck. I don't think that would be a priority for me on a replacement.

[greende]

Thanks for the update. Glad things are well now.

[down_home]

When designing the drive trins for towing they do it sell it with the most profit.
They don't thin of things like heat build up from slow backing with a heavy, or even light load on them.
Logical solution is an additional cooler with thermostat and effective FAN(s) that kicks in before it gets hot. They make them.
Additional fluid capacity also very good for the life of tranny as is better filtration. Notice that most auto trannys now, all they do is flush? Get an extra capacity pan too and an external smaller micron filter. It might cost you three, four hundred or so but it would give peace of mind and a longer life of the tranny.

[BurbMan]

Finally home! Truck seems to have more power...will have to take it out without the trailer and see how it feels. I drove from the shop to the CG to hitch up, so have about 23 miles of break in time....

The first 30 mins or so of the trip were terrible...I couldn't select 3rd gear manually, it kept wanting to downshift to 2. It finally smoothed out and runs awesome now. I think the issue was the computer not having enough re-learn time with the new transmission before towing with it. Once the trans computer figured out what it was doing all was well.

Yes, lines and cooler were flushed, as you would any time the trans is removed for replacement or rebuild. What's nice is that labor and parts are both warranteed...as long as the unit was installed by a certified Jasper dealer.

I will call and verify the fluid....but the ONLY fluid approved by GM for the 4L80E and their other transmissions is Dex VI...the ONLY exception that I am aware of to Dex VI is the Ally. Did extensive research on this when I changed the fluid in April, deciding whether to stay Dex III (which is no longer Dexron but sold as "Dex/Merc") or go with Dex VI.

The shop advised no break in was required, and I confirmed that with a few transmission guys I know.

This is what kept me off the road an additional week:



Broken flange on the right front pipe where it bolts to the manifold. Note crappy weld job from previous repair attempt that I was not aware of.

Had to order the whole pipe, was a GM only part.

[Norskeman]

Put in the "best" tranny fluid you can. I would think that you could use a TES 295 fluid.

Transmission lines and cooler may need to be flushed.

Take a look at the Jasper page.
http://www.jasperengines.com/index.php
First maintenance will be at 5000 miles.

DEXRON-VI is not synthetic. It is made from a blend of Group II and Group III base oils plus the additives package. It does not contain any PAO (polyalphaolefin) which would make it a "true synthetic" Group IV like TranSynd and the other TES-295 approved products.

DEXRON VI is a TES-389 approved fluid

I use TranSynd in the Allison in my truck.
TranSynd is probably the best option. Even though Allison changed seal materials to be compatible with DEXRON-VI, TranSynd will last longer and remain more stable over a given time period.

TES 295 approved fluids:
Castrol - - TranSynd
BP - - Autran Syn 295
Cognis Corporation - - Emgard 2805
International - - Fleetrite Synthetic ATF
ExxonMobil - - Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF
John Deere - - HD SynTran
Volvo - - Bulldog Synthetic ATF

[mtofell1]

Wow.... sounds like an ordeal. But you seem to be making the most of it (I take it you haven't run out of beer 🙂 )

Just curious... is there any break-in recommendation on the new tranny? Can/should you tow the trailer home right away?

See there.... I may have just got you another couple days camping 🙂