Transmission Overheating?

jro909 · December 3, 2009

after i drive my 04 1500(z85) for long periods of time it almost feels like it revs for a long time in first then finally shifts, i'm not sure if its overheating or what? i drove today for a good hour and a half straight, stopped and took off again and it just reved with no power then finally went into 2nd and moved and ran fine...am i crazy?

Nytemare · December 3, 2009

Flush the trans and replace the fluid with synthetic...it handles heat way better.

Smell the fluid, and see if it has a burnt smell to it....if your not sure what ATF is supposed to smell like go get a quart and sniff it.

And yes you are crazy...but that has nothing to do with your trans

jro909 · December 3, 2009

its fairly new fluid, and no its not burnt..it has this thing too where the first inital shift frn 1st to 2nd when cold, where it gets ready to shift then just goes blank, if i roll into the throttle a little more it shifts and after that everythings kosher

Nytemare · December 3, 2009

Sounds like a fully functioning stock tuned 4L60E to me.

As fluid heats up shifting takes longer...mine acted the same way until I switched to RP Synthetic, it improved by a lot...than I got it tuned...now its shifts are crisp.

rodram · December 3, 2009

... sounds like your 4L60E transmission is wearing out.... you are in good company... it has happening to many of us .... what's on your odometer ... my guess is somewhere between 100,000 and 140,000 miles

... take it to a good transmission shop... they may tell you some shift sensors are going bad... (that would be the good news...) or they may tell you your clutches or shift bands are worn out.... (then it's time for a total transmission and torque converter rebuild.)

... a performance tune won't help if the transmission is worn out

Good Luck

gmtech4 · December 3, 2009

... sounds like your 4L60E transmission is wearing out.... you are in good company... it has happening to many of us .... what's on your odometer ... my guess is somewhere between 100,000 and 140,000 miles

... take it to a good transmission shop... they may tell you some shift sensors are going bad... (that would be the good news...) or they may tell you your clutches or shift bands are worn out.... (then it's time for a total transmission and torque converter rebuild.)

... a performance tune won't help if the transmission is worn out

Good Luck

+1 ,is the engine light on by chance,.

transmissions should never rev up ,even electrical fault will be a higher gear on some ,but it won't slip.

changing oil does not make the clutches thicker and restore function,lol,though alot of peoplle think to do that ,right Rod?

Nytemare · December 4, 2009

... sounds like your 4L60E transmission is wearing out.... you are in good company... it has happening to many of us .... what's on your odometer ... my guess is somewhere between 100,000 and 140,000 miles

... take it to a good transmission shop... they may tell you some shift sensors are going bad... (that would be the good news...) or they may tell you your clutches or shift bands are worn out.... (then it's time for a total transmission and torque converter rebuild.)

... a performance tune won't help if the transmission is worn out

Good Luck

+1 ,is the engine light on by chance,.

transmissions should never rev up ,even electrical fault will be a higher gear on some ,but it won't slip.

changing oil does not make the clutches thicker and restore function,lol,though alot of peoplle think to do that ,right Rod?

Depends on whats going on. If he means it takes longer to shift when its hot...That use to be my problem before I got a tune and switched to Synth. ATF.

If its just Reving...AKA slipping and not going anywhere...than yeah its done.

Taking a long time to shift to second is, from what I have read on various boards, normal operation of a Stock hot trans.

But I beat the piss out of my 4L60E...and its fine...I have 70K on my truck...and I don't exactly treat it nice all the time. Why would I baby a trans that I can replace with one that can handle 600ft-lbs of torque for 2500 bones.

zaac · December 4, 2009

it has this thing too where the first inital shift frn 1st to 2nd when cold, where it gets ready to shift then just goes blank, if i roll into the throttle a little more it shifts and after that everythings kosher

The reason for that is to warm up the engine faster and get the heater blowing warm air. It explains in the owner's manual.

jro909 · December 4, 2009

i have 98k on the clock, tranny has been well taken care of and babied, it only happens if i drive for very long periods of time, i average 30 miles one way a day to work and it shifts fine, yesterday i drive 60 miles with 600 pounds of concrete and after that is when it started, no lights and no codes..truck shifts like a dream most of the time, in the summer when driving alot and such in the heat is when it does it so i pinned it to the transmission fluid being thin like you guys said, i have dexron 3 in there or maybe 4..whatever the dealership put in when i got my transmission dropped last month for a new front seal, 3k miles before that or so i had the filter and pan dropped and new fluid was added then too so the fluid should be in good shape..pretty much all the fluid in the truck is new lol

Tight Lines · December 4, 2009

Nytemare, the trans you are talking about for 2500, do you have a manufacture and or part number? Will it fit a 5.3?

Nytemare · December 4, 2009

Nytemare, the trans you are talking about for 2500, do you have a manufacture and or part number? Will it fit a 5.3?

I'll do you one better...heres the website

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/4l60e.htm#Price%20Chart

Sorry though...to make it handle 600ft-lbs its 2800 bucks....it needs the raptor drive package that's 300 bones.

It will fit ls style engines....so yes 5.3 is included in that and you can tow up to 6000lbs in 4th gear with this trans.

Nytemare · December 4, 2009

i have 98k on the clock, tranny has been well taken care of and babied, it only happens if i drive for very long periods of time, i average 30 miles one way a day to work and it shifts fine, yesterday i drive 60 miles with 600 pounds of concrete and after that is when it started, no lights and no codes..truck shifts like a dream most of the time, in the summer when driving alot and such in the heat is when it does it so i pinned it to the transmission fluid being thin like you guys said, i have dexron 3 in there or maybe 4..whatever the dealership put in when i got my transmission dropped last month for a new front seal, 3k miles before that or so i had the filter and pan dropped and new fluid was added then too so the fluid should be in good shape..pretty much all the fluid in the truck is new lol

Do you use the tow/haul button when you have loads in the bed, as well as when you tow? That's what its for you know.