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2013 4.3L Intermittent Trans and Engine overheating warning when not overheating

RadoRevival
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RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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I dont know if I have 2 problems or one so any help would be appreciated. 

 

I bought the truck from the auction a few weeks ago. 4.3L 2013 126K miles. It started giving the transmission overheat idle engine warning at startup. Then intermittently when I would hit the gas. That went away for a few days. No engine code, 

 

Then today, I got P0128. The temp gauge went to 0 and I got the high temp AC turned off warning. It started right when I started the engine. Didn't even get a chance to warm up. 

 

Are these two different issues or does this point to a ecm or something? Again, any help appreciated. 

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
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10 hours ago, RadoRevival said:

I dont know if I have 2 problems or one so any help would be appreciated. 

 

I bought the truck from the auction a few weeks ago. 4.3L 2013 126K miles. It started giving the transmission overheat idle engine warning at startup. Then intermittently when I would hit the gas. That went away for a few days. No engine code, 

 

Then today, I got P0128. The temp gauge went to 0 and I got the high temp AC turned off warning. It started right when I started the engine. Didn't even get a chance to warm up. 

 

Are these two different issues or does this point to a ecm or something? Again, any help appreciated. 

 

 

P0128, I'd start with a new thermostat.  If its stuck closed, you have no coolant flow and will overheat.  The transmission is cooled via the radiator so if there's no coolant flow through there, the ATF tank can't exchange heat through the radiator and cool the transmission.  

  • 2 weeks later...
RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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On 4/9/2024 at 9:11 AM, newdude said:

 

 

P0128, I'd start with a new thermostat.  If its stuck closed, you have no coolant flow and will overheat.  The transmission is cooled via the radiator so if there's no coolant flow through there, the ATF tank can't exchange heat through the radiator and cool the transmission.  

 

If its the thermostat, why would it start working when I clear the code? As soon as I clear the code, the temp gauge goes from 0 to normal and the warning clears.

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

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Posted
13 hours ago, RadoRevival said:

 

If its the thermostat, why would it start working when I clear the code? As soon as I clear the code, the temp gauge goes from 0 to normal and the warning clears.

 

 

After you clear it and the gauge goes back, does it then turn the light on and the gauge goes back to zero?  If it does, that's by design per the DTC in the ECM.  At the end of the day, its 4 possible culprits.  Bad thermostat, bad coolant temp sensor, bad wiring somewhere on the circuit or bad ECM.  The first two are the most likely culprits.   

 

Action Taken When the DTC Sets
  • DTC P0128 is a Type B DTC.
  • The Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge is inoperative.
  • The A/C is commanded OFF and inoperative.
  • The Cooling Fans are commanded ON.
Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

DTC P0128 is a Type B DTC.

Diagnostic Aids

DTC  P0128 occurring causes the Engine Coolant Temperature Gage to default to cold.

 

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RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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On 4/24/2024 at 8:31 AM, newdude said:

 

 

After you clear it and the gauge goes back, does it then turn the light on and the gauge goes back to zero?  If it does, that's by design per the DTC in the ECM.  At the end of the day, its 4 possible culprits.  Bad thermostat, bad coolant temp sensor, bad wiring somewhere on the circuit or bad ECM.  The first two are the most likely culprits.   

 

Action Taken When the DTC Sets
  • DTC P0128 is a Type B DTC.
  • The Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge is inoperative.
  • The A/C is commanded OFF and inoperative.
  • The Cooling Fans are commanded ON.
Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

DTC P0128 is a Type B DTC.

Diagnostic Aids

DTC  P0128 occurring causes the Engine Coolant Temperature Gage to default to cold.

 

 

That's super helpful. So I am going to change both the thermostat and temp sending unit. So hopefully that will clear that.

 

Is there any chance that a bad ECM could be causing my trans temp to normally read nothing and when it does work it jumps all over the place? I have been told on other forums that its the temp sending unit built into the internal harness on my 2013 4L60E

RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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On 4/9/2024 at 7:03 AM, richard wysong said:

sounds like a wiring issue, possibly chafed harness  somewhere?

 

That is what worries me. You can chase those forever. Maybe I will crawl under the truck and look at the harness where it enters the firewall?

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, RadoRevival said:

 

That's super helpful. So I am going to change both the thermostat and temp sending unit. So hopefully that will clear that.

 

Is there any chance that a bad ECM could be causing my trans temp to normally read nothing and when it does work it jumps all over the place? I have been told on other forums that its the temp sending unit built into the internal harness on my 2013 4L60E

 

 

Transmission is handled from the TCM on these year 4L60, not the ECM.  

 

Both the ECM and TCM however do share a common ground, ground G106 which is on the top right rear of the engine, so check that ground out.

 

As far as where each sensor has its ground, its in each module, so the coolant temp sensor grounds in the ECM, the transmission temp sensor grounds in the TCM.  

Edited by newdude
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RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, newdude said:

 

Both the ECM and TCM however do share a common ground, ground G106 which is on the top right rear of the engine, so check that ground out.

 

That is super helpful. Thanks. I will inspect it. (top right rear, is that passenger side?)

 

Can you confirm that the trans temp is in the wire harness in the tranny? And any idea how I can find the part number other than going to the dealer? I can't find it anywhere.

 

Most the time I have no transmission temperature.

Edited by RadoRevival
newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

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Posted
15 hours ago, RadoRevival said:

 

That is super helpful. Thanks. I will inspect it. (top right rear, is that passenger side?)

 

Can you confirm that the trans temp is in the wire harness in the tranny? And any idea how I can find the part number other than going to the dealer? I can't find it anywhere.

 

Most the time I have no transmission temperature.

 

 

The temp sensor is a part of the manual shift shaft position switch.  24248867.  

 

24248867 - Trans Parts Direct

RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, newdude said:

 

 

The temp sensor is a part of the manual shift shaft position switch.  24248867.  

 

24248867 - Trans Parts Direct

 

Half the parts houses I look up that part say its the right fit, the other half say it's not and I need Automatic Transmission Manual Shift Shaft Position Switch - GM (19181161). Seeing how one is $29 and the other is $168 I am hoping you are right.  But nothing anywhere talk about transmission temp sending in any of these parts which is super frustrating.

Edited by RadoRevival
newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted
57 minutes ago, RadoRevival said:

 

Half the parts houses I look up that part say its the right fit, the other half say it's not and I need Automatic Transmission Manual Shift Shaft Position Switch - GM (19181161). Seeing how one is $29 and the other is $168 I am hoping you are right.  But nothing anywhere talk about transmission temp sending in any of these parts which is super frustrating.

 

 

19181161 doesn't even fit a 4L60.  That's for a Tahoe Hybrid 08-13.  

richard wysong Senior Enthusiast

richard wysong

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Posted

Instead of firing the parts cannon you should diagnose the problem lest you install all the new stuff and still have the same problem. Sounds like a wiring issue to me.

RadoRevival Enthusiast

RadoRevival

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6 minutes ago, richard wysong said:

Instead of firing the parts cannon you should diagnose the problem lest you install all the new stuff and still have the same problem. Sounds like a wiring issue to me.

 

 

How should I diagnose the problem? Visually inspect the harness?

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