Is transmission done???

nhproxr · January 16, 2006

Alright from time to time after long drives or pulling a trailer I can slightly smell trans fluid burning in my '98 Yukon. Yesterday I drove an 1 hour straight on highway and by the end of trip could smell it pretty good. In town seems like it might be searching 3-4 a little bit, but it might be my imagination cause I can smell the fluid and am looking for problem. Truck has 3.42 gears so it hasn't held 4th gear well ever since I got it around town. Other then that no significant slipping or porr performance felt.

Truck/tranny has 145K miles. Like I said before truck has 3.42 gears, has trailer towing package including HD trans with deep pan and factory trans cooler, and I had added a B&M shift+ which when activated increases line pressure for firmer shifts while I tow trailer.

Filter/fluid change and call it good? Too late for a transgo kit to save it?? Or junk it and replace it or have rebuilt?

Dhorn33 · January 16, 2006

I personally never tow anything in OD because of all the horror stories I have heard about the 4l60e. I had a 93 Chevy and now a 98 GMC that I use to tow my Jeep on a 16 ft. trailer and I have been advised by many to always use 3rd gear when towing. I don't know if yours is too far gone and in need of repair - but I wouldn't recommend towing in OD with a 4l60e anymore!

Bish · January 16, 2006

Agree completely on the suggestion to not tow in OD.

I would do a fluid and filter change and then a couple of drain/fill to get most of the fluid out. Or replace filter and then a flush. Then see how it drives with fresh fluid. Mine started to slip at around 145K too. I got it rebuilt but I also wanted a shift kit and no torque management and I was pretty sure my tranny would have grenaded so I had it built. Given I tow long distances, I didn't want to take the chance I would be stranded.

At that mileage, I have to believe it is close to rebuild time even if it's only frictions that are bad.

nhproxr · January 17, 2006

I personally never tow anything in OD because of all the horror stories I have heard about the 4l60e. I had a 93 Chevy and now a 98 GMC that I use to tow my Jeep on a 16 ft. trailer and I have been advised by many to always use 3rd gear when towing. I don't know if yours is too far gone and in need of repair - but I wouldn't recommend towing in OD with a 4l60e anymore!

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Oh no I never tow in OD, never have never will. I usually trailer snowmobiles from late Nov through early April every weekend. Usually 3 sleds in enclosed 16' trailer weighing in somewhere in the 3200-3300 lbs range through the mountains. I'd have killed it real quick in OD.

bish, think your advice is sound. Might dump fluid and change filter and see what I can do. I would like to crutch it at least through winter so I can work more comfortably in the shop come spring. I'll get it redone if its still slipping though, don't really want to be stranded 100+ miles from home on a riding trip that's for sure!

Nobody makes a crate order tranny for this truck? I looked around a little online and found nothing, thought Jet Performance made replacement trannys??? I would like to swap it out myself if I could but don't want to deal with it if it's going to be too much of a hassle.