Another 4L60 transmission

pm26 · March 7, 2006

Several weeks ago I posted that my neighbor's 2004 Z71 transmission went kaput at about 35.8k miles. He was towing a fairly heavy trailer (about 9-10K lbs) short distances locally and did not use the tow mode. In addition to transmission failure, he also experienced heavy clunking when the transmission was shifting and he claims that it was becuase of this clunk that he hated to use the tow mode becuase the clunking got worse.

Today I heard that another guy who lives down the street from me, lost the transmission on his '06 Z71 with 25K miles. He was supposedly pulling a 30 ft travel trailer with it. I do not know if he used the tow mode or not. What is going on here? Either these guys are abusing and overloading their trucks, or there is something weak in these transmissions. Not good news for me who just bought an '06 Z71 a few months ago. I have no intention of pulling a large trailer with my truck, but i expect it to be able to pull 4 - 5k lbs without a problem, even long distance. I think I just made the decision to get a 2500 instrument cluster with a transmission oil temperature gauge. But now I am not convinced I bought the right truck. Maybe I should have bought a Dodge Cummins 3500 dually with a 6 speed manual transmission and 11.5 inch differential ring gear.

5.3almnblk · March 8, 2006

Dont worry those guys have no clue what they are doing, first of all you need a transmission coler if you dont have one, these transmissions can haul 9k pounds here and their but if your going to haul over 7000 pounds every day i suggest go to a 1500. the trailer you want to haul wont do any much damage but as stated before use TAW HAUL MODE thats why its there, my friend plows with a 4.8 and uses taw haul because the plow is heavy for a 1500 and he has 64k miles and 58 of those is with a plow and no transmission problems.

OUMike · March 8, 2006

Several weeks ago I posted that my neighbor's 2004 Z71 transmission went kaput at about 35.8k miles. He was towing a fairly heavy trailer (about 9-10K lbs) short distances locally and did not use the tow mode. In addition to transmission failure, he also experienced heavy clunking when the transmission was shifting and he claims that it was becuase of this clunk that he hated to use the tow mode becuase the clunking got worse.

Today I heard that another guy who lives down the street from me, lost the transmission on his '06 Z71 with 25K miles. He was supposedly pulling a 30 ft travel trailer with it. I do not know if he used the tow mode or not. What is going on here? Either these guys are abusing and overloading their trucks, or there is something weak in these transmissions. Not good news for me who just bought an '06 Z71 a few months ago. I have no intention of pulling a large trailer with my truck, but i expect it to be able to pull 4 - 5k lbs without a problem, even long distance. I think I just made the decision to get a 2500 instrument cluster with a transmission oil temperature gauge. But now I am not convinced I bought the right truck. Maybe I should have bought a Dodge Cummins 3500 dually with a 6 speed manual transmission and 11.5 inch differential ring gear.

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Exactly what 5.3alum said. If your pulling heavy trailors like that without a cooler and with a half ton truck you pretty much get exactly what your after. I have a 4L60 that has not has regular maintence performed on it in 10 years probably and runs solid at 200k. They are solid trannys.

redvett · March 8, 2006

The guy with the 06 couldnt have bought it earlier than 1st October and at 25000 mi he had to live in it to rack up that kinda miles. If these guys havent used the T/H mode there asking for it a deserve the results. Towing correctly requires the use of a little sense and care. The trans 4L60E is as good a trans as any other MFR's out.

pm26 · March 8, 2006

I know that the '04 owner had a factory towing package on his truck. However, he was towing a heavy trailer in town, and not using the tow mode meant that the transmission went into overdrive at very low RPM, and the torque converter kept locking and unlocking all the time no doubt, which he may have interpreted as a clunk. In this case, the transmission external oil cooler probably did not help much.

I do not know about the other guy's truck, but vast majority of these trucks are ordered with the 5.3, locking differential and tow package (=light duty power package).

Anyway, if I had any intention of towing 8000 lbs+ trailers with my truck on a regular basis, I would have gotten at least a 3/4 ton, maybe even a 1 ton truck. I intended to tow an 8000 lb boat/trailer about 2 miles to the dock at low speeds maybe once a week, but now I do not think I would risk even that, so I will not be buying the bigger boat unless I get a bigger truck. I use the tow mode when towing anything heavier than my jet ski, which is about 700 lbs with the trailer. Towing my 4500 lb boat/trailer is no problem using the tow mode, and I tow it only about 2 miles one way to the dock and back.

ken1mod · March 8, 2006

I know that the '04 owner had a factory towing package on his truck. However, he was towing a heavy trailer in town, and not using the tow mode meant that the transmission went into overdrive at very low RPM, and the torque converter kept locking and unlocking all the time no doubt, which he may have interpreted as a clunk. In this case, the transmission external oil cooler probably did not help much.
I do not know about the other guy's truck, but vast majority of these trucks are ordered with the 5.3, locking differential and tow package (=light duty power package).

Anyway, if I had any intention of towing 8000 lbs+ trailers with my truck on a regular basis, I would have gotten at least a 3/4 ton, maybe even a 1 ton truck. I intended to tow an 8000 lb boat/trailer about 2 miles to the dock at low speeds maybe once a week, but now I do not think I would risk even that, so I will not be buying the bigger boat unless I get a bigger truck. I use the tow mode when towing anything heavier than my jet ski, which is about 700 lbs with the trailer. Towing my 4500 lb boat/trailer is no problem using the tow mode, and I tow it only about 2 miles one way to the dock and back.

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The 4l60e is a stout box but anything can be broken. Stop worrying.

ken

DJinCO · March 8, 2006

I tow a 28' Travel Trailer; about 7000lbs total with everything loaded and the truck loaded up a down the mountains here in Colorado. Synthetic fluids changed about every 30K; regularly change the rear diff fluid and oh yea... use the tow/haul mode.

Also important, you won't win a drag race, so why try. Take 'er easy and let up on the gas... what's the hurry?

61,500 miles on my Tahoe today. Purrs like a kitten! I have to look at the tach to make sure the engine is still running!

pm26 · March 8, 2006

It looks like you have a really good transmission. Did they change any parts in these transmissions in '04 and later to make them less stout and durable? You never know these days. Companies are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and it is possible that they introduced some weak link into the existing good gearbox, just because they got a good deal on it from some shady parts supplier.

I sincerely hope that I am wrong about this. It's just that two late model truck transmission failures early in life in my neighborhood make me feel strange about all this. Especially that there are no hills here in Florida.

asilverblazer · March 8, 2006

No hills, but plenty of heat and traffic too. But I've never been there.

bigdogxx · March 8, 2006

Several weeks ago I posted that my neighbor's 2004 Z71 transmission went kaput at about 35.8k miles. He was towing a fairly heavy trailer (about 9-10K lbs) short distances locally and did not use the tow mode. In addition to transmission failure, he also experienced heavy clunking when the transmission was shifting and he claims that it was becuase of this clunk that he hated to use the tow mode becuase the clunking got worse.

Today I heard that another guy who lives down the street from me, lost the transmission on his '06 Z71 with 25K miles. He was supposedly pulling a 30 ft travel trailer with it. I do not know if he used the tow mode or not. What is going on here? Either these guys are abusing and overloading their trucks, or there is something weak in these transmissions. Not good news for me who just bought an '06 Z71 a few months ago. I have no intention of pulling a large trailer with my truck, but i expect it to be able to pull 4 - 5k lbs without a problem, even long distance. I think I just made the decision to get a 2500 instrument cluster with a transmission oil temperature gauge. But now I am not convinced I bought the right truck. Maybe I should have bought a Dodge Cummins 3500 dually with a 6 speed manual transmission and 11.5 inch differential ring gear.

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The 4l60e is a solid tranny unless there is a idiot behind the wheel, no offence to your neighbor but he is the one that bought the wrong truck not yourself.Regular 1500's are not meant to pull a 10,000 pound load that is the job for 2500hd and up tell you neighbor it's not gm's fault that he tried to go the cheap route and tow to much with to little of a truck!Why do you think the hd models do not come equiped with a 4l60e?

Man you need to just enjoy your purchase instead of worrying about the guy down the streets truck or your friends friend truck!If you dont plan on hauling loads over rated for what the truck can handle such as the people you know, i dont see you having a ton of issues.

Norseman · March 8, 2006

Sounds more like a problem with the part between the steering wheel and seat.

I really think auto makers should add an Id 10 t code to the OBD II system.

IDGBZ71 · March 8, 2006

I have an 02 1500 Z71 tow package that I only tow a 14ft john boat about 12 times a year short distance and my tranny went out at about 40,000 miles but fixed under extended warrenty. It shifts better then it did new now.

pm26 · March 9, 2006

I have an 02 1500 Z71 tow package that I only tow a 14ft john boat about 12 times a year short distance and my tranny went out at about 40,000 miles but fixed under extended warrenty. It shifts better then it did new now.

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Now I am so nervous that I use the tow mode even for towing my jet ski!

Norseman · March 9, 2006

Now I am so nervous

There are medications that can help you with this problem.

bigdogxx · March 9, 2006

Really pm why are you so worried about something that has not even happened to your truck yet?For every one tranny that needs replacing before 50k there are probably a couple hundred thousand that still operate fine.

Dont back up then throw it into gear before coming to a complete stop, and make sure the oil is clean and kept cool under tow conditions and i doubt you will see any trouble for many many miles.