Transmission Slips After A Week Off

builderpaul · August 4, 2007

Hi,

Got a real job now my 04 2500HD (6.0 - 4l80) has turned into a weekend grocery getter.

When I start it, after sitting for the week, and shft into any gear, the truck is like it is still in neutral.

Step on the gas and it moves but high revs compared to the movement. After about 1 min all is normal and stays normal the rest of the time. If I use it everyday there is no problem.

Truck only has 39K on it. I changed fluid\filter when I first noticed this but that had no effect. Fluid was clear with no burnt smell at all.

Probubly most of you don't let your truck sit but any that do is this something common with this trans?

Seperate issue my ABS light has a very dim glow to it all the time. Is this normal?

I guess these trucks just want to work. Seems to be this truck has more problems from sitting than it has in working everyday.

icecoldtexan · August 4, 2007

Hi,
Got a real job now my 04 2500HD (6.0 - 4l80) has turned into a weekend grocery getter.

When I start it, after sitting for the week, and shft into any gear, the truck is like it is still in neutral.

Step on the gas and it moves but high revs compared to the movement. After about 1 min all is normal and stays normal the rest of the time. If I use it everyday there is no problem.

Truck only has 39K on it. I changed fluid\filter when I first noticed this but that had no effect. Fluid was clear with no burnt smell at all.

Probubly most of you don't let your truck sit but any that do is this something common with this trans?

Seperate issue my ABS light has a very dim glow to it all the time. Is this normal?

I guess these trucks just want to work. Seems to be this truck has more problems from sitting than it has in working everyday.

My 2500HD / 6.0L / 4L80E sits all week long since I have a company vehicle. I have no transmission problems when I start it and drive off. Sometimes it sits two weeks at a time. I keep it in the garage if that makes a difference. It's on level ground and lower temps than if it was in the driveway.

buckeye2002 · August 4, 2007

Hi,
Got a real job now my 04 2500HD (6.0 - 4l80) has turned into a weekend grocery getter.

When I start it, after sitting for the week, and shft into any gear, the truck is like it is still in neutral.

Step on the gas and it moves but high revs compared to the movement. After about 1 min all is normal and stays normal the rest of the time. If I use it everyday there is no problem.

Truck only has 39K on it. I changed fluid\filter when I first noticed this but that had no effect. Fluid was clear with no burnt smell at all.

Probubly most of you don't let your truck sit but any that do is this something common with this trans?

Seperate issue my ABS light has a very dim glow to it all the time. Is this normal?

I guess these trucks just want to work. Seems to be this truck has more problems from sitting than it has in working everyday.

06 2500HD / 6.0L / 4L80E . No trans issues whatsoever, sits 5-10 days at a time. Only 6K on it, though.

BigJayDogg3 · August 5, 2007

01 1500HD / 6.0L / 4L80E. If I am still rolling in reverse and shift into drive and hit the gas, it will rev up then catch and go, but if I am at a stop, and shift into drive, then I have no problems. I think that is something GM built into the trans. software to prevent problems, but I am willing and able to admit I am wrong. With the ABS light I would take it to the dealership and have them take a look at it. That is one of the few systems in a vehicle I am unwilling to mess with, and even if it isn't a problem, IMO it is better to be safe than sorry.

ryank1 · August 6, 2007

The trans issue is normal and it is just the fluid draining out of the torque convertor, as far as the abs light on dim, it sounds like there is some other circuit back feeding into the abs light.

diehrd · August 6, 2007

The trans issue is normal and it is just the fluid draining out of the torque convertor, as far as the abs light on dim, it sounds like there is some other circuit back feeding into the abs light.

A tranny slipping is not normal and the T/C can NOT drain back all of it's fluid unless he is low to begin with and is parked on a steep incline...

I would take it in for service hopefully ya have a warranty , and if ya do have a warranty and are told all is well next time it does that beat that tranny like a red headed step child to smoke the clutches and band ...

wellinghurst · August 6, 2007

Mine is an 03 bought in 02 (5 years old now) with only 42k on it-so you can see it sits a lot. I drive a company car all week. I just drove mine yesterday for the first time since July 5th with no problem, but mine is used to sitting, and your wasn't. It sits for 2-3 weeks at a time regularly. Maybe that has something to do with it. It was used to going everyday.

diehrd · August 6, 2007

Mine is an 03 bought in 02 (5 years old now) with only 42k on it-so you can see it sits a lot. I drive a company car all week. I just drove mine yesterday for the first time since July 5th with no problem, but mine is used to sitting, and your wasn't. It sits for 2-3 weeks at a time regularly. Maybe that has something to do with it. It was used to going everyday.

Guy's these are mechanical parts in a hydraulic system . there is no way it can act funny sitting 1 day or 3 weeks unless a problem of fluid levels exists , I owned a tranny shop.. A delayed engagement is an obvious sign of a problem and if not a fluid level problem then for sure the tranny has a control problem or a part problem..

I would check fluid levels at operating temp to eliminate that as an issue , you did say you changed the fluid I would guess at least 6 quarts of fluid was poured back into unit ? ? If so then u have a tranny problem not a quirky truck .. It sounds like a valve or seal issue that with heat causes expansion of the part and allows the tranny to function properly . . . . .

builderpaul · August 7, 2007

Mine is an 03 bought in 02 (5 years old now) with only 42k on it-so you can see it sits a lot. I drive a company car all week. I just drove mine yesterday for the first time since July 5th with no problem, but mine is used to sitting, and your wasn't. It sits for 2-3 weeks at a time regularly. Maybe that has something to do with it. It was used to going everyday.

Guy's these are mechanical parts in a hydraulic system . there is no way it can act funny sitting 1 day or 3 weeks unless a problem of fluid levels exists , I owned a tranny shop.. A delayed engagement is an obvious sign of a problem and if not a fluid level problem then for sure the tranny has a control problem or a part problem..

I would check fluid levels at operating temp to eliminate that as an issue , you did say you changed the fluid I would guess at least 6 quarts of fluid was poured back into unit ? ? If so then u have a tranny problem not a quirky truck .. It sounds like a valve or seal issue that with heat causes expansion of the part and allows the tranny to function properly . . . . .

Thanks for all the opinions.

Fluid level is fine. This was doing this before the fluid change. There was no difference in operation after the change.

It does seem like there is no fluid is in the torque converter for a while at first start up.

I wonder if there is a way to diagnose this without having to let it sit at a tranny shop for a week or two.

Mentioned it to dealer when I was in at the end of my warrenty for an intermideate shaft. Of course they could not duplicate the problem.

diehrd · August 7, 2007

Mine is an 03 bought in 02 (5 years old now) with only 42k on it-so you can see it sits a lot. I drive a company car all week. I just drove mine yesterday for the first time since July 5th with no problem, but mine is used to sitting, and your wasn't. It sits for 2-3 weeks at a time regularly. Maybe that has something to do with it. It was used to going everyday.

Guy's these are mechanical parts in a hydraulic system . there is no way it can act funny sitting 1 day or 3 weeks unless a problem of fluid levels exists , I owned a tranny shop.. A delayed engagement is an obvious sign of a problem and if not a fluid level problem then for sure the tranny has a control problem or a part problem..

I would check fluid levels at operating temp to eliminate that as an issue , you did say you changed the fluid I would guess at least 6 quarts of fluid was poured back into unit ? ? If so then u have a tranny problem not a quirky truck .. It sounds like a valve or seal issue that with heat causes expansion of the part and allows the tranny to function properly . . . . .

Thanks for all the opinions.

Fluid level is fine. This was doing this before the fluid change. There was no difference in operation after the change.

It does seem like there is no fluid is in the torque converter for a while at first start up.

I wonder if there is a way to diagnose this without having to let it sit at a tranny shop for a week or two.

Mentioned it to dealer when I was in at the end of my warrenty for an intermideate shaft. Of course they could not duplicate the problem.

Does any one know how a T/C works , I doubt it ...Not trying to be a smart arse just trying to help out your question . .

Here is an example of how a T/C works.... take 2 table fans , turn one on and point it at the one that is off,,,See how the blades turn on the one that is off ? Now apply that principle to a T/C and replace the air with oil and thats is how a t/c functions. Also the tranny does not have the capacity to hold its own oil and that of the t/c it is physically impossible..

What you are feeling is Slippage of the transmission . . . And when some heat is absorbed by the tranny parts they expand and function like normal.. Any tranny person would agree with what I am explaining to ya although a dealer would obviously prefer to wait until complete failure or have issues a retard could sense or like usual wait until after the warranty has expired ...

keishbby · August 7, 2007

Mine is an 03 bought in 02 (5 years old now) with only 42k on it-so you can see it sits a lot. I drive a company car all week. I just drove mine yesterday for the first time since July 5th with no problem, but mine is used to sitting, and your wasn't. It sits for 2-3 weeks at a time regularly. Maybe that has something to do with it. It was used to going everyday.

I am having a similar tranny problem. It is a 95 jimmy 4.3L with a vortex engine. When I stop at the light and pull off it works ok for a few blocks then the transmission will not shift into third gear. The engine races and the only way to get it to kick into 3rd gear is to step hard on the gas and then the engine races to 4000rpm's before it will kick over. I just put in a new engine and am not looking to replace the tranny too. Can anyone help?

mmmikkke · August 18, 2007

What you are feeling is Slippage of the transmission . . . And when some heat is absorbed by the tranny parts they expand and function like normal.. Any tranny person would agree with what I am explaining to ya although a dealer would obviously prefer to wait until complete failure or have issues a retard could sense or like usual wait until after the warranty has expired ...

Nice, diehard. That pretty much sums up the jokers at my dealer. No extended warranty for me. I live for the day my warranty expires.

But seriously, builderpaul, there's a chance fluid aireation could be masking a fluid level problem. (If it was a parts problem that needed heat to expand certain parts, you'd see the same problem if the truck sat overnight, but that's not the case.) Have you checked the fluid immediately after starting the engine, with a cold transmission, after it has sat for a week or two? It doesn't take long for the trans to make some micro bubbles in the fluid, which then expands the available fluid and brings up the level. With a cold trans, it should look about 1 quart lower than with a hot trans...but if it looks another quart lower than that, I'd try adding a little fluid.