Help – Diagnosing A Problem / Advice

[j_t]

Yesterday, my wife’s 02 Tahoe (w/167,00 miles on it) had an issue, and from what she is telling me this has happened a few times over the last couple of months.

 

When leaving from a stopped position (traffic light), she pressed the accelerator and the truck did not move, she let off the accelerator and then pressed it again a little harder and the truck moves on down the rode like nothing was wrong. This has only happened a couple of times in the last few months, most times it leaves from a stop just as it should.

 

Note: I just replaced the rear brake pads, which were way over due. Could the pads be sticking?

 

I took the truck for the ride and it shifts from gear to gear very smooth, the transmission fluid is a little low, maybe half a quart, and a nice pinky orange color. ATF fluid and filter changed at about 95,000 miles.

 

Could this be a transmission issue? I need a little help diagnosing this; I don’t know where to begin.

[bill190]

Is the engine revving as she presses more and more on the accelerator?

[j_t]

The details are unknown. I would guess that is it did. It happened once yesterday and also once about three weeks ago. Since then I have driven the truck all around town and to work. The truck is driven daily avg 10-20 miles a day.

[rodram]

Could be the first indication that the auto transmission is getting worn out. From now on you may experience this and other almost unpredictable operation/performance of the transmission. I'd be very careful (..or reluctant) about taking this vehicle out for a long highway road trip on a hot day, or using this vehicle for towing anything in the condition that it is. My trans just crapped out last week (at 140,000 miles) on the highway while pulling my travel trailer, and I managed to limp it home after it lost OD and a lot of trans fluid. Only previous indication of any issue was a hard shift from 1 to 2 on a hot day a few weeks earlier. So I now have a totally rebuilt trans (4L60E) and will be trying to get another year or 2 life out of the truck after putting that much $$$ in.

 

So if you really like the vehicle, consider a transmission overhaul/rebuild before you get stranded somewhere..... or if not, then consider a trade-in.