Transmission is SMOKED....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Transmission is SMOKED....
Stopped in to see the man about my trans..... been slipping some and RPMs surge somewhat at highway speeds. Pulled the dipstick and there actually were chunks of band material on the dipstick in with the very DARK brown fluid and a horrible burnt smell.....
The 96 has 88K on it.....
Anyone else have to rebuild their trans at ~90K or am I just lucky? :confused:
The 96 has 88K on it.....
Anyone else have to rebuild their trans at ~90K or am I just lucky? :confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Bowie MD
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (MCPOWHITE96)
Been there done that 5 times now. Your lucky to get that many miles with stock trans. You have a better one to start with though. Put an extra trans cooler in to cool your trans temps.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (MCPOWHITE96)
As far as I know, mine is the original. 131k miles. It's starting to slip now. Not near as bad as yours though.
My blazer has 105k on the clock and I know that it is original. No reason you shouldn't get over 100k on the original tranny as long as it was built right.
[Modified by Glock'94, 2:35 AM 8/10/2001]
My blazer has 105k on the clock and I know that it is original. No reason you shouldn't get over 100k on the original tranny as long as it was built right.
[Modified by Glock'94, 2:35 AM 8/10/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (MCPOWHITE96)
In my 40 years of driving experience, most of it in GM cars, the history of GM trannies is their lifespan is set for about 65k miles, and anything over that is due to owner dilligence, or extreme luck....this goes equally for all turbo's....
given that, adding a trans-go kit upon proper rebuild the thing will be fine...
of course, I allways add a HUGE tranny cooler in front of the engine radiator...and take the tranny cooling out of the engine radiator, so it runs just on the aftermarket cooler....runs fine...forget all the contrary BS that seems to circulate...
GENE
given that, adding a trans-go kit upon proper rebuild the thing will be fine...
of course, I allways add a HUGE tranny cooler in front of the engine radiator...and take the tranny cooling out of the engine radiator, so it runs just on the aftermarket cooler....runs fine...forget all the contrary BS that seems to circulate...
GENE
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (mrvette)
Hmm, the guys at the dealers said my tranny looked like it may be going, I don't feel it slipping, they said this by the color of the old tranny fluid only, thing is I have a warranty, hundred bucks on drivetrain, etc, do I have to wait for it to collapse or can I just go get it done and expect my warranty to pay for it? Anyone who has experience with warranties, thanks.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (hi-tek-vette)
Changed the fluid 3 times in the last 20K miles. Bought the car used with 57K on it (and they aparently were REAL hard miles)
I thank you for pointing out that I should follow the sugg maint sched.
Being that we have an incredibly detailed planned/preventive maintenance system in the Navy and I am a propulsion plant mechanic, I use the same approach to my cars and cut the man sugg times/miles down by at least 1/3.
I agree with you thought that MOST people have this happen after 65K on the original fluid....
:cheers:
I thank you for pointing out that I should follow the sugg maint sched.
Being that we have an incredibly detailed planned/preventive maintenance system in the Navy and I am a propulsion plant mechanic, I use the same approach to my cars and cut the man sugg times/miles down by at least 1/3.
I agree with you thought that MOST people have this happen after 65K on the original fluid....
:cheers:
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 0
From: Orangeburg, NY
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (Arjen)
Change in color of the fluid is one of the first signs of the tranny going bad, the other is slippage or noise. If they say it is going bad and it is under warrantee, GET IT DONE. MAKE SURE THE SHOP KNOWS CORVETTE TRANNY'S. I also recommend that your trany gets rebuilt and put back into you car. Many times shops have prebuilts, you don't want this
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27,818
Likes: 8
From: CT
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (89 Bob L)
Consider yourself lucky if a tranny lives lots and lots of trouble free miles(hard use). LOL I couldn't get more than three months out of a 700R(I won't get in to it). Finally I have gotten two years out of this 700..the fluid is still original and red and it's performed perfeclty. Needless to say I'm sure LPE beat the hell out of it trying to solve the detonation problem when it was there back in April :D. :smash: :cool: :D 
:seeya :chevy
:seeya :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 0
From: Fl
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (MCPOWHITE96)
I had one rebuilt on the original warranty, one rebuilt on the extended warranty and just now had a rebuild out of warranty (in other words, out of my pocket :( ) The second one was at about 78K miles.
If it's under warranty, get it done. That's what you're paying for.
If it's under warranty, get it done. That's what you're paying for.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 190
Likes: 10
From: southern new jersey
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (MCPOWHITE96)
when i got my 90 chevy van new, i put an extra trans cooler on it....changed the fluid and filter every 15,000 miles and got 180,000 out of the first one and have 170,000 on the one thats in there now and i pull a trailer. and i'm a pretty hard driver, at least thats what they tell me.....so the extra cooler and frequent oil and filter changes really help....it's a 700r4
[Modified by zbo2, 10:08 PM 8/11/2001]
[Modified by zbo2, 10:08 PM 8/11/2001]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Re: Transmission is SMOKED.... (MCPOWHITE96)
OK, so the guy says....
"I cant get it to slip or clunk like you said it does........"
I stop in today and sit in the parking space.... Just shifting from N to OD it almost throws you from the car.
I take the owner for a ride and without saying anything to him, he notices the same "looseness" and slippage I do.
Now it goes on the rack AGAIN for a another look-see.
Time is cheap.
:crazy:
"I cant get it to slip or clunk like you said it does........"
I stop in today and sit in the parking space.... Just shifting from N to OD it almost throws you from the car.
I take the owner for a ride and without saying anything to him, he notices the same "looseness" and slippage I do.
Now it goes on the rack AGAIN for a another look-see.
Time is cheap.
:crazy: