Rick B

Just turned 100k on my 2012 Chevy Suburban.
The Vehicle has been trouble free up until recently.
Last month about 3 hours from my home in the middle of Bumf*#@ PA, while accelerating up an incline on route 80, the transmission slipped, check engine light came on and vehicle would not move.
Turned Suburban off, waited a couple of minutes, and restarted.
Made the trip home with no problems.
Cleared the codes and everything was fine (don't have the (2) codes in front of me, but they were an rpm out of sequence or something simiular)

Last night while driving home from the airport, same thing, going up an incline under acceleration, transmission stops working and I'm almost redlining the tach. This time no codes or check engine light.
pulled over, restarted and made it home.

Tranny was serviced at 90k (fluid,filter)
It has the 6L80 6 speed tranny with a 5.3
I purchased new, 4WD, no heavy towing history, just an enclosed bike trailer.

Does anyone have an idea what's going on.
Im thinking the tranny is on its way out, but hoping for a simple fix

IMXCITD

I'm thinking you should get your computer scanned at an Advance auto or AutoZone first to see if any codes?? Next....I am wondering if it's a sensor....and not a hardware (transmission itself) issue? You don't mention a lot of towing or off road use you do .....but these transmissions are solid for regular use and I am hoping it's a sensor issue.

Rick B

I scanned it myself, no codes.
No off roading
6 x 12 enclosed bike trailer, probably around 2000lbs loaded.

Don't get me wrong, its not like I baby it, plenty of sheetrock/plywood trips to the Home Depot, and its certainly scene its share of snow/salt from trips to upstate NY.
almost all highway miles, and very well maintained

Patsgarage

What kind of scanner are you using ? You need a higher level one to read TCM codes, a basic handheld unit will only read powertrain codes.

Rick B

Yea, I used a basic handheld unit.
Bringing it in to the dealer on Tuesday.
Drove it today, and it shifted ok?

Patsgarage

It might just have been a "burp" from a sensor, but I would still have it scanned and see what they find. Keep us posted.

Rick B

Ok, so dealer took for test ride , verified trans is slipping and dropped pan.
(No codes . )
Said there was metal shavings in trans fluid
$650 to pull transmission and diagnosis problem .
Warranty expired in May and 1000 miles over.
I asked dealer if chevy would "do something" since it is just over the warranty period. And a transmission should last more than 100k.
Dealer said he would need to know what failed, before he goes to chevy and asks for some type of compensation.
I gave the ok to pull trans and diagnosis for the $650.
Worst case scenario, I am going to have to replace the trans with a remanufactered one for around $3500

Racer86

6L80E transmissions are available most everywhere for $2,200- 2,400.
Easy deal to install

Patsgarage

That sucks, keep us posted on what they find. What dealer is doing the work ?

Rick B

Mcguire Chevrolet/Cadillac in Hampton NJ (Sussex County)

Trans will be replaced with a rebuilt one from GM.
GM offered that I pay for the first $2000 and they would pick up the balance. this includes the $650 removal and evaluation charge, so for 2k, I will get a rebuilt tranny with warranty.
I think this was a fair compromise, considering the warranty had expired.
I will try and find out exactly what failed in the transmission, when I pick up the Suburban the end of this week.

IMXCITD

that sucks regarding the transmission going out....but nice that GM is working w you.

Patsgarage

$2k is not bad for a rebuilt trans with a warranty, but the original should have lasted a lot longer than 5/100. I am interested to see exactly what failed in the original unit.

6l80tech

I've found that the 6l80 usually doesn't make it past 120k miles when it's a stock unit. Even less when people start tuning. If you were quoted 2000 for a rebuild tranny I would say that's a good price.

dmaxx3500

GM rebuild?,,with a 5/100 warrenty?