Just in time for the burgeoning SUV craze, the Chevy Tahoe delivered a fullsize sport utility experience, that would actually fit in most garages. However there was a glaring problem with the 4L60 transmission. Namely, it would drop some very important gears, potentially leaving owners stranded. So let’s take a closer look and find out what can cause this.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Why your Chevy Tahoe has no reverse
To find out the reason for this problem, we need look no further than Chevrolet’s own TSB 00-07-30-022D, which you can read for yourself by clicking right here. They determined that the problem affected the following vehicles:
1995 Chevy Tahoe
1996 Chevy Tahoe
1997 Chevy Tahoe
1998 Chevy Tahoe
1999 Chevy Tahoe
2000 Chevy Tahoe
2001 Chevy Tahoe
2002 Chevy Tahoe
2003 Chevy Tahoe
2004 Chevy Tahoe
2005 Chevy Tahoe
Spanning over 10 years of production, this problem affects the first two generations of the Chevrolet Tahoe which were fitted with the 4-speed 4L60E transmission.
The Problem
Manufacturer’s design flaws are not unusual, but they can be extremely annoying and costly to owners. This is one of those instances. Apparently the reaction sun shell was made from weak metal, and the teeth that locks the shell into the sun gear would break off, allowing the sun gear to spin in both directions. This would result in the lack of reverse, as well as the occasional loss of second and/or fourth gears.
The Solution
In order to correct this problem, a new heat treated, i.e. stronger, reaction sun shell will need to be installed. However, the broken teeth from the old reaction sun shell most likely circulated throughout the transmission and caused further damage. For this reason, the entire transmission will need to be carefully gone through to determine what else needs to be addressed (particularly in the valve body, where those small shards of metal can wreak havoc).
This will not be a cheap problem to fix, which is why you may want to consider investing in a quality remanufactured 4L60 transmission from a company like Street Smart Transmission.
How much is it going to cost to fix my transmission?
Unfortunately, the problem described here will require the removal and disassembly/partial disassembly of your transmission. Given the labor time involved to remove the transmission from the vehicle (this is not a simple task), most repair shops will recommend that you go ahead and rebuild the entire transmission while it’s out. Since they already have to tear it down, it sort of makes sense to spend the extra money to do that. After all, you should get a lot more mileage out of your transmission once it’s rebuilt. And since they’ve already got the transmission apart, might as well, right? Well let’s take a closer look and find out.
Why a remanufactured transmission might be a good option
While you might not be able to buy a brand-new transmission for your particular vehicle, a remanufactured transmission is a terrific alternative. They’re completely reengineered from the ground up and put together on a factory assembly line. They often contain a lot of upgrades over their stock form, which means that many of the design flaws that result in premature failure of components, can be eliminated. This can give a reman transmission a much longer service life than it originally had.
Remanufactured transmission companies like Street Smart Transmission put each of their reman transmissions through a rigorous build process that ensures a quality product every time. It begins with nearly 100 trained technicians that specialize in different aspects of the build process.
Once the build is complete and it passes the final quality control inspection, the newly remanufactured transmission is sent to the dyno room, where it’s tested on a special dyno machine using a proprietary software program called C.A.R.S. (Computer Aided Real-world Simulation). This cycles the transmission through a number of real-world driving situations, to ensure that it performs according to the factory specs. It also helps to break in all of the friction components, that way it’s completely tuned and ready to go once it’s installed.
Warranty – One of the benefits of buying a remanufactured transmission vs. a rebuilt transmission is the warranty. Street Smart Transmission for example, covers all of their reman transmissions with a 3 Year/Unlimited Mileage Nationwide Warranty (there is a mileage restriction for commercial vehicles). This covers parts and labor for transmission repairs performed by any licensed repair shop in the country. It’s also completely transferable if you ever decide to sell the vehicle. Compared to a mechanics warranty on a transmission rebuild, a remanufactured transmission warranty offers superior financial protection.
What Transmission Do I Have?
So is a remanufactured transmission worth it?
If you plan to keep your vehicle for as long as possible, then getting a rebuilt transmission is certainly a viable option. However, a remanufactured transmission is actually a much better alternative in the long run. You’re getting as close to a brand-new transmission as possible. Companies like Street Smart Transmission also modify the transmission to correct all of the factory design flaws, which allows you to get a much longer service life from the transmission. So in terms of value for the money, a reman transmission might be the better way to go. To learn more about the remanufactured transmission for your vehicle, click here.
