According to technical service bulletin PI4075, it’s quite common for the transmission to overheat in the 2010 – 2012 Cadillac SRX equipped with either the 6T70 transmission or 6T75 transmission.
What Transmission Do I Have?
GM had to write this technical service bulletin because numerous owners complained that the transmission in their Cadillac SRX was overheating. They would get a message in the drivers information center (DIC, if so equipped) that said “transmission hot – idle engine “. The diagnostic trouble codes/DTC’s P0218 or P0634 would usually accompany this problem.
This TSB was designed to help technicians figure out the cause of the transmission overtemperature situation. So one of the first things they were told to do was ask the customer how they had been driving the vehicle before the transmission overheated. Some of these questions included how fast were they going, what kind of roads were they on, were they using the cruise control, how far did they drive, were they towing a trailer etc. In many cases, the way the vehicle is being driven could have contributed to the transmission overheating.
If however, the vehicle is being driven normally and based on the answers, there was no obvious reason for the transmission to overheat, the technician was instructed to connect a scan tool and take the vehicle for a test drive. During the drive, they were supposed to monitor different vehicle systems and sensors like the transmission fluid temperature sensor/TFT, the engine coolant temperature/ECT and the transmission control module/TCM. This data should help them determine whether the problem was transmission or engine related.
Four of the most common causes of transmission overheating in the 6T70/6T75 transmission included:
1. Too much transmission fluid
Having too much transmission fluid can actually cause the transmission to overheat because the excess fluid will foam and prevent the ATF from lubricating or cooling the moving parts. Plus, the extra transmission fluid will increase the internal pressure, which will not only cause the transmission to overheat, it can damage the seals and other components as well.
2. Dirty or old transmission fluid
As transmission fluid breaks down, it’s no longer able to cool or lubricate the moving parts as it was designed to. Therefore, if the transmission fluid is not clean and bright, it can actually contribute to transmission overheating.
3. Restrictions in the transmission cooler circuit
The transmission cooler is obviously very important to keeping the ATF at a normal operating temperature. So any kinks in the lines, or restrictions can cause the transmission cooler not to function properly, which will result in an overheated transmission.
4. Mechanical problems
It’s advisable to check for proper shifting functionality, and look for any DTC’s that may indicate mechanical failures for the transmission. Any of these can overheat the transmission.
The 2010 – 2012 Cadillac SRX actually helped the brand gain a foothold in the growing luxury crossover segment. Unfortunately though, it was betrayed by its transmission, which had numerous problems unbefitting a Cadillac. So if you want to correct all of these transmission problems at once, then you need to consider a remanufactured 6T70 transmission or remanufactured 6T75 transmission from a company like Street Smart Transmission. They completely reengineer these transmissions to correct all of the factory design flaws, then they give them a 3-year/unlimited mile nationwide warranty. If you would like to learn more about this convenient option, click here.
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.
