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Ugh- Transmission

Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
So- the saga continues.

Couple of weeks ago- take it in for HVAC wire recall. Have them flush transmission and coolant while its there.

2days later - radiator cracked. Start it all over again. Ugh.
Day after- AC blowing hot (they over filled it)

Now 2 weeks later- tranny won't go into any gear. Slipped once, and only once, just before pulling up to a pharmacy drive thru. Put it in park, get stuff, put it in drive- NADA. No move. Try reverse- nope.

Stop engine to push it back. Like a dummy I try again- start it, it goes into gear. Pull forward to a parking space. And done- will not go into gear nor move on its own.
Thoughts?????

Towing it back to the place where they've been doing the work (dealership). The same guy have works it each time. Must be on commission LOL (kidding- kind of).
 
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USMC_TOP

Well-Known Member
Messages
491
Location
Muir Michigan
Sounds like that dealership owes you a radiator and a transmission. I would be mad as hell if I never had any issues prior to them working on it

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CaseyS

Well-Known Member
Messages
755
Location
Louisiana
Did you check the trans fluid level? Did all the trans fluid leak out of a cooler line from when they replaced the radiator? That's where my money is on this one.
 

Traxx

Well-Known Member
Messages
682
Location
PNW
I never change trans fluid or have it flushed on higher mileage vehicles 75K+, always seems to cause problems backflushing all that crap back into it. If I get 130k out of a 4l60e I figure I got my moneys worth and just have another one put in.
 

USMC_TOP

Well-Known Member
Messages
491
Location
Muir Michigan
I agree with the not flushing. I believe in changing the filter and cleaning the pan though

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Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
Did you check the trans fluid level? Did all the trans fluid leak out of a cooler line from when they replaced the radiator? That's where my money is on this one.

I did not. But... Dealership is open until 3am. So I took a run down there. Service writer that I dropped the truck with was still there. Hummer was in the exact place the tow dropped it.

I had him go out with me- so he and I could see together. Checked- trans fluid dip stick for level and condition, then removed the radiator cap.

Trans fluid is full- looks normal. No evidence of leaking, mixing, etc...
Radiator full- looks normal, no strawberry milkshake. No evidence of mixing.

Thoughts?
 
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Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
Sounds like that dealership owes you a radiator and a transmission. I would be mad as hell if I never had any issues prior to them working on it

Yeah they know I'm pissed. Made a point to say this has been the most expensive recall I've ever had. Told him it worked fine before.

When I explained to the transmission guy the history- he cringed. But he also thinks the tranny is dead inside. Said a 4L60e with those miles (117k) could be toast. But he didn't look at it yet either. The guy who did the work is calling me when they look at it tomorrow. I might just go down there for that.
 

USMC_TOP

Well-Known Member
Messages
491
Location
Muir Michigan
I have 121000 on mine and knock on wood it's perfect with nothing done to it. I say bs that 117k means it's now junk just because the amount of miles. Not sure if 06h3 had as many miles on his trans as he did on his engine but I think he got well over 200k on it

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Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
To be fair- he said "could". Although, He was immediately convicting it- but clearly something bad is going on. I think he was being realistic, without knowing for certain

Will know more when they check her out.
 
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Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
So here's some other thoughts. I did try cycling the transfer case, and I could not hear that engaging either. Buttons would claim it engaged/changed.

so, could it be that something else is the culprit?

What am I doing??? I'm just mentally trying to out think reality. It will likely need a rebuild/replace tranny. And that wasn't something I was down for, certainly wasn't in the cards.

So, is it better to take it somewhere else and have it rebuilt? Or have them swap in a rebuilt? We certainly know they aren't going to pay for it. The evidence is a little loose- worked fine before all this started. But I have no evidence that something they have done caused this. Could this all be coincidental on a hummer that has some miles on it?

Should I take it somewhere else and get a second opinion? Or just suck it up?

Told my wife (jokingly) that I hope the Jeep dealership didn't see it come in on the flat bed! LOL. She still thinks I should trade it for a Rubicon Hard Rock Unlimited. And even though I have buried that temptation, I am not going to lie, it's still tempting- especially when staring down the barrel of a new tranny after all the other stuff I've put into the H3. But I guess I have to get a tranny either way, which then be like throwing money away, fixing it just to trade it. Which I won't do. But damn the warranty and new/doesn't need all this crap is tempting.

ok I'm just rambling.... I'll wait and see how much this is gonna cost.
 

Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
OK- update. Like I didn't know this already :roll:. Tranny is hosed, mechanically tore up inside. Completely. Supposedly everything else is good (heard that before too).

Options- Used tranny that has 87k miles and unknown history 12 mo/12K mile warranty
or
Brand new tranny- 3yr/100k mile warranty

$700 difference in price. Guess its time to decide if I am keeping it or trading it off.
 

Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
OK- funny odd placed story. As I'm talking to the guy this morning- I ask him "how do I know the t-case isn't gonna croak next?" He says- I've worked in 2 different delaerships and only ever rebuilt or worked on a Hummer t-case 3 times.

Um- hold up there dude- I tell him that before I bought it I know this one was worked on, at their dealership because it was stuck in 4-lo. He looks it ups and laughs. "oh, I remember this truck now, this is one of the 3". He said they replaced the fork that was crap with the newer upgraded piece from GM.

Oh- I just happen to be one of the 3 ever... that you know of????

Ugh- this whole thing is painful. But kinda funny. :) just kinda
 
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650Hawk

Well-Known Member
Messages
545
Location
SoCal
Just to throw another item into the mix...my wife has a 2006 Tahoe 4x4 (same engine & trans as my H3 Alpha) that was going into neutral while driving. I thought it was the trans, and the stealership actually diagnosed a shot trans; wanted $3000 for a new trans. I had a local shop put in a used trans for $1700. On the way home, it slipped into neutral!!!!! Turned out to be the encoder motor on the transfer case, and there was nothing wrong with the transmission! Before you have the stealership replace the trans, get a second opinion from a trans shop.
 

alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,663
Location
Scottsdale
I went with the GM transmission when I replaced mine, in part because of the warranty and I was only about $500 difference between GM and the independent shops. I'd rather get a reman from a good shop than an 87K used transmission. You're going to lose more than $2000 in value if you trade it in now as a non-functioning vehicle.
 

Airborne

Just a regular dude
Messages
294
Location
Utah
117k out of a tranny is not a ton. I have over 123k on mine and I am not nice to it at all, and it is still running very very well. To note though, I did tune it, so it shifts firmer and that helps it last longer. Also I always use redline fluids.

I would get a second opinion for sure. Unless there was a time where the trans had zero fluid in it, it really shouldn't be toast.

Just my experience with them.
 
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Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
Just to throw another item into the mix...my wife has a 2006 Tahoe 4x4 (same engine & trans as my H3 Alpha) that was going into neutral while driving. I thought it was the trans, and the stealership actually diagnosed a shot trans; wanted $3000 for a new trans. I had a local shop put in a used trans for $1700. On the way home, it slipped into neutral!!!!! Turned out to be the encoder motor on the transfer case, and there was nothing wrong with the transmission! Before you have the stealership replace the trans, get a second opinion from a trans shop.

I'll check that out too. Good call.
 

Texatl

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Location
SW Ohio
I went with the GM transmission when I replaced mine, in part because of the warranty and I was only about $500 difference between GM and the independent shops. I'd rather get a reman from a good shop than an 87K used transmission. You're going to lose more than $2000 in value if you trade it in now as a non-functioning vehicle.

Yeah- I would do the same. Warranty and unknown history I don't want some used jankety transmission. I'll go new as well. and when I do I'll likely keep and not trade her off.
 

rsc

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,087
Location
Tulsa
OK- update. Like I didn't know this already :roll:. Tranny is hosed, mechanically tore up inside. Completely. Supposedly everything else is good (heard that before too).

Options- Used tranny that has 87k miles and unknown history 12 mo/12K mile warranty
or
Brand new tranny- 3yr/100k mile warranty

$700 difference in price. Guess its time to decide if I am keeping it or trading it off.

For $700, buy the new transmission. Half the cost is in removal and reinstallation.
 

06 H3

a.k.a. "The Jackal"
Messages
9,496
Location
Meridian, ID
This is why I avoid the dealership...only one I'd trust is Zachs...my 2 local GM ones have burned me before.
 
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