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Took it to a authorized GM dealership and dropped it off at service and have them run a diagnostic.
Called GM Customer Service 1-866-942-4368 and told them about the problem.
-GM CS said, I would have to authorize that the dealer tear into the tranny, if it wasn't just wear and tear, they might help pay (actual amount variable). If it was just wear and tear then you pay-all of it.
-Here's the catch. If if is just wear and tear and you pay, tearing into the tranny and fixing the parts can cost more than just replacing it from the start. But you have to take the risk if you want the chance of them paying. I figured it couldn't just be wear and tear at 44k miles, so I took the risk.
-Dealer calls me back and gives me two options.
1- They would fix it for about $1250 with 12mo/12kmiles warranty (that's after GM has covered 50% of the cost, so if they didn't help, it would've cost $2500)
or 2- Replace the engine for $3350, in which they would apply the $1250 discount if I were to just fix it to the cost of replacing- so the total cost to replace would be $2100. Benefit of this is 10yr/100k warranty.
Note that if I were to just fix it from the start, it would've cost me about $3100.
I couldn't afford to replace it since $800 is a lot of money for something so unexpected. I told them to just fix it for $1250.
When I called the dealer to ask if it was done-he told me that the total cost comes out to $575. GM covered the rest. When I got the receipt, the payment I made was to some warranty. I didn't ask any questions and just felt relieved that I didn't pay what I was expecting. Even though I paid over $500 to get to where I was already at.
I then filed a complaint to the NHTSA website at
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Consumer.cfm
I am currently in the process of buying a new car.
What goes around comes around. And I hope GM sales continue to decline because of the porrly built products or the lack of acknowledgement they are taking on the issue. The only people I feel bad for are the people that are gonna lose jobs because of poor GM decisions or non-decisions.
I wish you the best of luck on whatever choice you make. Keep us posted!
I would be interested in joining efforts to recoup monies spent on this expensive repair.
Yes, you are correct.... and GM RWD cars/trucks usually don't have transmission problems until well after 100,000.... My daily driver is a 2001 Chevy Blazer 2WD, with 4 speed automatic. I now have 98,500 on it and (knock on wood) have not had any engine or transmission problems!
I just found this web site, it is great. I have a 00 Suburban with 55k and just got word that the transmission is bad. It was making a whining in 1st gear for months. Well it is costing $2500 to fix. I am very sad that this truck has not lasted for any amount of time without problems. I will never buy another Chevrolet. We have a Toyota 4 runner with over 200k with minor problems, also a Volvo which is great. I feel better that it's not just my bad luck, after reading everyone's problems, but feel bad for everyone having to pay so much money for problems that should not happen so early in a vehicle's life.
What do I do just wait around until the thing blows?? Guess Im glad I renewed my onstar in case Im stranded in some strange place.
How many miles are on your vehicle? The owner's manual recommends changing the tranny fluid at 100,000 miles, but I had mine done at 67,000 miles a few months ago. If you have more than 50,000 miles on yours, I would suggest going ahead and getting the fluid serviced. The reason I went ahead and did was I too was getting ready to take a long round trip drive and some of the posts on this forum were concerning. HOWEVER...most people who post on this forum are going to post problems since people are seeking advise etc, including myself. The dealer can flush your tranny fluid for $150 and it is good preventative maintenance. I did not take mine to the dealer and I decided to have my fluid drained the old fashioned way by a reputable local transmission shop for $79. Next time I will probably have it flushed.
Im not to worried about the O2 sensor. I got them to replace it. My extended warrenty paid for everything but $100 deductible. (total cost $206) I was pretty amazed they paid for any of it.
I think this waiting until 100,000 for things might not be a good idea for this vehicle.
Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'll get the tranny fluid changed before I head on my trip. If I choose to not take the TB I'll still get it changed maybe at 50,000. Im not to far away from that. So you think its just as good to use a local transmission place to do that?
The guys at the dealer looked at me like I was a nut cause I wanted an answer to my problem that didnt exsist.
"The filter change with a few quarts of new fluid doesn't seem to shock a high mileage tranny like the flush does"
amigo_john, "Isuzu Trooper" #8070, 30 Jun 2003 10:46 am
Steve, Host
Also, I work in the service department of a GM dealer and the repair instructions state that the material used in the sun shell of the 02 TBlazer (as well as the GMC Envoy and Olds Bravada) was not able to withstand the heat in the transmission causing it to strip. From 2003 on, GM built the transmissions with a "more heat resistant material" which reduces the likelihood of this happening.
I went to back up in my drive way (back up mind you) and after about three feet or so the tranny went into nutral, no reverse! I should consider myself lucky because it will move forword.
67,000 miles on it BUT HEY! I changed my transfluid with an evaquator system between 12 and 20 thousand miles and the filter twice in the last three years on top of that.
Had I have known I was going to buy a car that the trans would go out in 67,000 miles I would have bought a Expolore, everyone knows they have a sick trans.
If Chevy would like they can contact me and I will build a better transmission for them. It should take me all of about fifteen minutes to do it.
That Trans never even made a hickup and that motor put out some torq.
No wonder GM has to give emplyee discounts in an economy with 5% un-employment. :P
I'm going to file a complaint to any place that will listen including the NHTSA. I'm also going to drop a stackful of complaints from all these websites on the service managers desk. He'll do for a start.
i have submitted a complaint to the NHTSA and GMC. I encourage everyone to do the same.
Read my post in the other forum
Now 3 months later, (5000 total on OD) my kids and I were driving down the freeway yesterday at 65 mph when the RPM'S shot up to 4500-5000, and it was loosing speed. I pulled over on the shoulder and checked the fluid level, it was fine. I started to get back on to the freeway, 1st and 2nd engaged just fine, but as soon as I got up to around 35mph the rpm shot up again and it would not shift to third. I had to use the on star for the second time in 3 months to have it towed. I was told under the GM warranty that they will provide a tow up to 20miles, anything over and above that was my responsibility, so now it's at a GM dealership 50 miles away from my home. I'm still waiting for a phone call from the dealership as to what they say the problem is.
When I asked about a rental I was told that they would give me the phone number to some local rental agent's, but I would have to pay for it and apply for reimbursement. 3rd times a charm...It will be my last Chevy
1st transmission dies at the 5000mile mark.
2nd transmission lasts from 5000mile mark to the 85,000mile mark
3rd transmission lasts from 85,000mile mark to the 142,000mile mark.
4th transmission to be installed Friday 9-9-05, with 142,000mile on the odometer.
Transmission in question? The 4L60E of course. I'm the second owner, bought the car when it had 119,000miles on it.
I can't believe GM would allow this transmission with all of it's problems persist for so long.
rustyFuryIII
Mad Momma
Anyhow, she took it to her honda dealer for an estimate, they came back saying it was a second gear solenoid, $85 for the parts.....
Just make sure you get a second opinior or second estimate.
I filed a complaint with the NHTSA and they haven't responded yet either. I also contacted a class action law firm in Atlanta but they wouldn't take the case. I don't understand why no one is willing to do anything about this.
1 and 2nd gears. no warning at all. someone needs to notify GM. Let me know what happened. I have to try to get mine fixed now. :lemon:
Print out these posts and tell them to order a sun gear. That is what I did and GM gave me the same deal as it would have been under warranty.
Good Luck
Notice when you are in traffic on a worm day with the A/C on your trailblazer will heat up to 225 degrees? I have talked to GM about that and they say their motors are designed to run at 245. Well if they want to say that then fine but their transmission can't run that hot and poof there goes your sun gear.
I do not believe the engineers can build a good running car today. The best thing the car industry could do at this point is use the designs from the engineers that are long gone now.
GM, want to fix your trans problem? Go back to the Turbo 400 Trans and get the computer chips out of the transmissions and you will have it fixed.
Your current transmissions can not handle heat or towing unless they are diesel trucks and that is only because you had the insight to use Allison Transmission knowing that the transmissions that you build could never hold up the torque of the diesel motors. well unfortunately for your customers the SUVs can not hold up either.
I will take cars form the 50s and 60s from now on and build my own cars with aftermarket parts. It is to bad everyone can not do that because we are to the point now that is the only way to get a well engineered car.