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GMC Jimmy Transmission Problems

gmcdanielgmcdaniel Member Posts: 1
1998 Jimmy After truck warms up shifts hard between 1st and 2nd gears. any ideas
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Comments

  • topher85topher85 Member Posts: 2
    I recently pulled the tranny, had it repaired, and put it back in. The ABS light stays on,the engine light stay on, the speedo doesn't work, and it doesn't shift into 3rd, only 1st and 2nd. At first it would only stay in 1st, i topped up to oil and then it went into 2nd. Does the computer have to be reset in any way? If anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it. Thanks
  • foxracer1foxracer1 Member Posts: 9
    hi this is brian i have a 2000 gmc jimmy i had the same problem come to find out i had to replace the speed control sensor its located on the back of the trans u will see a wire that plugs in and the sensor screws out u change that and u will find out the abs light will go out and the serves light will also go out and speed o will start to work again hope i helped u out just to let u know they go all the time theres 3 of them on my truck so hope i helped u out later brian
  • arizona_marinearizona_marine Member Posts: 1
    Don't know if you got it fixed yet or not but i wanted to confirm another answer that was posted. I have a 01 Jimmy and I recently had my speedo go out, ABS light stay on, check engine light, parking brake light flashing and couldn't shift beyond second gear. I limped it to a repair shop and the computer code was the speed sensor. $143 later and the mechanic had it up and running again.
  • topher85topher85 Member Posts: 2
    Yea I got it fixed now, thanks for replying. There was one plug that wasn't fully contacting and then they replaced a small plastic piece that bolts to the side of the tranny on the left lower side. I don't remember what it was exactly, some type of linkage was attached to it. There were 2 electrical plugs built in and one of them was broken.
  • shrekzillashrekzilla Member Posts: 1
    Hello all, my name is Justin and i am from Michigan. I have a 97 4wd Jimmy. This started about almost a month ago. It was at first an every once and a while thing at the start but it seems as if it is pretty constant now. When the car is place in the Over Drive position, it does not seem to start in the 1st gear position. Possibly 3rd gear is where it starts. If you put the car in 1st gear, it runs in first gear and so on for the other gears. I just don't know what the problem is and i am hoping to get something done by myself without having to pay some guy hundreds of dollars...I do not think that it is mechanical because there has been no slippage or jerking while shifting. This seems to have started all of a sudden over the past month. Also, it seems like when you park the car, it thinks that it is in some sort of gear. I say this because I cannot get the key out of the ignition. I have had the ignition replaced about 2 years ago because I could not turn the key. I know that the car is in Park because I have tried to push it while off and have been unsuccessful, so I am pretty sure it is Park.....I could really use you folks wisdom...please do help.
  • dbldsdblds Member Posts: 1
    Hi My 94 Jimmy suddenly started dropping into neutral after running for a couple minutes. When engine is first started, it will go into drive and reverse but drops into neutral within a minute or so. Shut off engine and restart it, it again goes into gear then neutral. Anyone know what's causing this? It was running great with no transmission problems. Appreicate any help!
  • foxracer1foxracer1 Member Posts: 9
    hi this is brian i have a 2000 gmc jimmy 4wd i would like to know if anyone may now how long it takes to change a tranny on my 2000 gmc jimmy 4wd i was told 9 hr it just seems really hi because i have change trans before and it was never that long if anyone knows please let me know email is foxracein_17@yahoo.com thanks brian
  • randomherorandomhero Member Posts: 1
    Like so many other people on this board, I am having transmission problems with my Jimmy.

    I have searched high and low to find the culprit to what is going on...

    Mine is a 1997 Jimmy 4x4. When it is cold outside, the transmission shift hard from 1-2 and takes quite awhile (as well as a low speed) to shift from 2-3-4.

    The RPM needle shakes violently back and forth thus preventing the vehicle to obtain speed.

    The vehicle WILL shift eventually, but this make going up a slight hill very slow and time consuming.

    However, when the vehicle is warm or the weather is even warm outside, the transmission shifts great and doesn't seem to hesitate at all.

    Could this be something as easy at the TPS, Ignition related, or perhaps bad plugs?

    Help me out here as I am growing tired with this vehicle.

    Thanks.
  • mikeymademikeymade Member Posts: 2
    IF SOMEONE CAN HELP IT WOULD BE GREAT. MY JIMMY WILL GO INTO GEAR WHEN I FIRST START IT UP, BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP I GOT NOTHING. SO COULD IT BE THE TRANSFER CASE OR THE TRANS. ANY HELP WOULD BE THANKFUL.
  • fordfan_17fordfan_17 Member Posts: 175
    need just a little more info on your jimmy year is important and fluid condition. normally transfer case will not cause this problem as the t-case is basically a mechanical link converting power to the front driveline consisting of a chain and 2 sprockets and 2 shift forks 1 for 4 wheel drive and the other for high range low range and if your vehicle moves at all you can basically eliminate the t-case as being the problem
  • ratfisherratfisher Member Posts: 1
    My95 jimmy auotmatic shift from 1st to 3rd gear skipping second .It does the same thing on down shift . It wont work manualy either ,what would be causing this to happen ? The transmisson was working ,it happen all at once.
  • hellcattthellcattt Member Posts: 3
    OK guys - bear with me, Im a girl, but not a mechanic and Ive got mechanical issues and need some great advice! Got a 2000 GMC Jimmy 4x4 automatic. Transmission felt like it was slipping or surging. My old mechanic checked it out and said it wasnt slipping, but he thought it wasnt shifting when it was supposed to. He said it was waiting too long to shift gears and would jump in and out of overdrive several times before locking in. He sent me to a transmission specialist who checked it with a computer and the code P1870 popped up. He said it was the torque converter and would charge $700 to replace it. Went to a new mechanic who said to try flushing out the transmission first (146,000 miles and was probably way past due). We tried that - didnt flush out the converter though - they said very little metal in the fluid, it worked great for 2 weeks. They also put some sealant in there that is supposed to seal any leaks. Two weeks later, the same surging occurred and it started shifting harder some, but it doesnt do it all the time. Some times it drive great, no problems. We tried pulling a pontoon boat with it and it doesnt surge then, but it did overheat - no coolant left in it but its disappearing with no apparent leaks. Not sure if the problems are related. Now the check engine light is on. I was planning on replacing the torque converter since that was what was told to me what was wrong with it, but after reading some of these posts on how something small and simple can cause major symptoms, Im hoping I wont have to drop that much money into fixing it, as Im on a budget now and was hoping someone could give me a better idea of what else to look for that may fix it before I spend all that money and my problem still may not be solved. Any help is appreciated : ) Thanks guys :) Cattt >^..^< :confuse:
  • jeffstone1960jeffstone1960 Member Posts: 1
    Hi. I have a 1990 S15 4x4 Jimmy with a manual 5 speed transmission that went out. If I rock the car in 1st it makes cranky noises like some scraping a bar across gears.

    I love this truck! Mechanic says not worth fixing at 187k. I agree ($890) but, If i can find good used or rebuild for under 300 I'm going for it!

    What tranny or rebuild kit do I need? Will a 4 speed work? Are there any special tools I need for a rebuild?
  • mdega287mdega287 Member Posts: 1
    I got a 96 Jimmy 4.3L 4wD Auto, everytime I go on the highway after a good 45 mins my check engine light pops up,but everything checks out and when I stop my truck at a light or something and start to go my first gear roughly goes into second and jolts my truck then after I get rollin it runs smoothly but its just that first gear that sounds bad, but my Check engine light remains on for the whole trip and stays on for about a week then turns it self off. Can anyone tell me whats going on?
  • bwill1961bwill1961 Member Posts: 1
    there are lots of issues with these transmissions my 2000 jimmy trans failed about 140000 mi which coded p1870 trans slippage.. torque converter usely take care of the trouble but sometimes in the valve body you can have sticking piston.you can fix this without taking tranny out. by the time you pay for the parts and labor and might not fix trouble.. you can go on ebay an buy a rebuilt tranny for about 500 to 600 + shipping. that what i did my jimmy run great pulls hard shifts great. cost me around 800 dollars. but i am a mechanic done the work my self . it would cost around 2100 at a trans repair shop. hope this helps..
  • edge42edge42 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 99 GMC Jimmy that will just barely take off in drive (whining noise) but it will go just fine if you start out in 1st, shift manually to second then to drive. I changed the filter and fluid. The fluid wasn&#146;t burnt and very little debris in the pan. Still have the same problem! What&#146;s the most likely fix?
  • hellcattthellcattt Member Posts: 3
    Got tired of no one being able to tell me for sure what was wrong with it before I dropped several hundred dollars into and the whole undercarriage was rusting away so I gave up on it and traded it in on a Toyota truck :)
    Thanks to everyone who tried to help :)
  • nljewellnljewell Member Posts: 21
    My Jimmy is hesitating when first taking off, only when engine is cold. And occasionally when cruise is on, the rpm's will surge up alittle. I have changed plugs and wires, put new fuel filter on, replaced egr valve, added some BG44K, and am waiting on a new cap and rotor in the mail. I am out of ideas of what is wrong. Any suggestions? Is it the tranny?
  • nljewellnljewell Member Posts: 21
    Well I put on my new cap and rotor and that didn't do squat. I took it in for a diag. test this morning and the "mechanic" said he didn't know since there was no check engine light on, so he couldn't check the codes. My next steps are to change coil, temperature sending unit, and change trans. filter. Please reply if you have any ideas.
  • ray63ray63 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2000 GMC Jimmy. It started out with my Gas Temp RMP and Speedo guages not workin while driving. They would quit workin for like 10 secs then back to normal. Then it went to not workin and not being able to get my key out of the Ignition. When i cant get my key out of the ignition i would have to disconect the battery. When i would start my truck with the key stuck when i put it in to drive it would shift hard into 2nd gear. While driving it will only shift into 2nd gear and 3rd no overdrive. and usually after driving around 2 miles all the guages will start to work but it still wont shift properly. any help on this would be most welcome
  • debbehdebbeh Member Posts: 1
    I have a '96 Jimmy (automatic 4x4) that has up till today, been a great vehicle. No problems what so ever. Just regular maintainance. Today while driving along my transmission just quit working completely. No forward or reverse. There were no unusual noises or sounds, I was just driving along when I noticed my rpms going high. Pulled to the side of the road, checked fluids, all which were correct, and when I put the car back in drive... nothing. Pleez help if u have any ideas or suggestions on what the problem could b.
  • rhtransrhtrans Member Posts: 84
    Other than the trans being damaged inside, pump failure, a broken input shaft or possbly the converter stripped which would be unusual...maybe the transfer case somehow got engaged in neutral. If you put in drive then back to park and hear a grinding sound thats what it is...if not somethin just unfortunately broke or stripped in the transmission.
  • hiltsy82hiltsy82 Member Posts: 1
    I had my tranny fluid and filter changed a few days ago they said everything looked good now my engine light came on put it in drive and feels like its draging rpms revs really high just to start moving like someone is pulling you as your trying to drive away it dose that in all gears but rev
    4hi dose it but not 4lo any ideas would be great
  • peterock81peterock81 Member Posts: 2
    your best bet would be to find a used one you can just throw in instead of doing a rebuild. You can put in a 4 speed maunel with no problems but you'd probabally be happier with the 5
  • dmfischer5dmfischer5 Member Posts: 1
    I have the same problem with my 97 Jimmy, just spoke with a Transmission Tech and he said they probably didn't remove the cross-member to get at the last 2 bolts that are hidden by it and probably damaged the solenoids on the bottom valve body when they wriggled the bottom pan off. If you take your Jimmy in to have they engine scanned (free at all Advance Auto Parts stores) it should give the codes to tell you this. Hope this helps.
  • santino2700santino2700 Member Posts: 2
    the revers recently went out in my 01 jimmy and it slips from 1st to 2nd. i have taken out all bolts from trans housing but havent had time to pull tranny out to replace it. i have 4 kids and one is girl so dont get alot of time to repair truck. one mechanic told me that when i pull back im goin to have to loosen the torque converter from the flywheel, can someone explain to me??? my dad was a great mechanic but, he was murdered in march,09 so i cant get advice from him anymore. please someone help!!! there is a guy who is tryin to sell me a transmission out of a jimmy that was submerged in water would tranny still be good?
  • ashleysman0216ashleysman0216 Member Posts: 2
    i have 2000 gmc jimmy and it stalls when i take off and it gos and stops and wont go then it goes and then it reves to 4000 or higher rpm and wont go any faster than 40 mph then it finally goes and acts normal what do u think email me at classiccar0612@charter.net
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    tryin to sell me a transmission out of a jimmy that was submerged in water

    I wouldn't go anywhere near it. Beyond possible water damage, transmissions don't ordinarily become submerged without serious stress on the entire system.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • nikki0124nikki0124 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 99 GMC Jimmy a couple of weeks ago the check engine light came on and it started to hesitate when I would accelerate from a stop. I took it to auto zone they could not read anything the thing in my car they hook the machine up to is messed up. Anyways my car now dies. I start it and it goes a little bit then dies again. Has anyone had this happen to them? Does anyone know what it might be?
  • sambatessambates Member Posts: 1
    i have a 95 gmc jimmy that s no over drive. before i this it was shifting hard and i still had over drive so then i change the transmission fliter and fluid it stoped shifting hard but now i have no over drive my check engine light is not on so i have no clue. dose anyone have an idea what going on with it
  • kazgarothkazgaroth Member Posts: 1
    Hi, I have a buddy with a 95 jimmy that's doing the exact same thing. Any chance you ever figured out what was causing the problem?

    My friend is a disabled Vietnam vet and on a budget so i was hoping i could help him out with this.

    Thanks
    Kurt
  • phillski86phillski86 Member Posts: 1
    i've got a 1998 jimmy with 2wd only, the transmission seems to surge between gears when at 45 mph and up. it feels like it down shifts for a second, then finds the correct gear again. it does this every five seconds or so even when its on cruise control... anyone got a suggestion?
  • hellcattthellcattt Member Posts: 3
    I never could figure out what was wrong with mine and finally traded it in - didnt want to spend $800 on a torque converter and that not even be my problem.
  • jaqdadijaqdadi Member Posts: 3
    ok, I have a 95 jimmy sle 4.3, 4l60e auto, w\111K, the vehicle as a whole is in excellent shape, I let my mother drive it to boston and back (40 mile each way) on the way back the water pump blew and dumped all the fluid and also the tranny overheated and flushed a bunch of it's fluid, by the time she noticed the needle was in the red and the vehicle had no power. Towed it home and replaced the water pump, fortunately no damage to the engine as it is running perfect, added some tranny fluid as well, but, now it won't move when I shift it in to 1st, ther is some minor movement, a few straining inches, in any other forward gear I get nothing, when I first start it I can get a few feet in reverse but that's it. I have no problem tearing the engine apart and putting it back together, however my tranny work is limited and so is my budget. I have all the tools and space to work on it. I have replaced solenoids, filters , flywheels, etc.. in many other vehicles so I am not affraid to open this up I would just like to know where to look if possible? thanks.
  • jaqdadijaqdadi Member Posts: 3
    I just put it up on jacks and started it, it shifts and the tires move in forward or reverse, but when on the ground nothing. I also am draining the fluid and I have never seen tranny fluid this dark brown and very thick. It's like 80 deg and sunny out and this stuff looks like molasses on a co;d day.
  • jaqdadijaqdadi Member Posts: 3
    Actually i'll be learning how to do a full rebuid on the 4l60e transmission, this one must have gotten pretty hot cause one of the electrical connectors was completely melted off and the fluid in the pan was like graphite sludge, so in the end i'm probably gonna get it right, but I know it's gonna be painful. If anyone was considering any suggestions, thanks.
  • jimmydadjimmydad Member Posts: 1
    I am having the same problem with my son's 2000 Jimmy. What did yours turn out to be?
  • focofoco Member Posts: 2
    I have a 95 jimmy and the tranny would slip into neutral when giving it gas. I would have to shift it back into drive again. One day when this occured I shifted back into drive and the tranny would not go into any gear. Makes kind of a whining noise now. Any ideas if it could be speed sensor, ignition switch/wiring, front pump, torque converter, or does it sound like it needs a rebuild?
  • cuffy531cuffy531 Member Posts: 1
    i have a 97 gmc jimmy 4wd i just had the transmission replaced, at first it ran fine after about a month it started acting up when its cold it seems like it doesn't shift properly, i have to manually put it in 1st gear to get moving again at 45 mph the rpm is at 2500-2700. after i stop and shut the truck off and start it back up it shifts fine, i replaced the computer when i had the transmission replaced. the check engine light is on code comes up as p0785 Shift/Timing Solenoid Malfunction, but after i shut off the truck after about 3 miles and it sets for 3-5 minutes the light will go out and everything is fine
  • mstnbrewster1mstnbrewster1 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2001 Jimmy and it will not start it will start in netural after you have to keep turning it over. I have changed out the ignition, distrubutor cap, rotor, wires,plugs and I have tried all I could but when i get it cranked it hard to put it in gear could this be a transmission causing this but it's not reading any codes could someone please help signed Frustrated.
  • myronlongmyronlong Member Posts: 1
    i have the same problem what is the answer ???
  • craigmc74craigmc74 Member Posts: 2
    I've got the same problem with my 2000 Jimmy. Between 40 and 50 mph it can't decide which gear it wants to to be in. What was the resolution to your problem? Were you able to fix it yourself with a replacement solenoid? Or did you need to replace the torque converter? I had my tranny rebuilt about 30,000 miles ago (only 115,000 miles on the truck) and it ran great until a couple of months ago.
  • brodie1oliverbrodie1oliver Member Posts: 1
    My 97 jimmy just barely made it to her spot today, i was climbing the escarpment in hamilton ontario.. from a dead stop at the bottem at an illplaced traffic light. she got up to around 2k and then the needle started fluctuating and my check light came on.. first time iv seen it ill add.and felt like it was dying. she runs rough when there is moisture in the air like fogginess and stuff aswell and its foggy today!.. she wont heat up at all either, but iv known about that for a while, im thinking thermostat.. but back to the real problem, after i got to the top of the hill doing like 25km she was lacking hard.. the more i pressed on the accelorator the rpms would drop almost exactly the same amount as they would go up if everyhting was working properly. :lemon: ? i dont have 2 thousand bucks for a new tranny so im really hoping its plugs or some sort of seal or dirty gas even.. someone post somehting saying its not the tranny. ps she has 280 thousand kms..
  • gmc_jimmygmc_jimmy Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2010
    I have a 1999 Jimmy 4x4 the other day i was driving it and noticed the rpms were higher than usual. The next day it would only shift into 2nd at 4rpms IF you take your foot off the gas. It will also do the same thing at around 3.5 rpms but it will go back into 1st right away. So at 35mph the rpms are at 3.5 now. It also is making a wierd clicking noise every once in awhile and while ideling the motor will rev up and down and the lights will dim in and out along with it. Anyone know what it might be if not just a new tranny?
  • ghowtrkghowtrk Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2010
    Hello, I have a 2000 gmc 4x4(automatic) other day i was making a tuen and heard a noise like something hit my underside, and a whining noise started and i stopped checked. Then it would not move when i put it in reverse gear it did not move but does when it was in drive. The Car Czar shop said it could be as much as 2800. to due a rebuild but they need to look at it 1st any suggestions
    thanks much ghowtrk
  • bmcarthurbmcarthur Member Posts: 1
    I have a 96 GMC Jimmy, it shifts good 1st to 2nd but when the rpms get up to 2200 and ready to shift into 3rd it starts to slip. If I rev the engine it will shift into 3rd but it seems like it is not all the way in 3rd and it will not even go into OD. I do have rev. Can any one help me out.
  • needmywheelsneedmywheels Member Posts: 1
    Hi, while driving recently with everything going fine my engine was reving but jimmy will only go top speed about 10mph then start reving again. Thanks for any help you send my way
  • heidenreich1heidenreich1 Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2011
    Just left work and while accelerating, a bad sound came from lower
    front area, sounded like a squirrel cage fan being blown with an air
    nozzle. Pulled over to check things out saw nothing. Then discovered
    no reverse, could drive foreward but second gear came in slow and at about 3200 rpm's. seems to be slipping the whole time while
    motoring. Any ideas what might have happened??? :sick:
  • zero10972001zero10972001 Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2011
    I have a 2000 GMC Jimmy 4.3 Auto/4WD/133K the same thing happened to me. The only difference was that mine lost reverse and second while I was shifting from 4hi to 2hi. I pulled over to see what the problem was and didn't see anything to major so i kept driving it. I called one of my buddy's that is ASE certified to work on transmissions and he said that the reverse in the transmission is the weakest part of the transmission the only way that i could fix it was to either replace the trans or have it rebuilt. That is the only way to fix it.
  • gadet24gadet24 Member Posts: 1
    i bought a 96 jimmy about a month ago and it drove fine for a while but the one day the auto trans just didnt want to go any more so i had it towed home and i changed the trans fluid and the fiter and now it drives fine with the exception of shifting from first to 2nd it doesnt shift till about 3000-3500 rpm it almost seems like to me that the truck thinks its in 4LO cause everyother 4x4 i have had did that in 4LO but not in other gears..... could it be as stupid as a sensor? or silonoid? or just be easier to change the trans? :confuse:
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