Tahoe Transmission

[Brian 162]

I need some advice from the OT brain trust
My 17 Tahoe has 134,000 miles and has the 6L80 6 speed transmission.
Last week while driving the vehicle seemed to shudder at around 35 mph.
I’ve changed the trans. oil/filter twice in the last 5 years.
Right now the oil is clear with a slight burnt smell.
I’ve been given 3 options from my mechanic
1 replace torque converter, remove pan and see if there are filings/clutch material. If nothing major try it and see what happens. I’m looking at 9 hours labour plus torque converter
2 Rebuilt transmission with torque converter. It comes with a 1 year warranty $5500 all in.
3 Reman GM factory transmission/torque converter. Transmission/converter around $5800. Plus 9 hours labour. I’m looking around $7800. It comes with a 3 year 120,000 km warranty.

I’m leaning toward just doing the torque converter and take my chances. We would know right away if that was the issue. I have no problem taking a chance. If it doesn’t work I will probably go with the GM reman. I plan on keeping the vehicle for a few years at least.
This vehicle’s torque converter and transmission doesn’t have a good rep. Another member here had the same issue with his wife’s Tahoe.

What would the brain trust do?
Thanks in advance

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

It comes with a 3 year 120,000 km warranty.

Option 3 right now.

Spend 8k instead of 10k and hassle is over. Painful but over.

[Steve Carlton]

Can you get a 2nd opinion from a specialist?

What about finding a good price on a new one and having it installed?

[Arizona_928]

Reman is kinda high. 3-4k is what I would expect for a rebuild that doesn't need a lot of hard parts.

Wait, Canadian prices?

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Can you get a 2nd opinion from a specialist?

What about finding a good price on a new one and having it installed?

I trust the mechanic, he’s pretty sharp. Small 2 man operation. The reman is directly from GM.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Reman is kinda high. 3-4k is what I would expect for a rebuild that doesn't need a lot of hard parts.

Wait, Canadian prices?

Yep, convert to us and the 5800 cad is roughly 4100 usd

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Option 3 right now.

Spend 8k instead of 10k and hassle is over. Painful but over.

Yeah it’s probably the right thing to do. Ironically a friend of mine I spoke to today has the same problem with an 8L80e

[A930Rocket]

Do a search under my name for a Tahoe transmission repair. The Chevy/Tahoe transmission is a known weak point.

We’ve had two Tahoe transmission repairs. One was a 2010 that cost about $6000 for a reman transmission at the dealer, while Ms. Rocket was on her way to New England for work. The second one, was her 2015, that stopped working in stop and go traffic in New Hampshire. I think that one was about $5000 at a indy transmission place.

Do a search online, and there are upgrades that need to be done, including the torque converter.

I was hoping it would last long enough for her to get back to Charleston, as there’s a place that charges $2500 to rebuild the transmission, and he’s the best in town. Super nice guy.

[Brian 162]

^^^^^^^^ Thanks, I was hoping you would reply. I remember the issues you had with your wife’s Tahoe

[Arizona_928]

What is the service history on the unit? The 6L80 has issues with the thermostat causing the fluid to overheat and prematurely break down. They also had known defect with thin TCC friction material. I would do a lower temperature transmission thermostat and replace the TC with a higher quality aftermarket unit...

[A930Rocket]

Because she was out of town, keeps her trucks for a long time, puts a lot of mileage on them, and we didn’t know who to trust, it was worth it to buy the Chevy reman transmission.

She gave the 2010 truck to our daughter, when she bought the 2015. We bought both of them used with over 100,000 miles.

The problem with a Chevy remanufactured transmission is, they rebuild it just like they did originally, with the weak parts.

Try to find somebody that rebuilds the engine with the upgraded parts and torque converter

[LWJ]

We don't know cost of option 1.

Let's assume $200 (relax, this is CAD!) X 9 =$1,800.00. No idea what a TC costs, WAG says $750. So you are into this $2500 (WAG estimate) for a research project with option 1.

Meaning, option 2 & 3 look far better.

Me? IF there is a great rebuilder, I would do #2. If not, #3.

[Steve Carlton]

Torque converter. Being that it needs better parts then the reman (or new), yes, rebuild with a trans pro.

[Brian 162]

As far as a re-builder goes, the one my mechanic uses will just do a rebuild without updates so I'm not going to use him. I'll know more tomorrow when the pan is removed

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by LWJ

We don't know cost of option 1.

Let's assume $200 (relax, this is CAD!) X 9 =$1,800.00. No idea what a TC costs, WAG says $750. So you are into this $2500 (WAG estimate) for a research project with option 1.

Meaning, option 2 & 3 look far better.

Me? IF there is a great rebuilder, I would do #2. If not, #3.

I don't have a price for the converter yet, I'll get it tomorrow.
The rebuilder here just replaces stock with stock, no updates so option 2 is out

[onewhippedpuppy]

I played the “fix components and hope for the best” game twice now and it hasn’t worked out. In the end I pissed away time and money replacing parts with the hope that it would fix what ultimately was a bad transmission. I would go #3 if you plan to keep the truck, fix it once and fix it right. I do agree with the other posters that I would seek out a rebuilder or reman that features improved components as opposed to a factory unit if at all possible.

[cabmandone]

My nephew recently lost the transmission in his Tahoe. He was on his way to trade it in... and it went out on him LOL. If you plan on keeping it, Option 3 all the way. Having said that, I've taken vehicles to reputable transmission shops and had them rebuilt and had good luck with that. The good shops know the weak points and replace them with upgraded parts if they're available.

[Eric 951]

I have a '16 Suburban with similar miles, Torque converter started to go (3) months ago--faced similar options, decided since I plan on keeping the buggy for another (2-3) years opted for the full repair--torque converter/tranny, price was around $6,800.00US Now I am covered via warranty for the time until I decide to let the Suburban go.

[A930Rocket]

Is there a bigger town nearby, that you could have it towed to, and have a transmission specialist rebuild it? It might be worth the 100 or $200 tow there.

A competent transmission builder, who replaces with upgraded parts, is the way to go, but if that’s not possible, then the factory rebuilt transmission with a three year warranty would be best.

The current transmission lasted eight years and 135K miles. So if you keep the truck another eight years, break the cost of the transmission rebuild down per year, then it seems more reasonable.

[911 Rod]

Can you get a 2nd opinion on the rebuild with updated parts?
I have a guy here that you can call.