Well this sucks
 

Think the sun shell in my Tahoe just disintegrated.

Waiting for roadside to come get me

Need this like a hole in the head right now

Tranny slipping in my Suburban 2500:(

I think there was a recall on the transmissions for certain years. Might want to enter your VIN here to check: https://my.chevrolet.com/recalls

My 06 Tahoe is in the tranny shop as we speak.

what is a sun shell?

Is this a common problem? We have an 04 Tahoe with about 115k on the clock.

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Thanks. Not covered which does not surprise me.

There was a recall for the rear parking brake that covered every GM product that uses the system. The only truck not covered was the Tahoe.

Even the service guy could not explain it.

He admitted if it were a Yukon or Silverado the recall would have applied but for some bizarre reasons the Tahoe was not, even though the system was identical.

That sounds about right for the 4L60e. Have it rebuilt with a hardened sun gear shell, wider OD clutch band, 5 gear rear planetary, and billet servos (all of those are cheap) and it should be bulletproof. 4L60e, towing in OD, heavy foot, and TX heat don't mix (not saying that's what happened, it's just normal).

Don't need it to be bulletproof.

Will certainly look at your recommendations though, thanks.

Daughter turns 16 next week so she'll be going for her license soon and the plan was it would be her first car.

Truck is on 01'. Bought new.

It's never given me any real trouble and I've certainly gotten my moneys worth + out of it.

It's only got 125k on it which is nothing for that motor.

In normal circumstances I'd call it a day but it will cost me more than the rebuild to get her into a vehicle so it'll get fixed.

Pretty sure that still uses the same 4L60 as the 01'

Wife's Yukon definitely has the 4L60.

Need to check her extended warranty.

If it's still in place I may have to "find a reason" to bring it in for the tranny.

Yes.

And as far as I'm aware there is no real preventative maintenance or warning signs.

One day they just go.

Thanks. We just got the car from my brother and our son has been using it for the summer. He asked about taking it to school in CT, but now I'm thinking twice about it.

Mine has been a great truck, ugly, but that keeps people from taking a closer look at what is inside:D

If it's 4WD I would absolutely insist he take it to school.

Snow is a bit "different" in CT vs SC.

Yes it's a common problem but the vehicle is still generally dead nuts reliable.

Get a trouble treee
there is a list of checks that will isolate if it is a sun gear or etc.
Plus you can pull the pan and apply air to the various ports and define which clutch/ band is not applying.
Autos are pretty simple compared to standards.

Definitely the sun shield.

You can hear it, not much else sounds like that, plus no reverse or 2nd pretty much confirms it.

At 125k it's a full rebuild anyway.

The good part is the unit is so common 7-11 stocks them right next to the Beef Jerky rack. They can be had with warranty for under $700.00 locally.

The real debate is if I feel like crawling under there to yank it or can I stomach paying someone to do the swap.

There's nothing fun about laying on the ground with fluids and crap raining on me just to wrestle that thing outa there.

I'm not as young as I used to be.

Perhaps pay someone to pull it, then you do the bench work?
I always say "i can do it slower as i am oplder.....LOL"
More and more i hire the harder stuff out.......

thanks alot stomachmonkey for that enlightenment..... never had my hands into the entrails of an autmatic trans... great new jargon to throw around to my wrenches... no worries they think i am an idiot anyway frank

I wouldn't really worry about it. Yes, they go out without warning, but so do alternators (this just costs more). We ran our 1/2 ton GMC up to 220,000 plus of some seriously HARD miles (prior owner towed a 5th wheel more than the MAX tow capacity for the truck) before we had to redo the transmission. If it were my son - I would send him to CT in the 4wd truck.

angela