Envoy Acceleration Problems After Remanufactured Transmission Installed

[sk8ermadre]

Hello all, I have a 2002 GMC Envoy SLT with a Vortec 4.2L, 6-cylinder and the tranny is 4160E. It has about 188,000 miles on it. I recently payed way to much ($3,030.10) at AAMCO in Lancaster, California for them to fix my slipping transmission. I know, I got screwed! It doesn't matter if I got screwed because I am a woman or because I do not understand the inner workings of an engine or transmission. Screwed is screwed any way you look at it and what is done is done. In an attempt to salvage my beloved Envoy I come to you my new acquaintances and 'GMC Gurus'. I have had my SUV back for about 7 days. It does not have any where near the same power that it had before the remanufactured trannny was put it, it does not get up to speed as quick as it used to, it does not seem to shift as smooth as it used too, it is using way to much gas then it should be, it revs up to 4 RPM's and drops down to 2 1/2 RPMs and it deaccelerates going downhill (meaning if I am going 70mph downhill and I take my foot off the gas pedal, the Envoy rapidly slows down 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64 rpms and so on). Before I could step on the gas pedal and take my foot off for a bit and continue the same rate of speed until it would very slowly start to go down 69....69.... 68....671/2.....67..... and that would usually be after the road levels off and I am no longer driving downhill. The car also seems to randomly be choking or losing power slightly when I push on the gas peddle usually when going around 50 mph but today on my way home from work it did it at 70mph too. I also have a code that was not on my car before taking it to AAMCO. It is a POO14 code. I think this code is for the Camshaft actuator position and am currently reading what that actually means and the possible causes of it. Now my ABS light is also on as well as my check brake system warning message on the driver's message center behind the steering wheel. Within the last 3 months I have had an oil and filter change and six months ago I had front and rear brake pads changed and rotors turned as well as new rear shocks. About six months ago I also had new spark plugs put in.
*My questions are
-can any of the above mentioned problems be caused by the remanufactured tranny?
-Any suggestions or checks/repairs that I can do myself to further investigate the losing power and acceleration problems?
-Can the Check brake system and ABS light problems cause tranny problems, the POO14 code or any other above mentioned problems.
-Will I screw up anything in the motor driving with the ABS/Check brake system light on until I can save enough money to have the brakes looked at.
P.S. I noticed after crawling under my Envoy that I am completely missing a sway bar link on the drivers side. Can this cause the ABS/check engine light to come on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thank you,
Robyn Patton

 

[littleblazer]

The p0014 is related to the variable valve timing actuator (most of the time), if the actuator is not working (code and check engine light) that is your power issue there. Would anything that happened be caused by a transmission? Probably not unless they say, unplugged connectors. The part causing your check engine light most likely is located on the left side of the engine (standing facing it at the grill) pretty much inline with the power steering reservoir. I'd check to make sure it's not unplugged for some strange reason first, then if it is plugged in, unplug the connector and look to see if it has oil in it, that's the telltale that it's failing/failed.

Quick Google search and this picture shows where it is located, not my own image.


Edit: As long as your abs isn't kicking in randomly, I don't think it will be that bad to drive with the light on.

Edit 2: I'm off this morning with my vocab. CPAS is the thing I'm referring to the whole time. The CPAS is what is pictured.

 

[sk8ermadre]

Thank you littleblazer, I will check that out at first light. One thing though does it matter that my check engine light does not come on? I only used the OBD-ll tool because of the problems I mentioned not because the check engine light was on. Is that a bad thing? Should it only be used when the check engine light is on?
Thanks again

 

[littleblazer]

If the check engine light isn't on, you don't have a current fault... the scanner can be used when ever, won't hurt anything. But that being said it may be back to the drawing board... I personally don't mess with transmissions but my dad has had a few rebuilds and he has always said it is never the same after a rebuild. Some one with more knowledge should chime in soon but that sensor should be a diagnostic starting point.

 

[gmcman]

Can you post a documented list of what was performed at AAMCO? Did they overhaul your existing trans or did they swap another one?

Did they replace the torque converter? That's the one thing we need to know for sure and if they did, please post a part number or call them to get the part number. A mismatched torque converter can be problematic but it's a safe bet if it was replaced they knew what they were doing so we just need to be sure.

Edited to add, when you move the selector lever, does it make a solid engagement into each detent? Does the shifter feel like it has excess play compared to pre trans failure?

 

[triz]

Can you clarify if you have a code now? Even if your CEL is not on it may have a pending code.

I always ask for my old parts back to see what was swapped. Also check your transmission fluid level.

 

[sk8ermadre]

Can you post a documented list of what was performed at AAMCO? Did they overhaul your existing trans or did they swap another one?

Did they replace the torque converter? That's the one thing we need to know for sure and if they did, please post a part number or call them to get the part number. A mismatched torque converter can be problematic but it's a safe bet if it was replaced they knew what they were doing so we just need to be sure.

Edited to add, when you move the selector lever, does it make a solid engagement into each detent? Does the shifter feel like it has excess play compared to pre trans failure?

**_
Hi GMC Man, this is what they gave me. I asked for an itemized list of the parts replaced or installed or fixed, you know the work they performed and was told we do not give itemized lists; this is what we give the customer.'

 

[steveO]

Hello all, I have a 2002 GMC Envoy SLT with a Vortec 4.2L, 6-cylinder and the tranny is 4160E. It has about 188,000 miles on it. I recently payed way to much ($3,030.10) at AAMCO in Lancaster, California for them to fix my slipping transmission. I know, I got screwed! It doesn't matter if I got screwed because I am a woman or because I do not understand the inner workings of an engine or transmission. Screwed is screwed any way you look at it and what is done is done. In an attempt to salvage my beloved Envoy I come to you my new acquaintances and 'GMC Gurus'. I have had my SUV back for about 7 days. It does not have any where near the same power that it had before the remanufactured trannny was put it, it does not get up to speed as quick as it used to, it does not seem to shift as smooth as it used too, it is using way to much gas then it should be, it revs up to 4 RPM's and drops down to 2 1/2 RPMs and it deaccelerates going downhill (meaning if I am going 70mph downhill and I take my foot off the gas pedal, the Envoy rapidly slows down 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64 rpms and so on). Before I could step on the gas pedal and take my foot off for a bit and continue the same rate of speed until it would very slowly start to go down 69....69.... 68....671/2.....67..... and that would usually be after the road levels off and I am no longer driving downhill. The car also seems to randomly be choking or losing power slightly when I push on the gas peddle usually when going around 50 mph but today on my way home from work it did it at 70mph too. I also have a code that was not on my car before taking it to AAMCO. It is a POO14 code. I think this code is for the Camshaft actuator position and am currently reading what that actually means and the possible causes of it. Now my ABS light is also on as well as my check brake system warning message on the driver's message center behind the steering wheel. Within the last 3 months I have had an oil and filter change and six months ago I had front and rear brake pads changed and rotors turned as well as new rear shocks. About six months ago I also had new spark plugs put in.
*My questions are
-can any of the above mentioned problems be caused by the remanufactured tranny?
-Any suggestions or checks/repairs that I can do myself to further investigate the losing power and acceleration problems?
-Can the Check brake system and ABS light problems cause tranny problems, the POO14 code or any other above mentioned problems.
-Will I screw up anything in the motor driving with the ABS/Check brake system light on until I can save enough money to have the brakes looked at.
P.S. I noticed after crawling under my Envoy that I am completely missing a sway bar link on the drivers side. Can this cause the ABS/check engine light to come on?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thank you,
Robyn Patton

A couple of things stand out...
First off, if you have some sort of drag slowing you down other than the trans itself you should try letting it coast in neutral down a hill to see if it picks up speed as it should normally. It should still gain speed when in gear as well but putting it in neutral eliminates the trans.

If it still feels like it has a drag on it then the first main culprit is the brakes.
You didn't mention calipers being replaced and on a vehicle that has a lot of miles on it they should have been changed by now.
Cutting rotors is a thing of the past when brakes were softer and the metal would last. GM and the typical OEM grade rotors don't last and I change them every time I do a brake job. Rotors don't cost that much more than having someone try to cut them ... if they would do it.

Another culprit might be the front wheel hubs, you mentioned random abs light issues, the sensor is mounted on the wheel hub. If the bearings are going they will wine / growl and and get tight. There are other causes that can set the ABS light as well.

I would pay close attention to the brakes first to be sure they are not causing the drag.

 

[sk8ermadre]

Thank you SteveO. I will check that out with the car in nuetral to see if there is still any drag.

 

[sk8ermadre]

Thank you GMC man, Triz, little blazer and SteveO for the help