Lost reverse & all foward gears

[Homewrecker]

Ok, so I've just about had it with this POS.

The wife was on the highway today and all of a sudden lost transmission drive and managed to coast over on the shoulder. We had it towed to the shop.

There is no reverse and no forward in any gear. Also tried going into 4WD and still no luck. The fluid is at the proper level and the shift linkage appears to move at the transmission when the shifter is moved. Edit: Forgot to mention there is no warning light either.

I'm assuming at this point it's some sort of internal failure such as the Sprag or something worse.

The truck has 216000 miles on it and there is always something breaking on it now. It's left the wife at the side of the road twice this year so far.

In order to find the problem I'm assuming the shop will have to tear the transmission open and this fix will probably be well over a grand.

I'm debating on just scrapping this thing once and for all or trying to get it repaired. I've read about some people paying close to $3000 to have their transmission rebuilt. That's insane for a truck this old.

Any suggestions?

 

[Lester Flatts]

Mine's a 2003, the transmission lost 3-4 at 209,000 miles. I've owned it since new, and it's been a very reliable vehicle. So I am having a GM remanufactured tranny put in. Yes, I'm looking at $2500 for the job, but it's cheaper than a new car and I know I can't find a used car in that price range that would be as reliable. You could have the tranny rebuilt for less than that, maybe half, but the remanufactured GM comes with a nationwide 3 year/100,000 mile warranty.

I struggled with putting what amounts to 50%+ of the value of the truck into a repair, but knowing the reliability otherwise, I chose to do so. It's a decision you've got to make based on your knowledge of the truck. It sounds like yours has a history of failures. If mine had a history like that, I wouldn't have gone this route.

 

[Homewrecker]

Parts up here are a hell of alot more expensive so a GM tranny alone will probably run about $3k plus labor. I rebuilt a couple of manual trannies for my other vehicles in the past but I just don't have the motivation anymore to do it this time. RockAuto sells them for about $1200 but they want $400 shipping which is nuts plus a core charge.

The truck does have alot of miles on it but almost every single known issue on the TB's has happened to this thing. Everything from rotted power steering lines to a dead Tach and Speedo stepper motor.

I'll wait and see what the shop says in the morning. The'yre just a general garage close to my work where I had the truck towed so depending on what they say I might have it towed to an actual tranny shop that's closer to home.

Thank god for CAA (AAA for you guys)....

 

[jrSS]

Def sounds like sprag gear in tranny is shot. Happened to my ss about 6 mos ago.

 

[AtlWrk]

There have been several reports of the pump failing while cruising on the highway but see what the tranny shop says. Have them check for pressure (there's a service port on the driver's side of the tranny for just that reason).

Not sure what the failure mechanism is exactly (would be super if you report back!) but if it's not something that sends schrapnel through the tranny you may get away with a couple hundred bucks for a new pump.

 

[Homewrecker]

There have been several reports of the pump failing while cruising on the highway but see what the tranny shop says. Have them check for pressure (there's a service port on the driver's side of the tranny for just that reason).

Not sure what the failure mechanism is exactly (would be super if you report back!) but if it's not something that sends schrapnel through the tranny you may get away with a couple hundred bucks for a new pump.

Good call on this one.

The shop said it looks like the pump failed. The fluid is coming out of the dipstick as well when it runs.

They quoted $1900 for a replacement from a wrecker or $2200 to rebuild this one. I decided to go with a rebuild since it felt like it was slipping and wasn't shifting properly anymore. Didn't want to take a chance with a wrecker replacement either.

Don't really want to throw money at this thing anymore but now I'll want to get at least another year out if after spending this kind of cash.

 

[Ed H]

To share your pain, my 02 goes in for a tranny rebuild tomorrow. 166k, but toasted because the tranny lines rusted through and it basically ran dry. Have the shop check your lines while they have it! I would hate to see a new tranny go up in smoke because the lines rusted. I doubt they would cover that under warranty either.

 

[Homewrecker]

I believe the lines are about due to be replaced. I'll do that myself unless of course they break one of them in the process.

I did the PS lines last year and that was a friggin huge pain in the a**.

 

[dla442]

Good call on this one.

The shop said it looks like the pump failed. The fluid is coming out of the dipstick as well when it runs.

They quoted $1900 for a replacement from a wrecker or $2200 to rebuild this one. I decided to go with a rebuild since it felt like it was slipping and wasn't shifting properly anymore. Didn't want to take a chance with a wrecker replacement either.

Don't really want to throw money at this thing anymore but now I'll want to get at least another year out if after spending this kind of cash.

That's not a bad price. The trailblazers community has most of the common stuff posted for fixes. They are not that difficult to do. A word of advice, change that trans every 50k..I know some will say it's too soon but I do it and she's a snappy as day one from the factory. I would ask if they are going to do the pwm tcc valve modification too while it's out and torn down. I love out trailblazer, eZ to fix roomy, dependable for almost ten years old. Has not costed me too much money cuz I fix myself. Will be lost when she has to be traded for a newer ride, or maybe I'll keep it and get rid of my impala. Prob no though. Mpg double in my impala. I know the days are numbered for our 2005, but so far has been the best car we bought since my wife's cavalier that ran like a charm. The next ride will probably be an Acadia after the model change proves itself this year.

 

[6716]

I believe the lines are about due to be replaced. I'll do that myself unless of course they break one of them in the process.

I did the PS lines last year and that was a friggin huge pain in the a**.

The rear lines are a major pain, though the fronts are no big deal. If they have tranny down anyway, I would at least have them replace the rears.

 

[fishin665]

I just had this happen to me yesterday. It's had a vibration for a few days and yesterday it just stops driving and tachs up to 6k like it's in neutral. Put in neutral and engine sounds fine but no gears. Tried to start it after towed home but will not start now. Checked trans fluid with motor off and it's way up the stock. Something is leaking from the engine/trans mating point. Someone is going to look at it today. Any ideas? Really don't want a new trans as I just Put a new used motor in this after I broke a valve two months ago.

 

[Homewrecker]

After tearing the tranny down the shop found the pump cracked and 3 clutches burned out. The cooler lines basically turned to dust when they tried to remove them which now bumps up the repair to $3200 including tax.

The more I think about it the more it feels like a mistake spending this kind of cash. No doubt aomething else will break on it soon and the gas this pig sucks is unreal.

The day I see this thing dragged off to the scrapyard I'll be dancing at the end of the driveway.

 

[KNBlazer]

After tearing the tranny down the shop found the pump cracked and 3 clutches burned out. The cooler lines basically turned to dust when they tried to remove them which now bumps up the repair to $3200 including tax.

The more I think about it the more it feels like a mistake spending this kind of cash. No doubt aomething else will break on it soon and the gas this pig sucks is unreal.

The day I see this thing dragged off to the scrapyard I'll be dancing at the end of the driveway.

mileage should be between 16-19 mpg depending on your setup...

 

[Homewrecker]

mileage should be between 16-19 mpg depending on your setup...

It's just a stock vehicle. It blows through about $110 in gas every 5 days. Next big thing lets go and off it goes to the scrap pile.

I also want to change th rear diff fluid but having a hell of a time locating the correct gasket for it. Rock Auto does not seem to list one for the EXT LT. Anyone know what the P/N would be (GM or otherwise)?