Trans leak was coming from the dipstick tube. They replaced all the seals on it, replaced my entire under hood fuse block (seperate issue). I guess I will put some of my equipment back in the van, hook on to a trailer and see how the trans holds up. A little nervous about it, but it seems I am one of the few with trans problems. Any other good ideas to load it up and test it? If its going to go out again I need it to happen in less than 50,000 miles.

it sounds like human(mechanic) error on the dipstick. dipstick probably wasn't seated in all the way.

I just got a C7500 with a the dipstick tube loose. Imagine two 1 inch long bolts threaded in 2 turns, one on the side of the tranny(easy), and the other near the firewall (1 1/2 hrs 1 flat at a time, with a cutoff wrench). It happens. It shouldn't, but it does. Best of luck.

This was another chapter in my book of trans problems with this 4l80. gm replaced it with a new one at 31000 miles. that one leaked. they fixed it. then it blew reverse. that got fixed, then it leaked. that got fixed. now its moaning and whining. can't put my finger on what is causing the noise. It's intermitant, sometimes when its cold at the begining of day. Sometimes its fine all day and only whines at the end of day.

out of town a few days. Got back home and another puddle of tranny fluid under the van!
back to the dealer again!
this is getting old, fast

I am wondering if is not the mechanic doing the work. You are having the worst luck. Maybe try a different dealer ?

I would try another shop.

This is the 3rd dealership. 1st one, the one I bought it from, wouldn't do anything to the trans. 2nd dealership (closest to my house, only 2 miles away) only has 1 diesel mechanic. The one diesel mechanic is the only one that has the ability to do anything beyond an oilchange to a diesel truck. This dealership replaced the first trans. I decided not to go back to them after the service manager called me to ask/tell me they unhooked the battery under the hood and just couldn't understand why the van still had power. I asked if they unhooked the 2nd battery. They didn't know the diesel vans have 2 batteries!?!?! That just blew my mind.. They also insisted I take all my equipment out of the van so they could lift it on their hoist. Host has 12,000 capacity - van weighs in on the truck stop scale under 9200 lbs. Once they even refused to lift van because equipment was in it. A few calls to GM later they did work on it.
So when that trans blew reverse I called gm, they told me to take it to the most recent dealer, about 40 miles away.
I've got a lemon law attorney working this thing. He thinks its going to go thru. I love the van, & the dmax in it. I don't know, you would think after the first trans replacement you'd be alright. Its my first chevy van, and I wouldn't buy another ford or dodge again, but I can't keep putting the thing in the shop. If it goes thru I will probably find a used isuzu/mitsu box truck diesel of course, to run a year or 2. Then buy a silverado 3500 with a small box on the back.

Another afternoon at the chevy garage. I took it back in to have them fix this leak, and an occasional whine/groan. They said they were not as concerned about the leak as they are about the noise. They are going to have to drop the trans again, and possibly put in another. Maybe I did just get 2 bad ones in a row, I don't know, but this is getting old fast. They did give me some stop leak for the trans and a free cup of coffee. Rescheduled the trans removal for next week.
Anyone want to buy a 06 3500 dmax express van 41,000 miles???

man, what a bummer that must be.

took the van in to an independant trqns repair shop this week. the lemon law attorny said let them look/listen/drive...no touchy anything. they said it look like the dealorship bent my tranny pan and that's why its leaking. what the...... anyway the noise he said sounded like planitary gears or something like that. I have to pick up the write up on monday. is that something the dealership could have messed up when they had it apart? or did I get 2 duds in a row? gm has until around beginning of july to respond to lemon law case and then I have to make decision of what to do with it. aside from the trans I really like the van. any ideas what an aftermarket, non gm rebuilt trans would cost, or where to get a good one?

I would demand a new trans from GM.

If they are footing the bill, get a suncoast and be done with it. Get a good trans shop to do the work

Well, still waiting on the court to set a date for pretrial mediation on the lemon law case. I took all my equipment out of the van put it in a cargo trailer for now. The van hasn't been getting used much. My sister was moving so I let her use it for a week. I went to her new place, got my van back. A little while later the check engine light came on. Got home and read it - p0851. I think this is Park/Nuetral Position sensor circuit low voltage. Anyone know if this is a big thing? Doesn't sound too bad, I just don't know if it is a sign of more electrical problems to come. At this point I'm not doing anything to the van without running it by the attorney first.

Got a call from the laywer today. The genreal offered me $2000, keep the van, keep my 90,000 mile warranty they give me on the trans. We decided to give them a counter offer back, I'd like enough to get a aftermarket trans put in it if I'm keeping it. Guess I will have to stop looking for a replacement truck and start looking for a trans.

05 Jan 09 - Getting another whole trans

Take the new trans and send it to suncoast before it goes in the truck, then install it and their converter and be done with it. Then of coarse add power, lots of it:D

dealership didn't like the aftermarket idea. van is at 49000 & they gave me until 90,000 warranty. I kinda want to keep the warranty.

Lotsofmiles, are the horsepower numbers in your sig for the van?

no, the hp number is the truck. van is all stock except for tires, bugshield, & window vent visors

I figured, but I was really hoping you would say it was the van.

Is the general checking in? :shake: ):h



















:joke:

Dealer called, new(reman) trans is in!
The wife disappeared shopping or something. Guess we will go get it Tuesday.

Going to ask them:
AGAIN about a trans go,
if the TC was replaced,
what was wrong with the trans they took out, and show me
and if we should go ahead and schudle the next trans replacement
:lol:

I think most of you van guys (and some of the non-van guys) know what I've been going thru with mine, so can anybody think of any other questions I should give them?


Thanks, James

Question to ask: Did you flush the lines?

They should have replaced the trans cooler as well. They trap contaminants and will just let them go into the new trans over time.

Good questions, I got a feeling its a negative on both. Leaving to get the van as soon as wife is done painting her face. Could be 5 min, could be 5 hours... I'll check for more posts before we get there. Thanks Guys.

yes TC was replaced. Lines and cooler flushed. No on the trans go if I want my warranty. Dealer didn't take apart old trans. They did check end play per buletin, was within specs.

Another member looked up the bulletin that covered my trans replacement:


Subject:Whine Noise in First and Second Gear
Models:2002-2007 Chevrolet Avalanche

1999-2008 Chevrolet Express

1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado, and Suburban

1999-2008 GMC Savana

1999-2007 GMC Sierra and Yukon XL

with 4L80E (RPO - MT1) or 4L85E (RPO - MN8)

This PI was superseded to update model years. Please discard PIP3259G.
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:

The 4L80E/4L85E automatic transmission may experience a condition of planetary gear whine noise in first and second gear. The planetary gear noise is typically louder in first gear as compared to second.
Recommendation/Instructions:

This planetary gear whine noise can be characteristic of the 4L80E/4L85E. The vehicle should be compared to an identically built vehicle (same GVWR) for comparison before attempting any repairs.
If it is determined that a vehicle has an abnormal amount of noise and the transmission was built after 9-01-03, perform the Rear Unit End Play Check (SI Document ID # 52027). The correct end play is between 0.127-0.508 mm (0.005-0.020 in).
If end play is out of specification, inspect and replace the output planetary gearset (661 - Output Carrier Assembly and 650 - Sun Gear) as necessary. Set rear end play between .005" - .020" using correct selective thrust washer (674). Target between .010"-.015".
If end play is within specification, transmission replacement is necessary, contact PQC for warranty authorization.
Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.