Hello..2009 Tahoe Z71

[thedog52]

Sorry, I just gotta ask, because I am a basics guy first. What is the fluid level and condition of the fluid? Have yet to see that here.

Level is normal, fluid does not smell burnt but is not perfectly clean looking.

 

[OR VietVet]

By "not perfectly clean looking" do you mean a brown color? If it is I would change the fluid and filter first and then see what it does. When was the last time for the trans service?

 

[iamdub]

how is that diagnosed? It isn’t throwing any codes or anything.

Delayed gear engagement is one of the symptoms of an ailing (likely not fully failed) solenoid. It being isolated to the engagement of reverse kinda further points in that direction. This isn't something that would necessarily throw a code, at least not at this point. Total solenoid failure, sure. Also, I believe you have to have a scan tool capable of reading the TCM and it's not the same as an SES light, but I may be wrong on that.

 

[thedog52]

By "not perfectly clean looking" do you mean a brown color? If it is I would change the fluid and filter first and then see what it does. When was the last time for the trans service?

It has never been serviced. I’m the 3rd owner, it had regular oil changes on the Carfax but no trans service.

 

[thedog52]

Delayed gear engagement is one of the symptoms of an ailing (likely not fully failed) solenoid. It being isolated to the engagement of reverse kinda further points in that direction. This isn't something that would necessarily throw a code, at least not at this point. Total solenoid failure, sure. Also, I believe you have to have a scan tool capable of reading the TCM and it's not the same as an SES light, but I may be wrong on that.

So do you think it would be worth it to rebuild the reverse solenoid first? The trans shops I talked to made it sound like it is on its way out altogether.

 

[iamdub]

So do you think it would be worth it to rebuild the reverse solenoid first?

If it were mine and I could spare the downtime, I would give it a shot. The time and money invested would be a mere fraction of the cost of a trans rebuild or replacement. I'd replace or rebuild all the solenoids and whatever in the valve body I could do at home.

The trans shops I talked to made it sound like it is on its way out altogether.

Would you expect them to say any differently? lol

 

[thedog52]

If it were mine and I could spare the downtime, I would give it a shot. The time and money invested would be a mere fraction of the cost of a trans rebuild or replacement. I'd replace or rebuild all the solenoids and whatever in the valve body I could do at home.




Would you expect them to say any differently? lol

I get why you would say that, but I’ve known this guy for years and I’ve taken him a lot of work. I don’t think he would lie to me, but you could be right.

 

[OR VietVet]

Do a service with the filter and the solenoids and keep in mind that the trans guy will tell you what is best for him and not you, except of course if the trans guy is your mother or father. I have tech friends I trust but they all know I demand details of what they would tell me about what is wrong with a vehicle system of mine. Here at this forum you have way more input from real world experience. We are not perfect but we will never try to steer your wrong.

 

[swathdiver]

So do you think it would be worth it to rebuild the reverse solenoid first? The trans shops I talked to made it sound like it is on its way out altogether.

We rarely if ever hear of a transmission shop that suggests making a repair to a transmission rather than replacing or overhauling the whole unit.

Your transmission has the ability to learn and adapt as it ages. It makes changes to line pressures and the speed at which shifts are made based on a number of factors and changes over time. Yours might just need a "Service Learn Adapts" run and or the one that gets a solenoid un-stuck. If it has not been serviced, that would be my first suggestion, a complete fluid exchange using the TransFlow machine. Some will suggest dropping the pan and changing the filter instead or in addition. To each his own.

Your transmission also has an internal oil life monitor much like one for the engine that you can see on your DIC. You can view this one on the Tech-2. Yours is probably down to the teens percentage wise. Dirty fluid wears out the solenoids quickly and they can be rebuilt rather quickly and inexpensively with the right tools.

We see this all the time, trans shops bend owners over a barrel and leave them little choice because they are ignorant of what makes one tick. Of all the parts of a car, the trans is treated like some magical box and the magicians who fix them almost always say they are shot and need replacing or rebuilding. In their defense, if something else fails, they'll get blamed so they might as well suggest the shotgun approach and replace everything.

 

[OR VietVet]

What James said is so very very true. I also agree with him in the full fluid swap out approach.

I also agree about why the trans tech suggests a full on rebuild or replacement. Any attempt by them to just repair may make them a hero or the villain. If they attempt the repair and then even more money is needed for the full on rebuild or replacement, that would be more expense than what they had recommended in the beginning and then the owner of the vehicle wants to point fingers.

Kind of a "damned if I do and damned if I don't" scenario.