need help - maybe transmission failure

[chevyv8]

2003 yukon 5.3l 4x4
back story - for the past couple weeks a slight noise has been happening. i initially thought it was from up front like a wheel bearing. it was never a low rumble like a wheel bearing usually is in a critical state. i mainly heard the rumble/rattle/noise while accelerating. letting off the throttle the noise would greatly diminish. through the normal speed range, i would hear the noise. of course it started getting louder and more pronounced within the last week or so. i put the truck in the air and wheel bearings are fine as is the front differential. could not really pinpoint the noise last week when the truck was in the air.
yesterday, i went to back out of a parking spot and had no reverse. after sitting for a minute, i tried again, i had severe clunking and jerking. tried again, and the truck backed up. once in drive, 1st gear felt like 4th. very weak pull. sat for a few minutes and everything was back to normal except for the noise. which is now pretty loud. especially in 1st.
tonight, driving the truck, eased from an almost stop (1-2mph) and began easing into the throttle and again, had very little pull from 1st. then i got some severe bucking and banging and jerking. at that point i stopped the truck and put it in neutral. once traffic past me up, back in drive i went and it was SCREAMING. i didnt push past 10mph. it was very loud scream/whine. drove about 2 miles to my shop and parked it. no reverse. loud clicking in 1st in the parking lot just inching forward. 4 hi and 4 low make no difference.
i think i know where this is headed, but wanted some other input from those of you in tahoe/yukon land

this is after the bucking/jerking/banging and during the 10mph screaming

 

[S33k3r]

I suggest getting under there and checking out the transfer case. Look up pin hole leak/pump rub on YouTube, Rd details.

 

[swathdiver]

Transmission pump? I've heard ABS pumps sound like that too but this does not seem brake related.

 

[Bill 1960]

Sounds like a classic example of trans failure.

 

[OR VietVet]

I am by no means a transmission specialist, I freely admit that. That does sound like trans failure, especially based off the detailed story. Don't assume though and do check out the transfer case as well, like @S33k3r said, but like @Bill 1960 and @swathdiver said, sounds like front pup is toast and the torque convertor may be full of crap.

 

[Rocket Man]

My question is why would you drive it for 2 miles while it’s screaming and whining like that? Did you WANT to kill it?

 

[chevyv8]

Having serviced the trans every 10k miles since 29000 miles until 170,000 miles I’m not convinced the trans is smoked. I think it’s the transfer case. I also realized park is not holding the truck in place.
However, I think I’m gonna let this go.
I have a list of things that are wrong with this truck that just add to the reason for saying goodbye
Pinion in the rear has some play
Rear ac is inop
Front seats are torn
Front seat heaters inop
Gauge assembly goes blank at times
Front wheel bearing has some play
Rear main seal is bad
L/R window inop
Driver seat moves in opposite direction and not all the way
Roof water leak
Abs is holding pressure on l/f caliper
I’m sure there’s a few more but it’s enough to make me cut this vehicle free.
Bought her with 29k on it back in ‘06
She now has 181k. I think I got my moneys worth out of her. She’s been up and down the eastern seaboard a number of times and out to Colorado.
Towed multiple vehicles and loaded trailers without fail.
This is a hard decision for me honestly

 

[chevyv8]

My question is why would you drive it for 2 miles while it’s screaming and whining like that? Did you WANT to kill it?

I drove it almost 2 miles to avoid the $200 tow bill just to get back to my shop

 

[chevyv8]

Avoiding a $200 tow bill isn’t worth causing $2000 damage to the drivetrain though. I stop when my truck tells me it needs to stop. That’s what AAA Plus is for. Free tows up to 200 miles.

But it sounds like you’ve been putting off a lot of maintenance anyway, probably best that you put it out of its misery. I’m not trying to be tough on you, sorry if it comes out that way. I’m trying to help you see things a different way, possibly. You listed 11 things wrong with your truck besides the latest. I have experienced 10 of those ( I don’t have a sunroof) and have repaired every one. Plus the transmission and front diff. My truck has 170k on it, runs and drives like new, and is less than halfway through it’s life. It’s worth taking care of your vehicles.

Yes it is worth taking care of vehicles. I never said it wasn’t. The roof leak, window, bearing, gauge issue and pinion play is all recent. The other issues are things that I haven’t gotten to for various reasons. Med bills, kid stuff, wife had a ****** stroke - lots of things get in the way of non-important things in life.
This truck has been in great condition until maybe the past 2 years. Would I like to keep it, sure. But, is the truck itself worth it (even if everything was repaired) that can only be answered by the owner.
These things with this mileage are only getting around $4k at auction. Financially, putting more money in than it’s worth is foolish.
I’d like to keep this rig, to me it’s worth the effort but on the other hand, it may be worth upgrading.
It’s been paid for for well over a decade so it really doesn’t owe me anything.
Maintenance has always been kept up. Again until recently. Life and bills got in the way of things that weren’t absolutely required. Things happen.
Sometimes things snowball to a point where’s it’s financially irresponsible.
That may be the point I’m at.
Again, I believe the trans is still ok, however, we all know the 4l60 can let go at any point, sometimes without warning. So at this point, do I spend the money on a transfer case, get back on the road and 3 months from now have a trans failure? Or something else that will cost the value of the truck?

 

[chevyv8]

Of all the years I’ve had this truck, it broke to the point of not driveable twice. Pretty good report of you ask me.
The g80 went out 5 years ago - fixed it.
The shift band broke 2 weeks before my wedding in ‘11 - fixed it. Everything else has been normal maintenance. Well ahead of factory schedule as well. I’m not the type to let shit go, but, life has a way of sometimes making decisions for us that we have to contend with.