2004 Gmc transmission question

Super Steve · Oct 19, 2012

We have an 04 Gmc 1/2ton farm truck with a 4.3l and auto transmission. When I go to put it in drive, it takes a few seconds to "hit" the gear, its fine going into reverse. Is this a band adjustment issue? This truck has 100,000km on it and has never really pulled any amount of weight.

RayP(MI) · Oct 19, 2012

More likely the pump is getting tired. But will yield to any "expert" opinions. Just out of curiosity, have you checked the fluid level?

Super Steve · Oct 19, 2012

Yes I have, everything looks and smells fine. This thing has just over 60k miles on it, I can't see the pump being tired. If it was the pump, would it not cause issues in all gears?

farmer boy · Oct 19, 2012

Putting the truck in OD or D at a standstill will put it in 1st gear. Putting it into 2nd will put in in 2nd. As far as I know, there is only one band in there, and it's the 2/4 band. Our 1997 (same transmission) has the same problem, it takes a second or two to apply, so I just don't try to go anywhere without letting it engage first. It seems to be fine the rest of the time(99.5% of the time) except in 2nd gear if it's hot(180+) and really being worked.

buickanddeere · Oct 19, 2012

4L60E transmission ?
Awful scant in the information and details.

Super Steve · Oct 19, 2012

What other auto transmission was availible in a 1/2ton in 04? None that I know of. What other info do u want?

farmer boy · Oct 19, 2012

I wouldn't worry about it. It doesn't cause any issues other than not engaging right away. These transmissions tend to die a quick painful death, so if it's been doing this for a while, with no other problems, it's likely fine. If your really concerned about it, you could take it to a garage, and get them to test the pressure on it. They should be able to tell if it's taking a second or two to build pressure, and if the pressure in the other gears is good. There is no band adjustment that I'm aware of, and like mentioned, that's a 2nd gear/4th gear problem anyways. If you haven't already, you should drop the pan, change the filter(and seal) and put new fluid in. Do not flush it. Synthetic fluid(Dexron VI) may help a bit too. Walmart sells it for about $7/bottle.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 19, 2012

You say at one point the truck has 100,000km miles and down at bottom you say it has 60,000km miles. With the miles thats on it I would take it to a reparable transmission shop and have them check it out while having oil, filter and pan cleaned.

Super Steve · Oct 19, 2012

Might want to read that again, first post say 100,000km (kilometers) and then further down, I said just over 60,000 MILES

JDseller · Oct 19, 2012

100,000 kilometers equals 60,000 miles. Steve must live in a country that uses metric measurements.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 19, 2012

No Steve it reads 60,000k miles and to me the K means kilometers. I was replying back to what I read please take no offense of it.

Allan in NE · Oct 19, 2012

Is this all the time, or only after you just start the truck?

Allan

farmer boy · Oct 19, 2012

Pay more attention when you read. In his first post it clearly says 100,000km. In his other post it says just over 60k miles, not 60,000k miles. 60,000 miles is about 96,000km. His numbers and use of k, km, and miles is spot on.

David G · Oct 19, 2012

I had a F150 that did that first thing in the morning, scared the P%)$(% out of me a few times when I rolled down the hill.

Is this a new or existing issue?

Gambles · Oct 19, 2012

Years ago, I fixed the same symptoms on a GM tranny be replacing an accumulator spring. The spring was literally in 3 pieces.

Super Steve · Oct 19, 2012

To Allan and David, it happens everytime I shift to drive, truck can be running for hours, or sitting for a week. It always does it. This truck is my grand fathers and I've only been driving it occasionally for the past year and its done it the entire time I've had it.

wisbaker · Oct 19, 2012

It's called morning sickness, I had a Ford that started doing something similar and then one day presto no reverse gear, dealer didn't want to send a wrecker for it so by the time it got to the dealer no 3rd or 4th gear either. I would consider taking it to a reputable transmission shop and having them service the transmission (oil & filter) and check it over. It may not be anything or it might be something minor that can be intercepted at this point and possibly stop the whole thing from dying a horrific death.

Allan in NE · Oct 19, 2012

Okay,

Next time you start it COLD, put it in reverse. If it's really, really 'draggy' going into reverse when cold, I'd suspect a plugged tranny filter.

Otherwise, I think we have some leakage going on inside. Like the other fella said, that forward accumulator piston is plastic and they do wear, wobble out and leak.

You really have to look long and hard to find a bad pump on an automatic transmission. So, if the thing shifts okay and doesn't seem to slip (*this is key), your problem is not major.

However, bear in mind that GM uses the lamest of lame seals in their transmissions. It's always been their weak point.

Allan

Super Steve · Oct 19, 2012

Thanx Allan, I was hoping you would see this, I know you know your transmissions. Shifting to reverse after a cold start seems normal to me, but say I back out of my driveway, stop, shift to drive, it takes 2-3 seconds to go into gear. This summer I pulled a small tent trailer about 1200km and have pulled my miniskidsteer about 20km and it shifts strong with no slipping

Allan in NE · Oct 19, 2012

I hear ya,

I'd sure take it to a reputable shop. Have them service it and pull that forward accumulator piston out. I'd just bet it's wobbled out.

The transmission should snap right into forward range and not wait to build pressure.

Allan

2004 Gmc transmission question

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