The Chevy Silverado 1500 4-speed 4L60E and 4L65E was able to handle the power of the various 4.8L, 5.3L, 5.7L and 6.0L engines, while still providing impressive
fuel economy. The next generation Chevrolet Silverado 6L80 transmission came in 2005. It featured more advanced electronic controls, and the ability to handle the increased torque produced by modern engines. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Chevy Silverado 1500 transmission problems, look at the cost estimates and figure out what you can do about
them. Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model. What Transmission Do I Have?From the 1970’s to 1998, the name ‘Silverado’ was used to designate the top trim model of the Chevrolet C/K truck line. For 1999, the all new truck was called simply the Chevrolet Silverado, and the trim lines were changed to LS, LT, Silverado Z71 etc. Building on the popularity of the first generation GMT800 Silverado, the second gen GMT900 Silverado offered improved build quality, bigger towing capacity, and more efficient engines. The latest K2XX Silverado brings the Chevy workhorse into the 21st century with a fully boxed hydroformed high-strength steel frame, available built-in Wi-Fi, and an all new 8-speed automatic transmission. Does something seem wrong with your Silverado? Let’s look at some of the most common Chevy Silverado transmission problems, and see what you can do to get your truck back on the road. View Replacement Silverado Transmission prices for these vehicles:
Chevy Silverado 1500 Transmission ModelsChevy Silverado 1500 4.8L, 5.3L, 5.7L: 4L60E Transmission (Most Early Models 2011-Down) To be 100% sure, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#. Chevy Silverado 1500 Transmission Replacement Cost EstimateThese are the most current prices for a remanufactured replacement Chevy Silverado 1500 transmissions, by transmission model: Replacement 4l60E / 4L65E Transmission:
Replacement 4L80E Transmission:
Replacement 6L80 Transmission:
What are the DTC codes related to Silverado 1500 transmission problems?
Chevrolet Silverado RecallsRecall ID – NHTSA: 14V152000 – 2014 Silverado 1500 Summary Consequence Remedy Recall ID – NHTSA: 13V001000 – 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 / 2013 1500 Hybrid / 2013 2500 HD / 2013 3500 HD Summary Consequence Remedy Chevrolet Silverado Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)TSB 01-07-30-023B – Harsh 1-2 upshift with P1870 DTC – 4L60E Transmission RPO M30 TSB 08-07-30-027 – No movements when transmission is shifted into Drive or third – 4L60E Transmission – 4L65E Transmission – 4L70E Transmission TSB 00-07-30-022D – No reverse, second or fourth gears – 4L60E Transmission
& 4L65E Transmission TSB 01-04-17-004B – Clunk, bump or squawk when vehicle comes to a stop, or when it is accelerating from a complete stop – 4WD/AWD vehicles with a one-piece propeller/drive shaft only TSB 06-07-30-007A – Harsh 1-2 shift with P0894 DTC – 4L60E Transmission | 4L65 Transmission | 4L70E Transmission TSB 08-07-30-008B – Diagnostic information for P0894 and P1870 DTC – 4L60E Transmission | 4L65 Transmission | 4L70E Transmission TSB PIP4051C – Harsh Shifting – 4L60E Transmission TSB PIP4112E – 2007-2008 Silverado 6L80 /
6L90 TSB P10488C – 2010-2013 Silverado 6L80 / 6L90 The transmission should also be evaluated for any possible distress to the clutches. GM’s testing and analysis found that split or damaged filters may be caused by a damaged pump. This can send a high pressure fluid spike down the filter neck on a cold start, resulting in the filter body cracking or the filter seam splitting. The filter is not defective and this is not a filter quality issue. Important: Do not replace the filter without inspecting the pump. Failure to inspect the pump and clutches could lead to a repeat of this condition. TSB PIT5206B – 2012-2015 Chevrolet Silverado TSB 09-07-30-004J – Slips in Reverse or Third, Delayed Reverse or Drive Engagement, DTC P0776, P2715, P2723, Harsh 2-3 Shifts – 6L80 Transmission | 6L90 Transmission PIP5437B – Harsh shifts – 8L45 Transmission | 8L90 Transmission TSB 14043 – Thrust bearing failure – Allison 1000 Transmission TSB PIP3598C – Intermittent ratio codes or range inhibit – Allison 1000 Transmission TSB 14308 – Leak at transmission cooler TSB 04-07-30-018A – Ice buildup on shift cable –
Allison 1000 Transmission TSB 06-07-30-013 – Shudder in 6th gear – Allison
1000 Transmission TSB 08-07-30-049A – Transmission fluid leak from the ATF cooler – Allison 1000 TSB 10-07-30-008A – Transmission won’t shift into overdrive – Allison 1000 PIP4290A – Engine Stalling – Allison 1000 Common Problems with the 1500 4L60E / 4L65E Transmission (Most Early Models 2011-Down)1) Faulty 1-2 Accumulator If you experience a delay, shudder, or extreme harshness during the 1-2 shift, it may be due to a faulty 4L60E 1-2 accumulator. This little device acts as sort of a shock absorber for the fluid pressure that builds inside the valve body, once the solenoid triggers a shift. The OE 1-2 accumulator piston is made from plastic, and it has a tendency to break. That can cause this most common 4L60E transmission problem, along with premature clutch failure. To keep that from happening, the Street Smart remanufactured 4L60E transmission is fitted with aluminum 1-2 accumulator pistons, along with a recalibrated valve body for better fluid pressure control. 2) 3-4 Clutch Failure Another common Silverado 1500 transmission problem is the total loss of 3rd and 4th gears. This happens because the discs inside of the 3-4 clutch pack are known to wear out prematurely. To avoid this, Street Smart Transmission installs a High-Energy 3-4 clutch pack In every remanufactured 4L60E transmission. It features an extra clutch disc (7 total) to improve not only the durability, but the amount of torque that the transmission can handle. Common Problems with the Silverado 1500 4L80E Transmission (1500 HD Only)1) Failed Shift Solenoids In order for the computer to control the hydraulic shifting systems, it sends an electrical charge through a coil of wire that’s wrapped around a plunger device called a solenoid. A total of 8 shift solenoids are positioned throughout the valve body, and it’s their job to direct the pressurized ATF/hydraulic fluid to the correct channel to actuate a gear change. If one of these solenoids go bad, you may experience slipping between gears, failure to shift, and a failure to shift into overdrive. 2) Overheating There’s a bunch of moving parts inside your Silverado 2500 4L80E transmission, and its up to the transmission fluid to keep everything cool. Towing heavy loads, and the constant shifting that occurs in stop-and-go traffic and mountainous terrain can intensify the heat, which can cause the transmission to literally overheat. This can result in blown transmission seals, along with damage to the clutches, bands, and valve body. To keep this from happening, we recommend installing an auxiliary transmission cooler. Common Problems with the Silverado 1500 6L80 Transmission (Most Late Models 2007+)Pressure Regulator System: An automatic transmission relies on hydraulic pressure to move parts around and propel you down the road. This pressure is maintained by the 6L80 pressure regulator / PR system, which uses a series of springs, valves, and check balls. Some of the plastic and lower-grade metal pieces tend to wear out prematurely, causing all sorts of issues. You may see harsh shifts, soft shifts, failure to engage Drive, slipping in-and-out of gear, and overheating. Can I drive with a transmission problem?Even though it’s “like a rock”, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission problems can cause your budget to sink like a, well, rock. You see, if certain transmission parts aren’t working correctly, then the others will have to compensate, which can cause unnecessary wear, and potentially premature failure. But having a skilled mechanic diagnose the problem early on, could prevent a small problem from getting a lot more expensive. How often does a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission need to be replaced?If you’d like to keep Chevy Silverado 1500 transmission problems at bay, then you need to keep your gearbox maintained properly. Of course, factory design flaws to play a part. On average, we’ve seen the following average Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission life
cycles: How are Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission issues diagnosed?In order to figure out what’s causing your Chevy Silverado 1500 transmission problems, your mechanic will need to connect a code reader to the OBDII port under the dash. After that, it’s a matter of verifying the problem with a visual inspection. How is a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission replaced?Because a Chevy Silverado 1500 transmission is installed in a RWD/4WD application, all you have to do is unbolt it from the engine, frame and driveshaft. Installation is a reverse of that procedure. Recommendations for Chevy Silverado 1500 transmission issues?To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit truck VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a replacement Chevy Silverado transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you. How to Solve Chevy Silverado 1500 Transmission ProblemsSolution A: Buy a Used Chevy Silverado 1500 Transmission The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used 4L60E transmission or used 6L80 transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay. Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Chevy Silverado 1500 Transmission Another option would be a rebuilt 4L60E transmission or rebuilt 6L80 transmission. A local repair shop will remove your Chevrolet Silverado 1500 transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area. Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Chevy Silverado 1500 Transmission Many owners depend on their Chevy Silverado to make a living and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured 4L60E transmission or remanufactured 6L80 transmission. These typically last a lot longer than the original gearbox, and the warranties tend to be better too.
Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model. What Transmission Do I Have?Related Forum Discussions
Other Chevrolet VehiclesView Replacement Chevy Transmission prices for these vehicles:
What transmission comes in a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500?Quick Specs
Transmission Transmission, 4-speed automatic, electronically controlled with overdrive and tow/haul mode (On Crew Cab models, requires (L20) Vortec 4.8L V8 SFI Flex-Fuel engine. Not available on C*10953 models.)
What year did the Silverado 1500 get a 6 speed transmission?The 6L80 transmission is a GM 6 speed automatic transmission that was introduced for the 2006 model year, in order to meet the government mandated fuel economy targets without sacrificing overall vehicle performance.
How do I know if my truck is 4 or 6 speed?A simple way is to drive it and count the gearshifts the truck makes to your top speed. Though by 100 miles an hour you should know. If it only makes 3 shifts then it's a 4 speed (you start at 1st). If it's 5 shifts then it's a 6 speed.
What year did Chevy put the 6 speed transmission?The 6L80 six-speed transmission debuts in the 2006 Chevy Corvette, Cadillac STS-V and XLR-V, and several models of GM's all-new 2007 full-size SUVs. Production of the transmissions is the culmination of a $450-million, 3-year investment at the Ypsilanti Transmissions Operations (YTO) facility.
|