matt 2k12 Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 So I was driving down the highway when all the sudden I could tell I lost power to the rear wheels. I revved it up once or twice and thought the transmission was taking a shit and majorly slipping. I downshifted to 3 and 2 but no response. I pulled over and immediately saw that my oil cooler line had come off the cooler and dumped all my fluid. There was some still coming out and it seemed to be fairly clean and fresh still, no strange odors or dark color. Is anything permenantly damaged? I (almost) immediately pulled over and save for a few attempts at getting it in gear, immediately shut it down. I am thinking topping off the tranny with fluid and clamping down that line and it should be good to go?? I am just worried, I dont know how these things work exactly. Will it be ok to drive after topping it off and getting everythihg sealed up? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSplaytoy Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 (edited) Fix the line and put in the fluid you need and see what happens. You had no fluid going to the pump so you couldn't go anywhere. I doubt anything is permanently fried since you immediately pulled over and just tried to put it in gear. Edit: how hot did the trans get and for how long? Edited July 13, 2011 by SSplaytoy (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt 2k12 Posted July 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Thanks for the reply! I dont think It got very hot, and it wasnt a very long time overall. From the time I realized a problem and the time I shut it down was maybe 1 minute total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSplaytoy Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Should be good. Just put back in what you lost in fluid after you fix the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I wouldn't plan any trips any time soon. It is quite common to lose the pump after something like this happens. The 13 vane pumps are great, but don't take well to losing fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSplaytoy Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I switched to a 10 vane and used hardened rings. Why do they fail commonly because of a loss of some fluid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt 2k12 Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 To be honest, I dont know what kind of pump mine has. The tranny was rebuilt 5k miles ago "for 500hp", whatever that means... and it cost me a pretty penny. I put about 750 miles a week on the truck. How long will it take for the pump to fail if it is going to fail? Also, how can I check for problems with the pump? Any diagnostics to verify pump integrity? You have me worried now... The truck drives fine today but I am like a hypochondriac behind the wheel of my vehicles sometimes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSplaytoy Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 To be honest, I dont know what kind of pump mine has. The tranny was rebuilt 5k miles ago "for 500hp", whatever that means... and it cost me a pretty penny. I put about 750 miles a week on the truck. How long will it take for the pump to fail if it is going to fail? Also, how can I check for problems with the pump? Any diagnostics to verify pump integrity? You have me worried now... The truck drives fine today but I am like a hypochondriac behind the wheel of my vehicles sometimes... Chances are, it prob got rebuilt with a 13 vane pump. I just know which one mine has after going through a few because of a bad converter and was told by my trans people. The walls in the 13 vane pump are supposedly thinner and more susceptible to breakage. If your pump is gonna fail, you won't really know where and when if it does. If the fluid is higher than it's supposed to be (and you didn't overfill it) when the truck is running in P, the pump isn't working properly. If it's driving just as it was, I wouldn't worry about it for now. If it starts slipping or you lose all gears, then worry about replacing the pump. Hopefully Mike or someone with more knowledge will chime in to tell us why they are prone to failure after fluid loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt 2k12 Posted July 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 The truck seems a little sluggish today. Maybe its just me being paranoid. I found this article with this info: Secondly, put a line pressure gauge ($55 shipped on Ebay, or visit a local trans shop) on the pressure test port and go for a drive to verify proper line pressure. Base pressure at idle in P,N,OD should be around 70psi and around 140psi in R. Max line pressure should be at least 190psi at WOT in 1st or 2nd, 225psi is optimum. If base pressure is low, trans or pump is worn out. If max pressure is low, check EPC solenoid. If reverse is slow to engage, and line pressure does not come up to at least 130psi in reverse, replace the boost valve with a Transgo 0.500" boost valve (easy fix in pan). http://www.gmtruckhq.com/?q=node/93 I am going to get a gauge and hook it up. If the pressure is out of spec I am taking it back to the shop for a new pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt 2k12 Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I forgot to mention this is a 4L60E... Not that it matters. I definitely think the truck is slower or at least response time has worsened and it is not as snappy. I am going to take it by a different shop this week and have them run the line pressure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.