My 42RLE transmission is still original at 190,000 miles but starting to have the shudders. Wondering how long it might go for until it is completely done. Thanks in advance!
---- If your transmission is giving you any warnings at all, you need to heed it's plight.
I had a (check engine) light and we kept checking the codes. Kept reading transmission. The light cleared and it did not slip. To me it was acting normally.
The light began to remain on and I was getting ready to take it in but I tried to get one last trip in it when the transmission just stopped moving the car. It just stopped with a little vibration then nothing.
I did'nt want a high mileage transmission from the men's mall because I tow so I had a shop do it.
Yes I know, SUPER Expensive. And if you don't know what I mean, then you are a lucky one. I will put it this way.
A couple years ago my 86 Chevy K10 4wd "sheared" the fly wheel. (the area where the motor bolted onto the flywheel cracked in a circle and it sheared off of the main flywheel disk. In the end, the motor could spin and the Trans had no motion from it).
Was called in to look at the mess then found that the ears had broken off of the transmission casing. It is not repairable, cannot be welded. And the flex from supporting the transmission on the flywheel most likely caused the cracking and initial failure of the disk.
Add to this it was a rare transmission case, only a few hundred of this transmission were built. Hmmmm.
Anyway what it cost to fix the K10 Transmission, the KJ WAS TIMES 2. The cost is the sign of the times, economy and parts supply. 21 was a bad year in a lot of ways.
They said the KJ clutches were gone, the plates pretty much destroyed. Seems like a lot of damage for a very intermittant engine light, but there you go.
It took forever to get it back, they were busy, may be a view of the modern day transmissions reliability and after a month I finally got the ole girl back.
What a difference!!
Ok so background, I bought the KJ used so the transmission may have already been beat up but knowing it was a 4wd vehicle, I just got used to how it ran when I purchased it, thinking all this was normal. BUT with the transmission REBUILT, it is as smooth as any car I have owned in the past.
One report I read was about how the KJ transmission sometimes bumps when changing gears in the low range, and mine did that. I took it for normal because of the report, but fully rebuilt, THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
The only thing different about my KJ now is the growl of the engine, and I was able to soften that with slickery engine break in additives.
I am in full agreement about the KJ.
Blue Book she has no value but shes really a fun and great car to drive.
It has one of the best 4wd I have ever had. Getting the Transmission back in like new shape is just icing on the cake.
I'm at about 138k miles now and the doors have the rust, I plan on trying something way off the norm to try to repair this rust on the doors this summer.
As long as this unibody creation can remain strong, sturdy and not come apart, I will be driving it.