1997 Chevrolet Suburban Power Train

TRANMISSION FAILED AFTER BUYING USED AT 75000 MILES. I CALLED GM AND CHECK FOR RECALL INFO. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER BROUGHT IT BACK AFTER BUYING NEW AND HAD THE TRANS REDONE. EVERY 15000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AGAIN. THEN IT BROKE A THIRD TIME. FORTUNATLEY I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRENTY AND DIDNT HAVE TO PAY THE 2ND AND THIRD TIMES. THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION PLACE BUT AFTER READIND OTHER COMPLAINTS I SEE ITS THE VEHICLE. WHEN IS GM GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN SOMEONE DIES> WHEN YOU LOSE THE GEAR THERE IS A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN SPEED AND ITS HARD TO STEER. FEELS LIKE THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM KICKS IN. I SHOULD KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME. NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS JUNK.*AK

I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. IT WAS IN EXCELLENT-LOOKING SHAPE AND LOW MILES. I HAVE HAD IT NOW FOR 3 YEARS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD TO HAVE IT WORKED ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, AND STARTER; AND HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR WORKED ON. I DO NOT DRIVE THAT MUCH, AND I HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY. IT'S ALWAYS NEEDING WORK. I'VE HAD IT FOR SALE FOR A WHILE, BUT CAN'T SELL IT FOR EVEN A SMALL SUM. *AK

THE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH RELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO PUSH THE DIP STICK UP OUT OF THE DIPSTICK TUBE. THEN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ESCAPED. TRAVELING DOWN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HIT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND IGNITED INTO A FLAME THAT BURNED ALONG THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING THE STEEL PLATE UNDER THE GAS TANK) AND EXTENDED TWO FEET BEYOND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE OURSELVES AND OUR FOUR CHILDREN FROM THE VEHICLE ALONG SIDE THE HIGHWAY. FOUR OTHER VEHICLES WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD AS WHITE SMOKE HINDERED THEIR FIELD OF VISION. THE MIL INDICATOR (I.E., CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) HAD A CODE OF P1870 (TRANSMISSION SLIPPING). THIS CODE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH HUNDREDS OF TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH RELAY FAILURES IN GM/CHEVY FULL-SIZE PICK-UPS, SUBURBANS, AND TAHOES (DISCOVERED BY SEARCHING FOR "P1870" ON THE INTERNET AND QUERIES AT THE NHTSA WEBSITE). TECHNICIANS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE TCC RELAY IS UNDERSIZED AND TENDS TO OVERHEAT CAUSING MAJOR TRANSMISSION DAMAGE (IN MY CASE, A FULL TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD WAS REQUIRED - $2000 PLUS TOWING AND RENTAL CAR). TECHNICIANS SAY THAT THERE IS AN AFTERMARKET TCC RELAY MADE BY SONNAX THAT, WHEN INSTALLED, PREVENTS THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (JUST LOOK AT THE BLACK CHARRING ON THE BOTTOM OF MY GAS TANK SHIELD) THAT CAUSED GREAT PERIL TO MY WIFE, FOUR CHILDREN, AND MYSELF. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FAILURE.*AK

"CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER SHORT HIGHWAY DRIVE (ABOUT 30 MINUTES). THEN TRANSMISSIONS SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR, ASSOCIATED WITH A HARD CLUNK WHEN FINALLY IT SHIFTS. DEALER HAS REPLACED A "SPRING" WITH A HEAVIER DUTY ONE, BUT FIX IS TEMPORARY. CODE 1870 SHOWS UP AS DIAGNOSIS AT DEALER. L60E TRANSMISSIONS ARE THE CULPRIT.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES GRINDING/RUMBLING WHILE IN HIGHEND TORQUE SITUATIONS (I.E. GOING UP SLIGHT GRADES NOT STEEP ENOUGH TO CAUSE DOWNSHIFT). STOPS WHEN I BUMP ACCELERATOR. REPLACED U-JOINTS, BUT DID NOT FIX. WAS TOLD BY GM TECH IT WAS PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTOR FAILING.*AK

TRANSMISSION BINDED IN FIRST GEAR AND SLIPPED IN MIDDLE GEARS. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS COOLANT AND/OR WATER IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COLOR WAS A DARK GREEN/YELLOW COLOR. WHEN TRANSMISSION PULLED OFF THERE WAS MUCH METAL, BEARINGS, AND A 2 TO 3 INCH BOLT FROM THE VALVE BODY. ALSO FOUND CRACKS IN SUNSHELL. INPUT DRUM AND PUMP VAIN AND CLUTCH(ES) NEEDED REPLACING. IN SUMMARY, IT NEEDED AN OVERHAUL. *TT

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD - NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. P1870 ERROR CODE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THIS SITE ANDMANY OTHER INTERNET SITES. GM TECHNICIANS ARE ALL FAMILIAR AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS - IT APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCT DEFECT.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES "THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTERWARDS. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FLOWING THROUGH FREELY, BECAUSE OF DESIGN. *NLM

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.*JB *TS

DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING BOLT SHEERED OFF INTO REAR AXLE GEARS. DT

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK.*JG

JURKS INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND INTERMITTENTLY, INFORMED BY 4 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND DEALER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

OUR SUBURBAN IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD AND JUST WENT OVER THE 50,000 MILE MARK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT COMING LOOSE. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ONCE BUT CAME LOOSE AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THE CAR WAS EVER IN A CRASH THE SEAT WOULD NOT HOLD.*AK

HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; SLIPPAGE IN TRANS. PRODUCING HEAT/SMELL; MUCH METAL/DEBRIS IN BOTTOM OF TRANS. FROM FAILING COMPONENTS; MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN PRODUCTION/ASSEMBLY.*AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY FROM GEAR TO GEAR AFTER CAR IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (USUALLY 10 MILES OR MORE). DEALER HAS CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING APPEARS FINE (NO ERROR CODES) BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEM. LOOKS LIKE THE ECM IS BAD BUT BECAUSE THE CODES ARE NOT PRESENT, NO ONE IS WILLING TO DIAGNOSE. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING AT 5 MPH IN FIRST GEAR ONLY. THE SUBURBAN WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER, A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING IN ALL GEARS AND AT ALL SPEEDS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED...ALMOST REARENDED. *AK

CHEVROLET DID NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF, WHEN I DID NOT ACCEPT , THEY WITHDREW THE OFFER. AT THE TIME MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP THERE WERE 3 OTHERS IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ALL HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE PUT IN THESE VEHICLES, AND THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEM. MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED BY CHEVROLET, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. I FEEL THAT THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CHEVROLET HAVE TO FIX THEM. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR SOON AFTER MAKING A STOP VEHICLE SHIFT GEARS HARD FROM ONE TO ANOTHER. DLR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

DRIVING 65 MPH AND TOWING A BOAT ON INTERSTATE WHEN TRANSMISSION "WENT OUT" (UNDER 50,000 MILES) ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION. EMPLOYEE OF DEALERSHIP ADVISES GM HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS OVERHEATING BUT NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETINS. PURCHASED NEW TRANSMISSION WITH SUPPOSEDLY "CORRECTED" PROBLEM. NEED HELP TO SEE IF GM WILL HELP COVER ANY COSTS WITH PROBLEM THEY WERE AWARE OF. *AK

TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED / WARRANTED AFTER LITERALLY EXPLODING. THERE IS NO OTHER BRAND TO CHOOSE FROM FOR THIS SIZE AND STYLE VEHICLE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE GM'S WARRANTEE RATIO OF THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT AND, IF APPLICABLE, DEMAND THEY UPGRADE TO A "HEAVY DUTY" TRUCK CALIBER COMPONENT. *MJS

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP OVER 4 TIMES DUE TO THE REAR AXLE LEAKING. MECHANIC HAD THEM REPLACED. *AK