2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer Transmission

Tiny
RICKL81
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Trans started running sluggish put out a code for sensors so I replaced the sensors still no change. A week or so later trans went into neutral all together. So I replaced the trans with still nothing happening. I was told some times the transfer case can go bad. So I replaced that still nothing any suggestion will help. Thanks Rick
Tuesday, June 16th, 2015 AT 2:13 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
It's time to call in the professionals. That will save you a lot of time and dollars. The initial mistake was that diagnostic fault codes never say to replace parts or that they're bad. They only indicate the circuit or system that needs further diagnosis. When a part, typically a sensor, is referenced in a fault code, that part is actually the cause of the code about half of the time. The diagnostic time you pay the mechanic for is to perform tests on the wiring and connectors, and to rule out mechanical issues with electrical parts.

"So I replaced the trans with still nothing happening"

"Still nothing" is wide open to interpretation. To avoid confusion, please say specifically what is happening.
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
RICKL81
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The truck is in park but when put into gear nothing like it is in neutral
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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This is going to sound stupid, but have you checked if the bolts fell out of the flex plate where they bolt to the torque converter? You should feel something when shifting into reverse, even if nothing moves when you speed up the engine.
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
RICKL81
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That's the thing I can tell that it seems like it going into gear I can hear the rpm's change but it's not moving at all. I can hear the transfer case motor sound like it is changing into gear
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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What you described can be caused by low fluid level, but you should also hear some buzzing noise from the front pump sucking up air. Try raising the rear wheels off the ground, put the transmission in "park", then see if you can spin the rear wheels by hand. If you can, the transfer case hasn't locked into a range.
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
RICKL81
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Yeah the wheels spin fine i've had the truck up in the air and running I can see that the torque converter and everything is spinning fine and it sounds like it's trying to go in gear by the change in the RPMs but the wheels on the truck don't move
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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I think you misunderstood what I tried to say. With the transmission in "park", the wheels should not spin freely. If you have a locking back axle, commonly referred to as "Posi-traction", the wheels should not turn at all. If they do, the transfer case is in neutral. The most common thing to look at is the shift linkage.

If you have an "open" back axle, when the drive shaft is locked due to the transmission being in "park", one wheel will spin backward when you spin the other one forward. You either need to have a helper hold one wheel from spinning, or you can crawl underneath and try to turn the drive shaft by hand. Normally, when the transmission is not in "park", you can turn the drive shaft relatively easily in the forward direction, and it will turn harder the other way. "Forward" direction is rotating it so the driver's side of the shaft is going down, (counter-clockwise when looking at it from the rear of the truck).

Actually, the direction is irrelevant to this sad story. The point is you should not be able to turn the drive shaft at all when the transmission is in "park", and the transfer case is in one of its ranges.

To move on to the next chapter, my suspicion is you have a Transmission Computer by the right front wheel. Those have a common problem with corrosion inside the computers, and corroded connector terminals. You might want to investigate that first before you do any more with the transmission and transfer case. It isn't very likely you have two bad assemblies causing these problems.
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
RICKL81
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That's what I meant when I spin the one wheel the other spins the other way I will try just turning the drive shaft and I will also checking for that computer I'm not sure exactly where it's located but I'll look it up and find it
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Saturday, November 24th, 2018 AT 6:57 AM

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