Auto Trans slips in 3rd and Drive
 

My wife's 2007 H3 (all stock) ...all of the sudden has an issue with the auto trans. it slips badly in 3rd and Drive. 2nd gear is ok. The trans oil and filter has been changed every 60K and it was done recently at 120. Never any issue but there's 125K on it now and it just started doing this. We had to limp it home in 2nd gear at ~35 mph. I've searched and read that the trans may be shot and need a full rebuilt. is this correct or are there any other things to check before I go down that route? Fluid is red and does not smell like it's cooked. Thanks.

The 3/4 disks tend to go first on the 4L60e, very common although you are at the extreme low range for it to happen at. Replacing the 3/4 clutch pack is easy enough for a shop, although while its open you may as well replace everything. (save a penny, spend a fortune) You should be able to drive the truck in 1, 2 & R without issues. The revs might be high on the highway in 2nd but you won't hurt it unless you put the revs up in the red zone on the tach.

Ok. Thanks for the info!

Got it fixed. Needed a new trans. Went with a GM reman, 3 year 100k warranty. $3,000 bucks from a dealer. Used a good local shop to install it at $600 in labor. All is good now.
Spent more than I could have, but hope it's fixed once, and fixed right!

Do you really need a brand new tranny?
A rebuild won't do it?

Thanks

first they said a remanufactured trans. second you might want to check the price to rebuild versus the reman. third the reman probably has a longer warranty. For these people the last option was better for them. I know that I had a 700R4 done a couple of years ago and it was $1200, and the 4L60E is a lot more complicated

All very good points. Also to add - if you go the reman route, it's best to make sure the rebuilder is very good, knowledgeable, and willing to not only cover the cost of the trans if something goes wrong but also the labor to once again remove and replace. I have had a few GM trucks with high mileage and replace a trans in two of them. I have a had a lot of luck with GM reman transmissions and don't know of any good rebuilders around my area so that's why I went the GM reman route. Also, if you pay a GM dealer to do the whole job, the trans and labor is covered for the 3 years / 100k. Of course their labor at a GM dealer is much higher. Hope this helps and lists out options for others with similar issues.