Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 6 speed autopsy report

[Gizmo 007]

Ok, It all started last week. I crank up last monday to go to work, but I noticed my transmission had a whine to it. I drove to work and back that day, and the whine got worse. I took it to the dealership the next morning before work to let them listen to it. I'm instructed to bring it in the next morning.

"We'll get right on it. "



I drop it off wednesday morning. I get a call around lunchtime saying that they've removed the transmission and found a large amount of metal particals. Dime and nickel size!!! I saw the remains myself, not pretty.



I finally get a call today saying that they've replaced the fifth gear synchro assembly, all the bearings, and one gear. Sheesh, just give me a new transmission! They tried, but DC denied the request (surprise, surprise).



Cause of death: Synchronizer #5 decided to commit suicide, but not before taking out the rest of the transmission #@$%!



It's under warranty, so I'll let them eat it!

 

[Big P]

Now I'm getin' nervous. My transmission just started making noises, kind of a weird rattling noise in mostly 4th and 5th gear under accereration. I'm going to have the fluid changed this week to see how much metal is in the transmission fluid. I might have to de-mod it and bring it to the dealer.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I seriously doubt there's much to worry about with these trannies - other than outright abuse such as forced rapid shifts under drag race like conditions... Sure, there's bound to be the ocassional isolated failure due to unusual circumstances or defective parts - and the massive size and amount of internal whirling mass will probably create a fair amount more *natural* internal noise over time than lighter duty transmissions - and that are pretty common in MANY similar truck transmissions...



Sometimes, when you want and need a HEAVY duty transmission, there's a price attached - sometimes in a transmission, it's internal noise - just as it is with a good solid diesel engine!



HEY. if ya wants QUIET, get a Duramax - or wait for the '03 Cummins... .

 

[Gizmo 007]

I really wouldn't worry about this happening to yours. I'll be willing to bet it's an isolated incident. I just happened to get a transmission with a bad synchro. 5th gear has given me problems since new. Guess I finally figured out why. It was just a bad synchro all along. It finally decided to lay down and die.



If it helps your feeling, have it looked at, but as Gary said, the whining and gear noise is normal for these things.



And yes, I do drag race this truck, that may have added to the problem, but didn't directly cause it. Besides, I haven't drag raced in about a month

 

[Big P]

Normaly I guess I wouldn't be overly concerned but I reciently noticed that my transmission is leaking from the top where the shifter comes out. I took the interior shifter console out to get a closer look and if you wipe your finger on the transmission you could see tiny pieces of brass on you finger. I understand that it's not unusual to have brass in the fluid but it would be comforting to know just how much metal is really in there. About 2 months ago I had a reputable shop change my clutch and I'm just hoping that these two things aren't related, because I'm pretty sure that the transmission was opened up at the shifter during the clutch change. Besides if the transmission is gone I'm pretty much on my own as far as warrenty goes.



BTW Gary, The motor noise doesn't bother me in the least, it's supposted to sound that way. It's a DIESEL. :--)









Now the transmission, I'll be ok with the noise if I can be assured that it's NORMAL.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

My '98 Camaro SS with the 6-speed was notorious for various syncro-related problems - and so I decided to drain my transmission after about 1000 miles and refill it - MAN, there was LOTS of microscopic brass showing in the drained fluid...



I went ahead and refilled it a couple of more times while I had it - and never had any problems - but only put about 10,000 miles on it too... I would be pretty concerned too if the transmission in my Dodge showed lots of brass - guess its worth keeping an eye on, warranty or not! I'd dern sure rather keep any potential problems SMALL if possible!



The less I have to let DC service "experts" work on my truck, the BETTER!

 

[Mad Max]

Service Life, Fluid and Usage???

Giz...



Sorry to hear about your meltdown.



If you don't mind me asking a few post-mortum's.



1. Miles of service, odo reading @ failure.

2. Type of fluid using?

3. Original Fluid? Changed? Change intervals?

4. BOMB'd... but do you do any serious towing, how do you use your rig?



Thanks for the info.



MaX



Ps. Hope they have ya up and running again soon.

 

[Gizmo 007]

Sorry it's taken so long to get back, I've been tied up at work.



MM, to answer your questions:



26,000 miles on truck,

original trans fluid (planned to change at 30,000 miles)

I've bombed the crap out of it, and I tow about 50% of the time, usually pulling a 20 - 25,000# load.

The truck HAS been raced hard a few times, just to show 'em who's boss



Seems to have been a faulty synchro, it just took this long to crater. The boys at Dodge rebuilt the transmission, and I've had it for a little over a week now. Guess what, the noise is back. I'm just going to drive it until it grenades on me, then they'll have to get me a complete new one, hehehe

 

[ReggieRam]

Same thing here

Gizmo-



I actually had the exact same thing happen to mine a couple of years ago, only mine was a 2000 etc dee. Just driving home from work and a nasty whirl and whine coming from underneath.



When I took it to the dealer, they just wanted to replace the destroyed parts, but I refused. Now, if you want to go through all five rings of five star hell, start calling everyone from the service rep, service manager, heck, I was even calling the owner of the dealership every day a couple of times, but I got that whole transmission replaced under warranty. Now I'm not much of a gearhead (Lord knows I wish I was), but to me something that would let go once may do it again. Become the squeaky wheel, and they just may replace the whole thing just to get rid of you! It worked for me, and I am a precedent.



I tow and play hard now, and am able to drive long distances with a lot less worry than I think I would have if I just got the old one fixed.



Good luck-

Reggie

 

[ReggieRam]

By the way, mine was all stock except gauges, and had just hit 30k miles

 

[Mad Max]

Thx Giz.

Sorry 2 hear about the probz.



I've been blessed with a somewhat noisey box. I have 3. 55's and when I'm doing my HWY trips, (no trailer, minimal payload) I regularly see 85mph plus. Seems like the MTX fluid has a shorter life at these types of speeds as I suspect it's elevating temps. I don't have a gauge for them, I just change the fluid when the box gets noisey, but it has shifted cleanly from day one. My B2B warranty is gone and I've nearly finished my 5gal 1874 so I may fall back on my old friend RedLine MTL or look into TORCO, SWEPCO or MOTUL for a good MTL.



MaX



Ps. Thx again for the information Giz, hope ya get more miles out of the new parts.