Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) NV 5600 Problems!!

[FYarcho]

Well Ill start at the begining. Trans has been working great ever since I got the truck. Couple of weeks ago I was getting ready to take a trip to Seattle and I wanted to get my trans temp hooked up on my Juice. So I went to Auto Zone and they just happen to have Penzoil Syncromesh in stock. Installed the probe and refilled the trans. Drove to Seattle and back. Now about 2000 miles later I am having a moderate whineing noise from the trans in 5th and 6th gears, Most likely a bearing. So yesterday I went to the Dealership and bought the mopar stuff, drained and refilled hopping for the best. Well of course didn't work, still making the noise. So I have parked the truck to avoid any catastrophic damage.



So I am not sure if it was the Penzoil, or maybe it was just it's time. Anyway looking at either getting a bearing kit and rebuilding it or buying a rebuilt now.

 

[boydo]

Are you sure it's the transmision? Maybe you have a U-joint on the way out.

 

[FYarcho]

It only does it on acelerration or deceleration in 5th and 6th gears, Im pretty sure thats it. It will go away immidiately if I push in the clutch. But that's a Good Idea I will check those just in case.

 

[FYarcho]

Does anybody know of a good transmission shop in the Central Valley (Stockton, Modesto) who can rebuild manual transmissions?? Thanks

 

[rkressg]

FYI, the 5600 is a complicated transmission. There is a company in Florida that does a good job rebuilding these units.
These units are expensive to rebuild and are very picky.

 

[ILIANBG]

I am using the Pennzoil Syncromesh for the last 10000 mi. I am really happy with it. I drive a lot in the city, so a LOT of shifting through the gears. I tried OEM fluid, Amsoil and last- the Pennzoil, and the last one is my favorite so far. If I switch again, it will be OEM, it was second best.

I wonder how your transmission got worse from using this fluid. How much fluid did it take? Do you have fast coolers or anything else that requires extra fluid?

Keep us posted, please of what you find out.

Ilian

 

[FYarcho]

I don't want to give the wrong Idea. I am not saying that the fluid was the problem. It just plays into the circumstances. I don't know for sure. There is the posiblity it was just coincedence and there is a bearing that just happen to go out.



When I filled with the Penzoil I filled up to the fill hole which was four quarts. When I refilled with the Mopar stuff I over filled it with one quart through the top hole of the PTO cover. I don't have any coolers on the trans.

 

[RJWEST]

you did't mop out the sludge in the transmission and leave a rag in there?
or other foriegn object... or probe hitting something???

 

[FYarcho]

There was no sludge in the bottom. I used my finger to check and it was clean. I have the probe mounted on the PTO cover in such a way that it is flush with the inside of the cover.

 

[Motorhead]

You don't say if you have a long bed or short bed. Does your truck have a driveshaft carrier bearing? (split driveline)

 

[FYarcho]

Truck is a longbed with a carrier bearing. I have checked the bearings, and u-joints and everything looks good

 

[FYarcho]

Well finally got it fixed. Problem turned out to be the pinion bearing. The truck had been parked till I could get the money. I just ended up taking it to the dealer for diagnosis so I could be sure where the problem was. The dealer even had a hard time finding it. They ended up using a device where he puts transmitters on different areas of the truck, trans, transfer case, rear end then drives it. He as a box in the cab with headphones and can switch between the transmitters to locate the noise.

 

[Crash&Burn]

Well finally got it fixed. Problem turned out to be the pinion bearing. The truck had been parked till I could get the money. I just ended up taking it to the dealer for diagnosis so I could be sure where the problem was. The dealer even had a hard time finding it. They ended up using a device where he puts transmitters on different areas of the truck, trans, transfer case, rear end then drives it. He as a box in the cab with headphones and can switch between the transmitters to locate the noise.

Well that's a lot better than being the trans.

 

[AFoulk]

I was gonna suggest that. A lot of times the noise/vibration will transmit up thru the drive shaft and sound like its coming from the transmission.

Where did that tech. get that contraption with the transmitters? I'd love to have something like that for at work. When we have problems with a drivetrain noise at work, the boss has us put the rigs up on jack stands and run it in gear. And to make things worse, he likes to get a little crazy with the throttle. I really hate doing it like that. It would be so much safer to use something like your tech. used and take it out on the road.

 

[DWeiler]

i'm having the same problem-were is the pinion bearing located---honestly i don't know. i guess inside the rear diff

 

[DWeiler]

Rear diff---found it in a parts search----thanks anyway---DW

 

[FYarcho]

You know I didn't even get to look at the tool he used. They originally told me it sounded like the transmission. And just like I did, they put it up an the rack and started turning things and checking things but as I suspected they couldn't find anything obvious. Thats when they decided to use this new device. Thank god they did. I usually don't have much faith in the dealer, but after going to two transmission shops and them telling me it was the trans, and it would cost 3-5 thousand to replace. I was happy to pay the dealer for the diagnosis.



I am pretty much mechanically enclined but this problem was really hard to find. I have replaced the bearings and all is good now. Oh the two bearings the outboard one (closest to the yoke) $45. 00 and the inboard one (closest to the gear), which was the bad one, are you ready $220. 00 Now this was the dealer price for a spicer/dana 80 rear end. These are Koyo bearings. I imagine you could shop around maybe find one cheaper. But as you could imagine I am extatic that it wasn't the trans, and a big kudos to the dealer. .