1998 Chevy Blazer transmission question

Does the vehicle move? If so does it upshift, attempt to shift? what's the fluid smell like, is fluid level low? Check engine light on? Not doubting the bad transmission diagnosis but there are other things to consider before condemning the transmission itself. If it does move but no upshift could be a solenoid problem, valve body problem or even something not even attached to or related to the trans. If vehicle does not move and you decide to repair yourself I would not risk drilling and flushing the converter replace it with a remanufactured unit. It could be bad itself and you just transferred the problem. If you opt to fix yourself, have never done a car trans and do not have some special tools. It was mentioned earlier about making tools, certainly can be done as I have made many when I was building transmissions. But there are some that you just can't make and some are not inexpensive. Probably not the transmission you would want to have a first experience with. Just my .03 (.01 for inflation). This forum teaches we all start somewhere and learn from what we do od didn't do.

Originally Posted by sawmilleng

The transmission problems are straightforward--it started to not want to move. You had to rev it up a lot to get it moving. Once under way, it seems to shift ok. It didn't take long before it wouldn't move at all. That seems to point at the torque. But doesn't the torque oil circulate through the transmission as well? Or am I confusing the operation of a heavy equipment torque with an automotive torque? Also, even if it is the torque, you gotta drop the transmission on the ground to get at it...why not have a look at the tranny at the same time?

The oil smelled burnt before it started its problems; we dropped the pan, and changed the oil and filter pickup. I doubt it was changed since new, and has 175K km on it now. It started the problems after this and we are wondering if the pickup dropped off the intake--it is just a friction fit. Because the wife had a mail route and my pickup was also on blocks we were forced to continue just using it. We tried making sure it was full of oil so if the pickup was leaking it would still get oil. No change.

By the way, it's a 4 door 4x4. We bought it about 3 years ago, paid way too much for it, so I want to fix it up so we can use it to get some of our money out of it. My wife quite likes it...

I don't have any problem pulling it and stripping it. I'm a pretty methodical guy and will get the appropriate manuals beforehand. I understand GM has a pretty decent rebuild manual for the transmission...?

Thanks for all your responses--they help!

Jon.

Torque converter circulates oil similar to that on heavy equipment. If your problem agrivated after changing the filter make sure the filter you use is for the correct depth pan, there are two options. If fluid is burnt bad, will likely have internal issues that your disassembly will discover. ATSG (automatic transmission service guides) Are excellent manuals also. You can get them on-line at various places. I used these in the days I built transmissions, I got some of mine at my local NAPA store. Good Luck, hope all goes well for you.