Ooh Ooh That Smell...

Okay, I have a 2K Tahoe with the 5.3, 90K miles, picked it up in December. Maybe a month ago I took my son up to the local mom and pop ski resort. Only a couple of miles of grade, if that. Nothing too bad. I had the transfer case in auto since there were bare spots and slick spots. When I stopped it smelled kinda like I’d been riding the brake. Maybe not exactly, but it wasn’t a hot engine smell. I wondered if it was because the transfer case had been engaging and disengaging a lot. When I went back to get him I just left it in 4X4. There was a faint odor but not nearly as strong. Last night I take him up again. 2X4 all the way. The grade and speed were such that I could feel the tranny wanting to shift up and down. I tried to regulate my speed so as to keep shifting to a minimum. When I stopped to let my son out the smell was very strong. When I went back to get him I manually dropped it into 2nd gear. When I stopped that time my wife thought she caught a whiff of something but I couldn’t smell anything. I’m guessing this is the infamous 4l60e. Am I correct? The fluid doesn’t smell burned and it isn’t brown. I’m hoping that means it hasn’t received much damage. Is this the kind of thing the cooler and shift kit will help to prevent? If it’s doing this am I too late?

Thanks.

:newbie:

I would say a nice tranny cooler would make a big difference, if the truck runs and shifts fine i wouldn't worry about any damage. I had a truck when i used to beat on it it would shift sloppy, put a tranny cooler in and i never had a problem again. The other thing i would check is make sure your brakes are not sticking. Next time you smell the smell walk around the truck and look at all four rotors (or drums) you'll be able to tell if they are hot, they will be bluish you can also spit on your rotor and if it instantly boils and evaporates chances are that is your problem! 90k is enough for silly things like that to start happening.. just a thought i've had it happen so check it out

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Originally Posted by americanthunder

I would say a nice tranny cooler would make a big difference, if the truck runs and shifts fine i wouldn't worry about any damage. I had a truck when i used to beat on it it would shift sloppy, put a tranny cooler in and i never had a problem again. The other thing i would check is make sure your brakes are not sticking. Next time you smell the smell walk around the truck and look at all four rotors (or drums) you'll be able to tell if they are hot, they will be bluish you can also spit on your rotor and if it instantly boils and evaporates chances are that is your problem! 90k is enough for silly things like that to start happening.. just a thought i've had it happen so check it out

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Thanks. My mechanic is actually looking at it right now because I have no park brake. I don't remember if it was there when I bought it and now it's gone or if I was stupid enough not to check something that obvious. When I described things to him I thought it sounded like it might just need some adjustment. I never get the smell with daily driving, just that hill thing.

SON OF A BITCH. I just talked to my mechanic. The park brake is worn out, wore into the rotors too. I'm lookin' at new park brake drums, new rotors, new pads. $300 parts and about another $100 labor. I can't believe I was stupid enough not to step on the damned park brake before I bought it.

Hey--its better than YOU driving all of that way with the parking brake on... I would stand and give you a well deserved round of applause!!! But what you are smelling could be the tranny or transfer case. You did everything in order as I would have done, so I can't tell ya to do anything different... I would also recommend getting either a bigger tranny pan and cooler or if you are not equipped, put a cooler on. That will help out substanitally.

agreed! you deff cant go wrong with doing a tranny cooler, it cant do anything but help :dancenana:

I've got a line on a 28K B&M for a good price that I plan on picking up. I told my wife I wouldn't spend any new money on this ride so I need to sell the CAI I took off the totalled Durango first.

hey at least it wasnt the tranny taking a crap on you... and at least your getting a tranny cooler now

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Originally Posted by duckysbht

hey at least it wasnt the tranny taking a crap on you... and at least your getting a tranny cooler now

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I'm mostly pissed at myself for not picking up on something that obvious when I bought it. If I'd done that I could have tried to stick the dealer for it. Now I'm on my own.

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Originally Posted by withac

I'm mostly pissed at myself for not picking up on something that obvious when I bought it. If I'd done that I could have tried to stick the dealer for it. Now I'm on my own.

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don't worry man I have had plentttyyyy of those. and I know ill have plentttyyy more.