Ok need a little help since I'm transmission illiterate. Have a 2001 blazer with 257,000 miles on her. Was driving to work yesterday on the highway when all of a sudden it was as if the transmission went in to neutral. Now I have no gears. The fluid level is at the proper level and has been verified by several people. This morning I went to look at the vehicle and I had all gears, but this was short lived. After then engine ran for about 5 min I started losing gears. Reverse first then all the drive gears. The transmission was rebuilt around 70,000 miles due to stupidity on my part. Guess you can't throw it in reverse while moving forward pulling a boat. Since the rebuild I've had no problems until yesterday but I also have never had the fluid or filter changed since the rebuild. Does anyone have any ideas of things I can check or do before I take it to the shop for another rebuild??? I do a lot of mechanical things just never worked on a tranny.

 

Unfortunately-this trans must be looked at by an ATRA shop(very important) You may get away with a simple valve body and solonoid job!

 

you said you rebuilt the trans when it was at 70,000miles and you now have 257k an you never changed the fluids or oil filter. did the dipstick smells burnt at all cause you can have fluids but might be old and dirty

 

If it has been 70,000 miles since the fluid has been changed and it is dark and smells burnt the transmission clutches may have been burnt up. I usually don't go very far over 25,000 miles between fluid changes on transmissions and a do a filter every other fluid change.

 

With as many miles since your fluid and filter has been changed its over due.With that being said unless your transmission was slipping first before this problem occured to me I think your torque converter has went bad based upon my knowlege on transmissions.I dont think its a cylinoid problem cause when they go bad you either lose 1-2 gears or 3rd and 4th gears.Now there could also be a problem within the valve body such as a check valve is stuck which could be caused from debris inside the valve body.What I would do is take your vehicle to a transmission shop and let them road test your Jimmy then they can give you a proper evaluation and go from there.

 

I have to agree with 1sttime-again:take it to an ATRA shop for a fair diagnosis!

 

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you all. Work for the fire dept. and its been a little crazy in the Northeast. First, thanks for all the great info. Second - an update. Got in touch with someone in the dept that's a better mechanic than I am and he said it sounded like a pressure problem. So today we changed the fluid and filter and got back reverse, 1st and 2nd. He then told me he know what the rest of the problem was. When I was cleaning the pan, he was check the shift solenoids and valves. He said the valve for 3 and 4 was sticking when he checked it. He didn't say anything because he really didn't think changing the fluid and filter would work and I was going to the shop with it if it didn't. So, next day shift we take the pan off again and see if we can free the valve. As for the fluid, it was really dark, but didn't smell burnt. The filter was hard as a rock on the inside, so we are guessing it was plugged and not letting any fluid through. Will let you know how things finally turn out. Thanks again.

 

Well thats great to know that your on the right track to solving your problem.