I have a 2004 Chevrolet Blazer 4 door. The service guy at the dealership told me that the transmission used for the 2004 model was only used this one year. Is this true? I am trying to decide whether to have the transmission in it rebuilt or to purchase a SRTA. Thanks for your help.

 

I am not aware of any changes past 1998 other than refinements to the transmission, but those would not be required for a transmission to work properly... I do not have my ATSG manuals with me at the moment, but I will try to remember to have a look in the update manual which covers all the way up to the 4L65E change over.

 

I think he is lieing to you, but i am not sure

 

Maybe they went the one-piece housing?

 

97 was the last year for the one-piece main case. Everything 98+ is a two piece main case (bell housing being separable).

Somewhere in the 2004 time frame was the introduction of the 4L65E, but again, that was only modifications internal to the transmission and I am told everything is backwards compatible. So other than not getting the 5 gear planetary set in the back of the transmission and some of the other upgrades, you really are not required to getting that transmission... But let me check with my ATSG manuals to be sure.

 

The sun shell has broken on the current transmission. He quoted between $1800 - $2200 on getting that part fixed. The mechanic said that if we planned on keeping the truck a long time we might consider getting a SRTA because of the warranty. The price quote for the SRTA was $2900 with everything. However, the service guy said that since the transmission we have was only used this year that it will be a little harder to get. He said it would take a week and that since it was harder to get that this was the best price he could give me. I had gotten a quote at a shop that specializes in transmission work. They told me they could have the SRTA transmission and have everything completed in two days. His quote was $2600 plus tax so about $2790. I know there isn't much of a price difference, but I just feel like the dealership is lying about the transmission. Even their mechanic told me he could order the transmission and have it the next day. The service guy said that the parts people are the ones that are saying this is not true. I am going to call to find out which transmission they are talking about ordering.

Will the SRTA be a 4165E or will it be the one before that? Does it matter?
Thanks for everyone's responses.

 

Ok, I had to look what the heck SRTA was... SRTA == Service Replacement Transmission Assembly.

I do not know what they would give you for the transmission. I know that a lot of the transmission rebuilders now are offering only the 4L65E transmissions as direct replacements for the 4L60E.

If the price is installed with a warranty, then I say go for it. You will spend over $2k for a rebuilt transmission from most other places.

I still have not gotten a chance to even look for my ATSG manual (just got back from a business trip last night), but I find it very hard to believe that this particular transmission was only available for one year. Seems like the service manager is trying to get more $$$ out of your wallet.

*EDIT*

Well, according to my ATSG manual, the 4L65E has only been used in the V8 applications and was used starting in 2001. The valve body and separator plate on the 4L60E was revised in 2001, but that is the last update that it shows. So your truck should still be the 4L60E and you should be able to use any 4L60E from 2001-current as well as the 4L65E which was used in the lighter duty V8 applications.