Truck in question is an '02, 4-door, 4x4 with the 4.3 liter vortec engine.

I changed the trasmission filter and fluid 5,000 miles ago. Yesterday the truck started slipping. I dropped the pan and saw that the filter had come loose and was just lying in the bottom of the pan.

I checked the filter seal and it was correctly installed and still in fine shape, and the filter I had bought was designed for the shallow pan, which is what I have.

I re-installed the filter and it seemed to fit snugly enough, so I am not sure how or why this happened.

Can anyone provide any insight into this issue? I am going to replace the filter regardless, but want to be sure this does not happen again.

 

Update on my situation: I did some further research and think that I may actually have the deep pan. The pan is not completely flat and has a slight step to it. I just assumed that I had the shallow pan because the step wasn't that deep. Stupid mistake on my part, but can anyone confirm that using the shallow filter with the deep pan will result in the problem that I have?

 

Can't confirm it but it's the only logical explination.

 

I was reading your post and no i have not a clue.But i an interested because i to do not know the dif and im have tranny problems and i did get a kit for a filter change not knowing if i had a deep or shallow pan and i know i told them shallow. this could be some of my problems to.
Please keep me informed.?

 

Yeah, no prob. I'll def let you know how it goes...can't guarantee I'll know right away because it took a few thousand miles before the trouble started with my last filter/fluid change.

I'm also going to be upgrading to this pan: Dorman Products - 265-811

It matches the same design (minus the drain plug) of what I have now and it says to use the GM filter designed for the deeper pan.