Holy crap! The old saying is true, quality tools are not cheap. Is there a code reader an average Joe can use that isn't that high on the wallet bleeding scale that would help with home diagnostics?
GM engineer: "Where should we mount this delicate control module? How 'bout right on the radiator, where it'll stay nice and hot?" I admire your persistence, Dr. O. BTW, I liked the eagle.
I really enjoy watching the thought process on diagnosing problems. This is my favorite channel for diagnosing vehicle malfunctions. Keep up the great work.
Great info. If GM were interested in that TCM lasting a long time, it should have mounted it firmly on the body and not on a hot surface. Makes you wonder. Wildlife is returning to NY. Very cool.
is a fast learn required? i bought a TCM programmed to VIN and will install it tomorrow. Do i need to fast learn using a scanner or justing driving will cause the TCM to self learn? everything im seeing from online TCM sellers is that its plug and play if programmed to the vin
@@CodyR-wh2nl fast learn is a quick way to adapt the clutches most of the way. I don’t think it’s necessary though. It will adapt in pretty quickly anyway. The first few shifts may be rough though.
@@dB_944 thanks David. TCM should be here today and as you know with the shortage of them I’m feeling lucky to have found new old stock so keeping my fingers crossed for good results. Haven’t found a good Allison mechanic around my area like southbend. So most of my stuff is trial and error on my own with RU-vid university as my instructor
The TCM has extra mounting holes on those Duramax trucks but for whatever reason they just had that one fastener. The last shop I worked for had a fleet with a bunch of those trucks and we used to drill a couple extra holes in the shroud and install two more push pins through the existing holes on TCM brackets. We saw a couple of them come in with the TCM flopped over against the accessory drive. That's an expensive repair for something so stupid. Love the diagnostic videos!
Its always a pleasure watching your show. It is very informative in this electric age we are in. And of course its always a great pleasure seeing mrs o in your show
Funny, I am a mobile diagnostician in training and have a 2010 Chevy 3500HD w/ Allison 1000 had the PO708 code, and would not move in any gear, went to clear code, no dice. I verified my PRNDL in scan tool everything good. Go and tap gingerly on TCM and go back to scan tool it clears code, now the truck goes in gear. Perfect, will check my powers and grounds, and call it from there, thank you sir!
The reflash will always be the area where home mechanics can't compete. Because of that I'd probably try to pull the old module apart and reflow solder joints, if only to avoid the cost of paying somebody to do the reprogramming.
You should open up one of these TCMs. The horse hair size conductors running from the board to the pins just scream built to fail. I've always thought highly of the Allison transmissions but that didn't impress me at all.
looking at where its mounted (on the radiator) its not super surprising, that thing probably gets a lot of heat cycles. its not completely uncommon to have laptop gpus stop working because they just get so hot, i'm guessing its a similar situation here
Watching that beautiful Bald Eagle was chocolate icing on the chocolate cake! Another great video this time with a Duramax/Allison combination. Heat and a hammer. Great combination for problem solving! Hope you didn't get snowed out with this last storm!
Aris Torm I love chevy. Too bad they’re not made here in America, but Canada and Mexico. So looks like you might be the one with the Pom poms waving the flag for a vehicle manufacturer that makes their vehicles outside of the US. Lol
Does anyone else miss seeing Eric fighting rusty bolts, pulling hubs, driving out worn ball joints, using big nasty and impact wrenches, spraying brake clean...etc?
Thanks For this video Eric 😀.i have a 2009 Chevy Duramax LTZ that would throw 11 to 42 codes after warm up. Let it cool and clear DTC’s would run great until it warmed up. I replaced TCM reflashed it and now all good.
Yep, I just had this same issue happen to me (yesterday) in my 2014 GMC Denali 2500HD - Duramax w/ Allison. After researching for a few hours all signs pointed to Dan’s Diesel Performance TCM as the cheapest and fastest fix. I had a hard time pulling the trigger on a $675 part with $93 overnight shipping so I called them up and spoke with Dan. I ran through my issues and what I had done to test and he was extremely helpful and reassuring. I had the part next day (today) by 11AM and had it installed by 11:05AM. It royally sucks to have the problem but this is definitely the best approach and in the long run likely saved me $300-500. Not to mention if I had taken to a shop i would have been without my pickup for at least 3-5 days. Install is super easy by the way...no tools required for my pickup.
+1 on my 09 LMM and I unfortunately can't really afford that kind of new part right now I literally just replaced a drive shaft and that was right around the same cost maybe a little less expensive.... 😒 When does it end?
Hey, just wanna say thanks for all your videos, your a great mechanic! And should be very proud! Please done ever stop doing videos. All these best to you and your family :)
That trans control module was missing it's upper fastening bolt. Suppose someone has already swapped it or been messin with that one.... or it's been buzzin and vibratin cause it's held on with just one bolt and damaged it's little brain inside?
Great diagnostic and speedy repair :-D I would imagine that the faulty tcm may have been sending data at the wrong times and clashing with other packets of data from other devices on the same network.
I don't understand why these American cars have the ECU and other computer modules mounted in the engine bay and under the car where they're exposed to every possible thing bad. Why not put them under the seats, dash or footwells and protect them from the heat, water and salt? Is there some historical reason or they just do it on purpose to make everything fail?
Cause wiring harness has to be longer can cause abrasion and faults. Also water can be floor so its not safe. Under dash is pretty full. If made correctly these parts should last in a dry not overly hot place under the hood.
Great video! I would love to see more with substitute loads for testing purposes. Your video on how you make the test lights was great... a good follow up would be on using them!!! Awesome as always.
I had the same problem with my 2005 Sierra 3500 4x4 Dually. The guys at AAMCO here in Cocoa, Florida went in pretty deep with the diagnostic. They found that one of the wires going to the TMC was supposed to have a 12v reference. Although it was testing hot, the voltage was lower than 12 volts. The fix wasn't to replace the TCM. Instead they found a 12v (key on, I think) source in the fuse box then installed a double stacked fuse holder in that slot then ran a wire from there to the TCM plug.. They gave me a great price as well, $150 for diagnostics plus $150 for the rewiring, a total of $300. They also re-programmed both, my original TCM and the one I purchased from the salvage yard at no extra charge. Which is why I was there in the first place
Can you give me the info of who fixed it I’m in same shoes. My truck has TCM issues and is stuck in ga. I’m in central fl. Can’t get it home. TCM are in short supply
Seen this alot with allison 2000/3000 behind cummins engines. These "dimple" style heatsink tcm's have a high failure rate. This is exactly the sort of thing they do when they start to fail. They usually cause a no-start complaint as well. A lot of times if you pour cold water on the heatsink they will quit acting up. In my experience you'll typically get faults for tcm power input signal high and incorrect gear ratio. there is a newer updated style i think its an a59 tcm that has a redesigned heatsink and is far far less failure prone
Sounds like they are not using quality paste on the heat sink. I used to see this a lot with cheap computers. The chip would over heat and shut down the pc. Removing the factory paste, cleaning the heatsink and chip and putting good thermal paste on solved it. That cheap stuff will break down over time, leaving gaps that are not easy to see but causes less surface area contact and reduces heat transfer.
I wonder if it isn't more a mechanical issue like a crack in the board or solder joints. Of course excess heat would exacerbate that too. Twisting the module might have been interesting also.
@@Bryan-Hensley GM learns nothing from anyone I worked for a GM oem parts supplier the hubris of the purchasing, engineering and QA employees is unbelievable the corporate culture of GM is toxic at best.
Cool video would like to see you try and tear an old one apart probably cracked solder joints inside the unit. Mounted to the radiator lots of heat cycles and vibration...
Okay. Before any diagnosis of TCM of transmission. The first place to look is the wiring harness containing a hundred tiny wires tightly fitted over top any access to the lower part of the engine. What are the odds, some big fat arm pushed its way past the wiring harness and loosened just one of those tiny wires. If it did, your code reader is going to show failure of the communication between the TCM and the many, multiple, functions it communicates with every second. And, all it is, is a loose wire. I had a transmission shop tell me this repair would cost 1600.00 minimum and there would be no warranty. All it was, was a loose wire. Do you think the transmission shop knew the bad code was probably a loose wire? Of course. Do you think I would return to pick up my vehicle and the shop would say, hey good news it turns out all that was wrong was a loose wire and the bill is only 100.00? This is a warning to all the shops who think they can still dupe the customer. Be nice, be honest and you can have a good living. Be a creep and take advantage of vulnerable people, and it could be you asking me how much I want to make this go away. I was even offered a job. All it was was a loose wire. ;)
I can't decide if the video is better than the comments or the other way around, you got some hilarious subs on here Eric. I guess either way, I win. Thanks, Man!!
I just replaced my tow mirrors and exterior door handle. I also cleaned out some old wiring from the last owner from an old boost gauge that was powered by a fuse style jumper into an ignition spot. I have only owned the truck for a little over a week. I pulled out the jumper that was in the fuse box that had 2 10 amp fuses and never put one back into that place. I was throwing a TCM communication failure code pu0101 or something like that after doing so. But was able to clear the code with the obd cs2 tuner/monitor and drive the vehicle.Also CS2 tuner/monitor would not stay on and kept going out/coming back on. I got home and put that fuse back in, now, tuner is working no problem and I am not reading any codes after driving around for three hours and leaving it sitting in hot temperatures idling. Unable to replicate the issues that I was having yesterday after replacing the fuse. I’ll keep you updated @south main auto repair llc
If it reports P0001. be aware that's the universal GM code for "I'm a General Motors Product, do not try to fix me, just send me to the junkyard". Seriously I used to be a GM guy...they QC has gone right down the toilet. Granted I still daily drive a '91 Buick Century with the bulletproof 3.3L and the 4T60E trans. But that was then, this is now and the quality just ain't there.
It would be really cool if you could colab with other RU-vid guys that do component level repairs like jeffescortlx . Granted, once the module is broke it's done and a new one is out the door but the knowledge coming from seeing what actually went wrong would be invaluable.
Enjoy your videos. Educates vehicle owners as to your profession's difficulties managing all the know-how to repair a vehicle. Still takes good old fashioned horse sense rather than just believe the code checked is always right. Follow through on wiring harnesses for bare wires, etc first. Thanks for posting, from Texas.
Hey Eric O.- Do you ever get in 2000-2005 Chevy/ Silverado/GMC trucks with the infamous common brake and ABS light on issue? That would be an interesting problem to cover in one of your videos.
Thanks for another great video Eric. I had the same Issue on my 2011 2500HD. Money light and erratic shifting. Stealer mis-diagnosed shift solenoid pack and then replace the TCM.
Dad always taught me to never put my hand near a running belt and be gentle with my car. Eric O taught me whack it with everything you have and don't mind the belt. This is why dad never had a RU-vid channel.
@@NorthernCorruptionMonitor907 Lol For the past 4-5 days I've been thinking I wish I was in anchorage! Where I am in Minnesota the lows have been -12 to -18 and Fri - Sun they say -23 to -25. I was pretty surprised what a tropical paradise Alaska seems to be.
@Bobby Brady Oh yeah that's sort of like here in the summer when it's 95 where I live if I drive into Duluth and the wind is blowing off lake superior it can be 20 degrees cooler than just a few miles out of town.
awesome video! my truck is in the shop right now the guys couldnt figure out why so many codes with 64k miles on it. my truck is doing everything the one you are working on is doing.
Off subject here... WOW, I'm impressed - 2 OEM, as in they left the factory with those batteries. Batteries do not last that long over here, but the temperatures can hit 100* F in the summer. And yeah, we usually will not see ICE POSSIBLE...I just put a battery in a 2018 Silverado, which is not typical as I usually see about 4 years average life expectancy for batteries. Sorry for the distraction, now back to regularly scheduled program
I work at a Chevy/Buick/GMC dealership. We're constantly needing to jumpstart brand new cars that sit for even a few weeks. Was in the negatives yesterday when we plowed. Had to jumpstart 5 brand new cars! Very annoying, especially when I'm trying to do my lot in a hurry. Even some new Toyotas have this problem, not as bad, though. Can usually let a Toyota sit for about a month before it starts to act unhappy. Newer stuff seems to have too many things going on even when the car's off, putting a major toll on the batteries.
"Fixing a car with a hammer" Brings me to my days of my first truck back in high school. My poor old 78 Chivvy K10 is probably still traumatized, almost 7 years after I sold it lol
Was wondering what you think of the launch X431 scan tool my wife upgraded me from blue driver to a launch? It looks like the 123, 129 I like it and what scanner would you recommend. Steve maybe wheelchair bound but never lets limitations get him down
Ford Thick film ignition module had the same problem. They removed from the distributor to a heat sink where ambient air would keep it cooler. Think intel cpu's without a fan.
The TCM went on my 2012 LML in 2017 on the hottest day of the summer. I replaced it with a Motor Ops TCM, fully tuned for trailer towing, and now pulling heavy loads the transmission shifts sooner and has more torque.
Good morning Eric . Love your videos !! Love the plans of attack that you take in diagnosis problems. But I am just wondering if using a heat gun rather than a torch might have been better ?? Awesome channel love the interaction with mrs O . I am just a self taught shadetree DIY but i figure if it's going to get screwed up fixing it I can do that !! I have learned a lot from your channel !! Thanks hope your day is a great one !!😊
I was thinking the same thing about the heat gun when the torch came out. lol …… I guess as long as your careful and know what your doing (Like Eric Does) either will get the end result you're looking for.
nice. Modules often get moisture in them. Put them in a refrigerator for a week will suck water out. A vacuum chamber also can pull out water from components. I fix cranes and man lifts Module s can cost a fortune. Cut some open and found water inside on a few. Desiccant beads absorb moisture also and I put the packets inside component if there is space . Good work Thanks
rip hammer not claw. rip is strait claw is curved just saying both are hammers. I have been watching your vids for a while and find them extremly helpful in working on my own veh. thank you.
the module was just made to brake, the internal electric parts baked from heat, all the module needed was a proper heat sink or a built in 12v fan . made to brake .... brilliant video cheers ... jj uk london
If I didn’t still use it for the exact thing you were using a torch, I’d send you my Blue Point YA-862 Choke Tester. Hot air out one side, cold out the other. A few months ago, I actually even used it to test a choke on a Holley. 😎 I still see it on eBay, sometimes. A lot safer than a torch or heat gun.
Eric, Great video. I dont think an GMC/Allison truck is in my future but I always love watching SMA videos! I could watch the eagles all day long too. SMA#1 God bless Paul
Reminded me of the old Plymouth Fury Police Interceptors we drove as part of a taxicab fleet. Bought at auction in Anchorage, Alaska. One night my new cab went to crap, so I limped it back to the shop. The mechanic there was surprised they let me take this one out because he said it "wasn't ready to go yet". So, he quickly unscrewed the computer module from the air cleaner housing (think big 400 cubic inch with a 4 bbl carb), took a harness he had ready-made, and bolted it over on the fender. Never had another problem with it. Yep, heat soak.
I know some GMs have solder joint problems. With my 2000 Sonoma it has it on the ABS module. The pads crack and every time you go over a bump at whatever temperature. All you have to do is crack it open and resolver the pin pads with some solder that isn’t garbage.
Great video Eric, today my truck slammed in to 3rd gear when i was pulling my camper, and it will not come out of 3rd gear, but you can shift it to park,reverse low i will try it in the morning when it cools down. I have a 2015 GMC. Thanks for the vid.
Wanted to start by saying I absolutely love all your videos! I wish your shop was closer to me cuz you would be one of the very few I would trust my vehicle with. I am having basically the same issue with my TCM with my 2002 Silverado with Allison transmission and I was trying to follow the steps you had taken but cannot find the mail plug pen diagram online where it unplugs from the TCM so I can check hots and grounds. I'm sure you're always busy but thought I would ask if you got a chance would you mind sending me a diagram for that. My truck is a 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 8.1 with Allison transmission
What engineer thought mounting a critical component like the TCM onto the radiator shroud was thermally smart? Someone needs to make a harness extender for the TCM and relocate somewhere less prone to heat and vibration (like inside the cab...).
Love your videos and you have so much patience for these things and probably have cars banking up outside to be fixed haha. I would just pull it apart and check the solder traces and any heat sensitive areas/simple loose wire or leaky input diode from age as these type of electronic issues can drive a tech like me nuts as its "intermittent" the worst words a tech want s to hear. Your skill in finding the problem sets you apart from the rest of the "pros" in your town that cant. Sometimes just a quick substitution (dirty word yes) and guarantee to the customer to bring it back if it plays up again no charge as these ones can put you in the mad house chasing down the failure on these more and more complex cars that only run if the computer is having a good day!...So nice to just run a hot wire from battery to coil, but those days are long gone.
GM cracks me up with their "Hood open" warning - every time I see that on my truck, I think to myself, "YOU'RE KIDDING! I'D HAVE NEVER FIGURED THAT OUT!!" 🤣😂 Nice racket they have set up there. Magic box fails - costs $6 bills ... plus $40 (or more depending on which subscription you buy) for the privilege of using their software, or else the damn thing won't work. What a world we live in today! I'd have been frustrated in the beginning there, and probably busted a few fins off the thing ... 😁 Cool you've got an eagle hangout at the end of the road there! 👍👍
Mine failed in my 2015 HD3500. Sent it in to be fixed. Was cheaper then a rebuilt one and took 1 week versus 8 weeks waiting for the rebuilt Chevy part. Heat kills them and the placement is bad exposes it to high heat. Known issue
Those Allison modules tend to do funny things when they heat up with age. They’re the same modules I see in the International trucks. Just did one a couple weeks ago. They should send an updated module.
Yeah, I love the scenery in the north east states, just don't want the winter that comes with it. We don't get much of a winter here in Oklahoma, but the land is as flat as a board with a few minor hills here and there. Summers are hotter than up north though, for us 85 degrees is a cool day. We don't complain until it gets around 95 and up with the humidity in the high 70's or more.
Mmm, yeah. My wife has an 03 Trailblazer that had a bad tccm. We got a Dorman (before seeing your channel). In the winter, when you need 4x4, it wouldn't work unless warmed. So since I left before her, I would put an extra blow dryer on it and leave in my car. By spring of last year we had had enough, went and got replacement Dormans that were supposed to be programed but were both deader than reman'ed doornails. So she rolled on with the thermal one. We finally sprung for a oem tccm and sent it to fast flash.com? iirc? and we have been rocking on nicely this winter. I had to do a hack to fix the encoder pot output in the actuator (too high in 4x4 hi so I clamped it). But yeah, fun stuff thermal computers and cars.
These trucks are notorious for the plugs to the tcm vibrating loose and causing intermediate codes. Gotta unplug them and reseat the pins to ensure a solid connection. I see that 9/10 times with people complaining about hard shifts and other weird issues.
Another great trouble shooting video, using tools of the trade, using experience, logic, latest computer analyzers, and a calibrated hammer. I am sure the hammer operator was certified. Good find with the hot soaking.
Have you done any investigations into whether attached devices like relays or solenoids are taking out this TCM? Do you think relocating this module or heat shielding it would help it survive longer?
