U0107 Code and transmissin whining

Apparently the truck doesn't want routine maintenance. All geared up to do the brakes and shocks, then starts giving me real problems. This is an 06 Silverado 5.3 4x4 crewcab with approx 130K on it:

Driving home yesterday, I noticed under acceleration in all gears the the transmission (I assume) is whining. It starts around 2500 RPM and is the loudest at about 3000 RPM. I've tried running in 1st and 2nd to see if there was any change... sounds similar to a bad differential. At first I thought it was the cold air intake. Just cleaned the air filter yesterday and initially sounded like the motor sucking the air... only much louder. The only time I get the sound is when the pedal is about half down on acceleration in that approximate RPM range. Nothing on slowing down or coasting. I've been under the hood on the throttle and no weird sounds when it's parked. Not even sure it's the transmission. Any thoughts? Would servicing the transmission even be worth it or would noise mean it's time to start hunting down another?

Then it gets better: While trying to determine where the noise is coming from, I romp on the gas, run through second gear and the truck goes into "Reduced Engine Power". Plugged in my code reader and got U0107. Erased it and drove the truck about 10 miles and does it again. It's happened to me 3 times now and only when I get into the pedal. I know (or am pretty sure) this is not related to the possible transmission noise. The code is some type of communication error with the throttle sensors, but no clue where or what to be looking for. I'm suspicious of a wiring issue. It rained pretty heavy yesterday and this started happening. Last time I got a reduced engine power message was after going through an automatic car wash about 6 months ago.

Any help is greatly appreciated... even if the best advice is to let the dealer make some money off me!

see if this tsb applies to your vehicle with this U0107 issue..

silverado U0107 dtc TSB 06-06-04-042A ...

this would cause the tranny to shift weird if the TAC is not correct because of software or a defective TAC/wiring etc...

I was reading up on that before I posted. It's done it at start-up and while driving, which according to the tsb does rule out the need to replace parts... kind of leaves it as a dealer reprogram. It does beg the question of what changes in 130K miles to warrant reprogramming things. All the same if it quits raining, I'll play with the wiring around the throttle body.

Now the transmission isn't shifting weird at all... the truck is running and shifting as well as it ever has. Just has this weird noise like I have a turbo installed (only not as whistle-like), which I don't. I'm not even sure if it's the transmission and no clue how to determine what it is... I can only drive down the road with the door open and my head under the truck for so long!

I was reading up on that before I posted. It's done it at start-up and while driving, which according to the tsb does rule out the need to replace parts... kind of leaves it as a dealer reprogram. It does beg the question of what changes in 130K miles to warrant reprogramming things. All the same if it quits raining, I'll play with the wiring around the throttle body.

Now the transmission isn't shifting weird at all... the truck is running and shifting as well as it ever has. Just has this weird noise like I have a turbo installed (only not as whistle-like), which I don't. I'm not even sure if it's the transmission and no clue how to determine what it is... I can only drive down the road with the door open and my head under the truck for so long!

the weird noise is another ball game ! caN'T REally help with thAT one here ....

It's a tough one... my best thought is to let a tranny shop diagnose it. I'm guessing since it's past due on service and the fluid is discolored that I probably have a plugged screen or filter and the noise is fluid being forced past the debris in the screen. Of course debris means wear and does bring the question of rebuilding the transmission. Could also just be the torque converter. I just don't have the free time to pull the transmission just to find that it's an exhaust gasket!

It's a tough one... my best thought is to let a tranny shop diagnose it. I'm guessing since it's past due on service and the fluid is discolored that I probably have a plugged screen or filter and the noise is fluid being forced past the debris in the screen. Of course debris means wear and does bring the question of rebuilding the transmission. Could also just be the torque converter. I just don't have the free time to pull the transmission just to find that it's an exhaust gasket!

regular checking of all fluids is very important if you expect to operate any vehicle beyond 100,ooomi successfully.

when you wait for the fluids to show wear/over use this will mean you should expect serious expensive repairs. It takes time and money to do the proper maintenence ...with a 4wd vehicle this is increased much more than a sedan ..the cost to perform the needed maintence is much less than driving the vehicle into the ground....

since I have been practicing what I have stated here I know this approach does work , and saves lots of down time and money.

my first vehicle was a 1967 in 1967...my current vehicle is a 2000 purchased in 2000...this is vehicle #4....my 1983 vehicle was sold with 380,ooomi on it ...original engine /transmission with no repairs needed...

Believe me, I know... I'm mainly a VW/Audi guy and every single one I own has 200K+ with original trans and engines and no mechanical issues. The 06's possible transmission is my own fault. I bought it new and have handed it off to service shops for most of the maintenance... just a matter of not having the time to work on my own vehicles anymore. I should know better than to trust what the 19 year old "technician" tells me, but then again I had expected to trade this truck on a new one 6 months ago... just decided I'd rather throw some money at it and keep it.... kinda like not having a $600/month payment!

Believe me, I know... I'm mainly a VW/Audi guy and every single one I own has 200K+ with original trans and engines and no mechanical issues. The 06's possible transmission is my own fault. I bought it new and have handed it off to service shops for most of the maintenance... just a matter of not having the time to work on my own vehicles anymore. I should know better than to trust what the 19 year old "technician" tells me, but then again I had expected to trade this truck on a new one 6 months ago... just decided I'd rather throw some money at it and keep it.... kinda like not having a $600/month payment!


since others have done the fluid/filter replacement it is very questionable what filters/fluids used..like your transmission requires a synthetic fluid...dexron VI...or another manufacturer like mobil dexron VI..
some shops claim that the transmission filter/pan does not need removal..this is just a way for them to make more profit at your expense.

looks like your stuck with some major repair costs..2006 for me its just braking in..that is only 5 yrs old !

I'm with you.... I'm used to buying the vehicle with 100K already on it. That and I've always worked on my own stuff. This is all just new ground with all my other vehicles being pre-OBD and reinforcing why I never let shops touch my vehicles in the past. For example the transmission is $200 to service, which we both know is just swapping fluids rather than filters, etc. What do they care, they're getting you back to replace the transmission in a few months!

Anyway, I have an update on the above conversation: Driving to the transmission shop, I couldn't keep the truck out of "reduced engine power" and the U0107 code.... I'm 60 miles from the closest anything. I finally climbed under the hood on the side of the road, determined to find the problem. I have a ram air hood, so found a dangling ground wire that used to go from the firewall to the hood. I tried hooking it onto a stud above the valve cover.... at the time frustrated and not remembering it went to the hood... I haven't had a single problem since. Hence, a good place to start looking if you ever encounter the issue is checking for proper ground. I haven't had the time to trace wires, but imagine the braided ground wire that goes from the firewall to the back of the motor is going to be the culprit.

Regarding the transmission, it is just the cold air intake (which is boxed and sealed to only take in air from the hood scoop).... I wasn't pushing the truck to ensure I wasn't causing "more" damage, but over 3000 RPM and my foot in it, that weird noise blends into a nice whistle. The transmission place told me it was all in my head, so on a whim put the factory airbox back in for a day and the noise went completely away. A lot of stress over nothing, but sure beats being careless (I know I shouldn't have missed the last transmission service) and potentially turning an inexpensive fix into a major repair.

Thanks again for all the advice and assistance... sure is nice having the guidance on things I'm walking blindly into!