1997 suburaban

[burbowner]

I have two questions. First I noticed that the transmission shifts hard between first and second, and also I get a really bad ping in the enginge when trying to speed up going up a hill. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[fornvasn]

check your transmission fluid, make sure their full ( make sure that you dont wanna over fill it and if its dirty just change it. you might even need to change your filter and gasket. the pinging noise... does it only happen when you down shift if so it might be tanny mount.

[Pamsdad]

Are you using premium fuel?

[gregory914]

The trans on my 97 Burb did that on a trip from Ohio to South Carolina and the dealer on Hilton Head told me it was the valve body in the trans, but they didn't have one in stock. The fluid was fine (not burnt) so we drove it back to Ohio and my local dealer put a new valve body in under the extended warranty,that was at 70k miles.
I found a shop that does a flushing and changing of the fluid with the car running which gets rid of ALL the old fluid, even the stuff in the torque converter that you can never change unless you remove the trans and torque converter. My trans has been fine and I now have 109k miles on my Burb.
You should definately try some premium fuel and a couple bottles of Techron fuel injector cleaner and that should clear up your pinging as long as its not something more hardware related like a sensor timing problem. Changing the fuel filter couldn't hurt either!

[Fireplug]

YOUR ping might be caused by a egr valve not working or gumed up. You trucks computer is set to run on 87 octane fuel and by running a higher octane fuel it will cause more problems in the emission system in the long run. Pings are also caused by to much adv timing , hot spots on the pistons , carbon built up in the egr system fuel to lean
fireplug

[frootl00p3]

[quote=gregory914]

WHat shop did you take it to that did a trans fluid change while running? I have a 99 burban that has been doing the same sort of thing when shifting. I have flushed the trans fluid myself and got a little improvement and was considering the removal and replacement method
. I would much prefer to try something else first since the car is my only source of transportation and the love of my life.

FOr the guy with the PING, I have always been real leary of fuel additives. I have found from my experience, that conditioners and additives usually only mask the problem. I had a slight ping on acceleration and figured it was due time for a complete tune up. I changed the spark plugs and went with bosch, they supposedly fire hotter or something like that. They are mostly recommended for foreign cars and people often use them in Fords, but by firing hotter they help the engine run cleaner. I then changed the wires and the cap, but it isn't called that now it is called some sensor thing, but I am drawing a blank. Check engine light came on so I disconnected the batter for 1 hour. Light went out and the computer reset itself, I alse changed the air cleaner and fuel filter (when changing filter open gas cap and lodge the tank cover thing open and you will have less spillage). I changed the oil and went to a synthetic blend so 1/2 and 1/2 didn't require a flush that way. When I was all done I drove the car around in lower gears for about 100 miles purposely keeping the RPMs above 2000 to blow out whatever gunk had built up in the engine. I probably went a little over board and did more then I had too, who knows but I have 89,000 miles on her and she is running like the day I bought her again. The best part is my gas mileage, it is unbelievable. Just made a road trip filled up her 44 gallon tank and drove 860 miles before having to refill again. I was driving on the highway but I had to go through the mountains and the cruise control was set at 70 and she never once hesitated. 89,000 miles MAN I LOVE CHEVY!

[gregory914]

I found a local (Cle.,Ohio) gas/service station that had the equipment to do the tranny flush. It cost about $100.00, but I feel it is well worth it. Call around where you live and ask who does them. If you have no luck go on google and search automatic transmission flushing equipment and I'm sure the companies that make the equipment can give you someone in your area who does the flushing.