lost 3rd gear totally. High mileage, hard, hard miles! Do i repair or buy lower mileage replacement? 5.3Liter,Auto. 4x4
If you buy a low mileage replacement transmission be sure it has a warranty. Have you talked to an independent transmission shop to have your transmission rebuilt?
The only real way to know for sure is to tear down your transmission to know what all is wrong with it and what other than the basic normal stuff if any require replacing also… remember that a used trans is used… you could get one that last another 50K or you could get one that is not much more than a rebuildable core…
But I would at least pull the pan and filter to see what it looks like and replace the filter and replace the front pump seal and the rear main (engine) seal, and any other seals that maybe leaking… And use the correct ATF, not some universal stuff…
Typical 4L60 trans failure… pukes 3rd gear.
If you can FIND a transmission shop that will rebuild it, I’d go that route. But you may have to accept a shop that installs a remanufactured transmission. As transmissions go, they aren’t that expensive… GM made millions of them.
How high is high on the mileage, and what do you know about its maintenance history?
Before I jumped to any conclusions, I’d scan it for error codes as it may just have been put into limp home mode. Your 4 word description (“lost 3rd gear totally”) isn’t much to go on.
If it comes to it, whether you repair or replace, depends on you, I’d say. Are you the kind of person who would R&R a tranny on your own? If so, I’d go used or find a reman supplier. If handing it off to a shop, then I’d find the best, local, independent shop that specializes in transmissions. Have them check it out and advise.