Hi all, I’m new to this forum and impalas. I have been reading these forums regarding transmission failures on these cars. I am interested in buying a 2009 v6 impala with 55k miles on it. If the condition is good then I would want to buy it.
My question is that is the 4t65e transmission really as bad as the internet says it is? I.e. is it a matter of “when” and not “if” the transmission will fail? I have done some googling and I can find the problems (bad solenoid, high temperature, slipping, burnt fluid) but what I can’t find is if there is a way to stop the transmission from failing? What is needed? Should I keep an eye on the transmission fluid level and smell it every now and again to see if it smells burnt? Do I just need to follow the maintenance schedule for the transmission fluid and filter change? I do tend to drive my cars hard when they are warm and drive a mixture of city stop and go traffic and highway miles. I can’t find a proper root cause of these things failing other than temperature and I have read some fail at 25k miles! I wouldn’t want to but are there any modifications to make that can prolong the life? Thank you.
My question is that is the 4t65e transmission really as bad as the internet says it is? I.e. is it a matter of “when” and not “if” the transmission will fail? I have done some googling and I can find the problems (bad solenoid, high temperature, slipping, burnt fluid) but what I can’t find is if there is a way to stop the transmission from failing? What is needed? Should I keep an eye on the transmission fluid level and smell it every now and again to see if it smells burnt? Do I just need to follow the maintenance schedule for the transmission fluid and filter change? I do tend to drive my cars hard when they are warm and drive a mixture of city stop and go traffic and highway miles. I can’t find a proper root cause of these things failing other than temperature and I have read some fail at 25k miles! I wouldn’t want to but are there any modifications to make that can prolong the life? Thank you.