GMC Repair: 4L80E transmission code 1870, chevy astro van, e mail address

Question
I got a 2000 Chevy Astro van and it has a 4L80E or a 4L60E transmission, cant remember which one the tranny repair shop said which one.  Any way it is reading a code 1870 every now and then on the service engine soon light.  It stays on a couple days and then goes out and comes back on.  It shifts real hard from 1st to 2nd and when the light is out it shifts great.  The trans repair shop said it needs a new torque converter and a total rebuild on the interior parts.  They said if we would of came in sooner when it first started it would of only needed a converter.  It has been doing this for about 8 months now.  Can you tell me if I need a total overhaul or just replacing the converter would fix the problem.  
Hope you can help.
Thanks for your time,
Ray...

Answer
Without actually driving the vehicle myself, A diagnosis is most impossible. In my many years of rebuilding transmissions, The FIRST thing I do is to pull the transmission fluid dipstick and see the COLOR and SMELL the fluid to see if it is dark in color and has a BURNT smell to it.

If the fluid is bright RED and has a normal SMELL to it, I would be skeptical about it needing a complete overhaul.

Did they tell you what the meaning of a CODE 1870 was ?. I would like to know.



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