You weren't racing or running this thing fast when the tire blew, were you?

 

I wasn't racing it. I know my over-drive solenoid is out, thus, I don't have over-drive. So when I was cruising along at 65 the RPM's were around 3,500.

 

Hmm. Running at sustained high RPM may have done the engine in.

 

Ehh, I wouldn't think 3500 is high enough to do damage, even constant.

When I drive highways I leave my car in 3 (preventing it from going into OD). My area has some nuts drivers in the morning commute and going in and out of OD constantly as you go up and down in speeds, I'm noticing I'm slipping in and out of 4th (even a clunk or 2 when it shifts), so until I can get my tranny replaced with a TEP version with the heat treated 4th shaft I don't use overdrive and I haven't had any problems from the higher cruising RPMs.

 

3500 RPM sustained on a GM V6 is a lot. Especially on a 17 year old LQ1. I would suggest leaving your car in OD. Who cares if it shifts up and down, it is meant to.

And for those of you that shift your car (manually), this has to be one of the biggest killer of trans. Can't count the ones I've replaced because of people shifting them like this.

 

Yeah, it may be meant to but I have a pre 2003 tranny. The spline for the 4th gear clutch to catch is weak and they will wear down. Constant in and out of 4th gear and lockup in 4th gear puts stress on the splines which eventually leads to failure and no 4th gear.

In 2003 they began to heat treat these splines so they wouldn't wear down. As I said in my last post I'm already experiencing 4th issues, so why exacerbate the problem because "it's meant to shift up and down."

 

do what you want, it's your money. Just stating the facts.

 

What is that; a chunk of your tire? Man that don't sound good at all.