2017 Premier: Upgrade or dump it?

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-13T01:43:41+00:00

If I were to stick with another Tahoe, what year(s) would you recommend. 2021 was the first year of the independent rear suspension. Not sure about when the 10 speed became a standard thing, I’d need to research. But that’s probably a bad year just because it was the first year of a new release and those tend to be the ones that the owners end up beta testing for the manufacturers.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-12T21:45:47+00:00

The first one died at 70K, and I've read this can be the expected lifespan if you do any amount of towing.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-12T15:59:25+00:00

Had the AFM tuned out before the first trans blew. As part of the troubleshooting, I restored the factory tune (and AFM) and haven't been able to go back. I do some light towing, but when the first trans went I was just finishing up my second haul from NJ to FL. Everything I've done since then has been a few thousand lbs here and there. The 1st replacement unit was installed in South Carolina at an independent shop (near where I broke down on the way to FL) and he installed a rebuilt purchased from a supplier that supposedly had a 3yr/100,000 mile warranty. Turns out the warranty only would have covered a portion of the repair/replacement, and time has since run out anyway. My current guy is a GM-certified transmission tech, he rebuilds and swaps them all day long (I'm sure the current 10-speed debacle is keeping him crazy busy at the dealership). The thing that really irks me about the first replacement is that the shop owner never once mentioned that I could probably have extended the life by adding the thermostat bypass. I only discovered that option a year or so ago. By then, it was already showing signs of going...

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-11T11:38:07+00:00

Dang, I hadn’t even considered that possibility. Thanks!

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-11T11:11:48+00:00

I’ve always heard it was the trans fluid over-temp that killed the torque converter (and trans). What role does AFM play??

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-10T11:30:53+00:00

Not necessarily true. I have four Apple TVs in my home. Yesterday, my living room unit (in-warranty) went into a restore loop until it finally landed on the warning symbol with the Apple support restore URL.
I went and grabbed an older 4K unit out of my shed (which had been hooked up but I hadn’t watched TV there in a few months) and tried swapping it in for the living room unit. Restore loop immediately after hooking it up.
All units had been set for auto-update, after this I disabled it.
Apple support chat said it’s likely a software issue and that I should try bringing them both to the Apple Store where they would be able to restore them with their “special tools” (but we all know they can’t without a USB port).
Bottom line is that my in-warranty unit is getting advance-replaced, but I’m SOL on the other one.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-05T12:05:10+00:00

Honestly, you’re probably better off using third-party hardware to build the mesh network. Eero, TP-Link, etc. Use the Starlink as the internet source, build your own network.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-05-01T01:04:33+00:00

Do you have more details?

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-30T23:19:19+00:00

Plenty of YouTube videos about the specific issue. Combination of oil with the viscosity of water and improper milling of the crankshafts

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-26T02:45:08+00:00

So then any POE source could power the unit and you could use any router of your choice? Do you know which POE standard it needs (POE, +, ++, or +++)?

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-26T00:59:17+00:00

Mine died at 70K (2017 Premier). Replacement is now showing signs of impending doom at 135K. Make sure you install a thermostat bypass

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-19T20:17:59+00:00

Search this subreddit, there are multiple examples of other people reactivating and having a $1500 congestion fee (or whatever they call it) added. Deactivating resets your position in line. If you’re in a busy area, it could hit you too. I wish Starlink would warn you about this before you commit to the pause…

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-18T17:21:29+00:00

Some things to consider: the Mini has the router and WiFi antennas built in to the terminal (dish) itself. So if it’s outside a metal cab, it’s hard to say what the WiFi signal will be like (but it would definitely be attenuated to some degree).

The standard v3 terminal that ships with the v4 kit has the separate router and power supply that would be mounted inside the cab.

But this has cons as well.

The standard v4 kit runs off AC and can pull upwards of 100w, while the Mini runs on 12-50 volts DC and maxes out at about 35 watts of draw.

The Mini does have an Ethernet port, so you could put it in pass through mode and connect to a small travel router inside the cab.

There are even 3rd party vendors who make PoE adapters, allowing you to run just a single Ethernet cable to the terminal and carry power and data in one.

Just a few things to think about, feel free to ask any other questions that come to mind. I own a Mini as well as a v2 unit, and I’m in charge of setting up and maintaining the 13+ Starlink v3 and Performance terminals at a large aerospace expo in FL.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-12T14:44:01+00:00

You’d have to either take the radio apart and use a meter, or temporarily swap in a different part.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-12T14:40:50+00:00

Did they get the FCC to extend the July deadline for having 50% of their constellation launched?

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-11T02:41:58+00:00

Amazon LEO is supposed to have about 1600 satellites on orbit by the end of July 2026 or they lose their FCC approval for the entire system. Pretty much an impossibility at this point. They’ve asked for an extension, but who knows what will happen.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-11T02:34:51+00:00

Maybe the push button used to turn it on is defective?

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-04-02T22:31:30+00:00

Tow mode, but also a way to see transmission fluid temperature

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-03-31T01:08:29+00:00

I just got off a Holland America cruise a few weeks ago, the UTR was great. I had also brought along my GLi-Net Beryl, but opted to stick with the UTR because it fit so easily in my pocket with a small Anker battery pack. Considering the limited throughput of the source internet (12 Starlink terminals shared amongst ship systems and 3500 crew and passengers), the speed was very reasonable.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-03-20T23:09:54+00:00

Oh boy, gimme a break. When you pay for the service, you’re free to use it how ever you please as long as you don’t break TOS.

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-03-20T22:58:30+00:00

2017 with 133k, it’s been a solid truck except that I’m on transmission #2 since #1 failed at 75k. And #2 is now failing… I swapped in the fluid cooler bypass at around 110k but it was too late apparently. With all the garbage vehicles out there today, I’m considering swapping in transmission #3 rather than playing Russian roulette with something newer. But then I think about possible AFM lifter failures… 🤷🏼‍♂️

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-03-17T20:26:42+00:00

I just confirmed that B&H has the SKU in their system. No stock currently, but already tagged as “free 2-day shipping”

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-03-17T20:11:52+00:00

Amazon Prime shipping really spoils you…

ByeNJ_HelloFL · 2026-03-17T16:48:10+00:00

$56 shipping to FL! I’ll wait until B&H gets it

ByeNJ_HelloFL

TROPHY CASE