Dang.
On the last problem of fuel, if something got through there and was plugged, it can happen again. When there is a restriction of lift pump is bad, the ip will try sucking the fuel through it and it wears out the ip really fast. Lesson has been learned that putting a T just before the ip for a fuel pressure gauge that lives on the dash so you can see it just like oil pressure. When pressure falls you know something is going on before breaking down. You didn’t really remove the issue, just pushed it out of the way for the moment- expect the returning problem.
Also the clear return line that was mentioned is a good idea all the time so when something goofs in the future, and eventually something will, you can just pop the hood and look.
When we were suspecting a possible pmd starving the fuel, something we didn’t mention is bad grounds can mess with pmd and ecm. Remove and clean the grounds especially the one by the trans dipstick, and battery cable Ground. I would also do the ecm ground wire. Ecm include transmission control as part of it’s function, and usually cleaning that ground is a once every 30 year. Doing those grounds is free and only takes 1/2 hour and is best to eliminate before chasing other things.
I wonder if the fuel starvation effected tc locking in and out beating up on it.
The speed sensors that are on driver’s outside of transmission and transfer case if applicable (please fill out your signature with truck details and modifications- it really helps us think through issues) are easy to take out, clean off and see if any debris is picked up. Honestly doing it rarely solves anything (only seen it 3 times out of 15 or so) but is easy and free. If debris is there it’s ahuge warning that trans is about to be redone.
Really the next step then is scanner/ computer on it to see what’s happening and a pressure gauge following GM’s trouble shooting list.
I stumble my way through trans. One of the real transmission folks probably has better