Ask the Car People.SM


Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Transmission Problems

1487 messages,  Last post on May 13, 2013 at 11:26 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Silverado & GMC Sierra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, GMC Sierra 2500, GMC Sierra 3500, Transmission, Truck

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 122 of 149

#1211 of 1487 Re: Seems normal [super6sierra] by frankie15oct

Mar 21, 2012 (6:04 pm)

Replying to: super6sierra (Mar 20, 2012 7:51 pm)
I have a 2010 silverado 1500 same drivetrain etc. Same problems, which didn't begin untill 10,000 miles. My local Chevy dealer says they cannot find any problems, but REALLY?? This thing drives horrible now! I dread getting behind the wheel of the truck which I absolutely loved the first 10,000 miles. This is frustrating because there are so many posts claiming the same problems and once again, the dealerships play dumb! My 2004 Silverado gave me the same problems and I got rid of that with only 18000 miles on it. Guess it's my fault for trusting Chevy again...

#1212 of 1487 Re: Seems normal [frankie15oct] by gmcustsvcsarah

Mar 22, 2012 (8:59 am)

Replying to: frankie15oct (Mar 21, 2012 6:04 pm)
Good morning frankie15oct,
 
Reading your post, I can see how frustrating it would be to see similar issues arise in a newer vehicle that you had seen earlier. If we can look into this further with you, please get in touch via email (socialmediagm.com) with more information, including your name/Edmunds username, phone and address, the last 8 of your VIN and current mileage, and name of your involved dealership.
 
Regards,
Sarah
GM Customer Service

#1213 of 1487 Re: Seems normal [frankie15oct] by lashlaroe

Mar 23, 2012 (10:47 am)

Replying to: frankie15oct (Mar 21, 2012 6:04 pm)
I can sympathize with how you feel. I've had my 2009 LT 5.3L w/6 speed since I bought it in October 2009, and have put now almost 32,000 on it. Up until about 30,500-31,000 miles everything was fine and I've loved this truck. Best all around truck I've ever owned...until now.
 
Over the past month, I had it into the Dealership twice, for a total of 9 days. It started with the transmission seeming to resist moving when first put into drive whenever I stopped. That was minor and I let it go for a month or so until it started doing other, more serious things.
 
It began to stutter and shudder when shifted from reverse into drive. Sometimes it would not even go into drive until I shifted back and forth from drive to park to drive again. Sometimes it would then lurch into drive with a bang. When this continued to get worse and worse, I took it to the dealer. They had it for 5 days and told me that they had to replace a carrier bearing and almost all the planetary gears and returned it to me. The very next day, it started back doing these things again.
 
In an attempt to keep from doing more major damage as described to me before, I took it back in. But only after having been belittled by the service coordinator with mentions that they cannot do anything unless it repeats while the mechanic is in the truck with me. After three calls like this whereupon it was intimated that the problem might not be real, I had enough and had to berate the service manager to get them to take the truck back in to look at again.
 
They claim that they can find nothing wrong with it this time and, even though I was able to reproduce a minor version of the shuddering the day I came to pick it back up again, still want me to drive it while they "contact engineering and see if this has ever happened to any other trucks."
 
This was two weeks ago and calls back to the dealership get me nothing except comments that it won't hurt the truck to drive it like this and if something serious happens they will tow me to the dealer for free!
 
So the bottom line is that I am now being soured on the truck that I planned to drive for 200,000-300,000 miles and now have issues with every day, but must apparently wait until it breaks down before I will get any more attention to it.
 
This is doubly sad for me as I have always had my best luck with GM vehicles in the past and currently have a 1997 Pontiac Bonneville my wife drives, that has 218,000 and runs like a top with nary a transmission problem its whole life.
 
This is not how it should be.

#1214 of 1487 Re: Seems normal [lashlaroe] by gmcustsvcsarah

Mar 23, 2012 (11:58 am)

Replying to: lashlaroe (Mar 23, 2012 10:47 am)
lashlaroe,
 
If we can follow up on this with you and your dealership, please send more information (your name/Edmunds username, address and phone, last 8 of your VIN and current mileage, and the name of your involved dealership) to socialmediagm.com and we'd be happy to look into this further.
 
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service

#1215 of 1487 Re: Seems normal [gmcustsvcsarah] by lashlaroe

Mar 23, 2012 (1:47 pm)

Replying to: gmcustsvcsarah (Mar 23, 2012 11:58 am)
OK, I will do that.
 
Thank You,
 
Mike

#1217 of 1487 Re: New 2012 sierra made it 384 miles before tramission problem [gmcustsvcsarah] by galvezfj

Mar 27, 2012 (9:36 pm)

Replying to: gmcustsvcsarah (Mar 21, 2012 1:08 pm)
Hello Sarah, I recently purchased a new 2012 1500 siverado Lt 4x4. The truck does the same thing as some of these other owners. I got the truck with 2 miles on it and the first time it jerked out of 1st gear i thought i did something wrong. the dealer said not to worry about it. I have had the truck for 10 days now with less then 400 miles on it and this issue is still there. Reading about the transmission issues these trucks are having do I need to take the truck back to the dealer.

#1218 of 1487 My vibration/transmission story, so far, listen chuck, listen good by jjacks

Mar 27, 2012 (11:57 pm)

Okay, so I decided I'd buy another GMC for a tax write off in December. Looking for a deal, I found a 2011, but my dealer didn't want to go get it since it was about 130 miles out. So I made a deal over the phone and went and got it, whilst trading in my 2008 that had the preverbial propeller shaft slip yoke clunk. That clunk, at least I knew what it was. SO, running a bit late, hustled out the door, cranked up, hit the highway.....hmmm...thinks to self....this thing must have some flat spots on the tires from sitting a long time. Dealer called and I wasn't 10 miles down the road and they forgot some paperwork, had to turn back, documented the vibration. Fast forward....drive all the way back, still vibrating! Finally take into local dealer at 2500 miles. First chance I had, and this is the list I took them: (yes, i printed out a list)
 
1. Constant vibration. Gets worse with heat. Had vibration since drove off the lot.
2. Excessive ring/pinion lash. Rear-end whines on deceleration. Needs ring and pinion.
3. Poor throttle response. Especially at low speeds under 10 mph. Likely related to excessive drive train slack. Check throttle position sensor.
4. Torque converter feels like it stays locked up to long and at very slow speeds on deceleration, the transmission downshifts like it is being downshifted manually. Shift points do not match appropriate speeds to make the proper shift.
5. Upon cranking, engine revs excessively to around 1,800-2,000 rpm. To high.
6. Whenever you first crank it up, and put it in a forward gear and reach about 5 mph, there is some kind of movement in the pedals/column. It’s like the adjustable pedal motor gets a touch of voltage for a split second. Irritating as hell.
7. Poor engine oil pressure. I assume this is for gas mileage purposes. It’s not helping.
 
The drive-train slack is severely excessive for any kind of new vehicle. Full disclosure, I am knowledgeable with high and low performance engines, and have modified, built, and rebuilt gas and diesel engines. I have also been in my fair share of transmissions. And lastly, I’ve been in several GM rear ends, Ford third members, and heavy equipment planetaries and third members. Set up lash, etc.
In summary, and as my service records show, I don’t bring anything in like ‘wind noise’ or anything like that. When I bring something in, it has a legitimate problem. This truck has problems.
Thanks
 
One thing you will notice is that I didn't bring up the AFM issue. I'd be happy if I could get the vibration at 20-30 fixed, as it is the same vibration at 55-75. AFM just makes it a bit worse. GM, in their infinite wisdom, came up with the AFM for better mileage. One thing they can never do is "make it seamless". They can make 'cushier' cab mounts and such to dampen the imbalance, but it is physically impossible to rebalance an out of balance engine without turning the other 4 cylinders back on. You will feel it more with lower ratio rears, like 3.73-4.10 -vs- 3.42 -3.08 because of the 'dampening effect' of the higher ratios. What GM needs to do if they want the AFM concept is to drop ONE cylinder and rotate across the firing order to lessen the imbalance. That would help. Now, on to the 6 speed tranny. No doubt a mileage idea also. You can thank your government and the 15% enthanol mandate for the reduction in mileage that GM would like to compensate back with the pathetic software programming for this transmission. In theory, it is programmed to achieve the federal mandates. In reality, the thing sucks. I was told by the mechanic at my local dealer who was riding along proclaiming my tires were bad that the transmission will only 'live' this way. Uh huh, a fool would think that. It won't live as long the way they are set up.
 
SO, back to ol shakey. Been to dealer 8 times I think. 2 service tickets. 2 new tires. Road force completed. Hey, guess what, I said it wasn't the tires....AND IT'S NOT. Okay, since I am a 'mechanic', but it is not my paycheck trade, I said look at the differential. I mean, the damn thing is whining...especially on a slight decline coast 50-40 mph. When something's talking, maybe you should listen. SO, here's the joke of the day. My local dealer mechanic said he checked the ring/pinion backlash. I said "what was it?",,answer .0045. That would be fine and dandy, but I have yet to see a contraption that allows this measurement without the rear cover being taken off, and it wasn't. He did the ol 'feel job' on the yoke, and got .0045. HAHA.
 
But here's the kicker. The service manager with the mechanic standing there said, and I quote "GM will not let us tear into anything until it has 5,000 miles on it". Now I have 5,200 miles of vibration behind me and we're about to either get past the bs or get with the certified mail. I could fix the thing myself, and I may have to, but if it comes to that, somebody at GM will get the problem parts sent to them, possibly along with something my great dane leaves behind in the yard.
 
What I suspect it is, is a combination of excessive ring/pinion lash combined with a mis-machined carrier that is allowing the spider gears to 'climb' the axle gears. I don't dare take the cover off yet, or they'll say 'oops, out of warranty bud'.
 
If anybody has a clue was to what causes #6 above, please reply. Of course they didn't do anything.
 
Ok chuck, what say you?

#1219 of 1487 Re: New 2012 sierra made it 384 miles before tramission problem [galvezfj] by gmcustsvcsarah

Mar 28, 2012 (7:51 am)

Replying to: galvezfj (Mar 27, 2012 9:36 pm)
Good morning galvezfj,
 
Does your Silverado have a 6-speed transmission?
 
Thanks!
Sarah
GM Customer Service

#1220 of 1487 Re: My vibration/transmission story, so far, listen chuck, listen good [jjacks] by gmcustsvcsarah

Mar 28, 2012 (8:01 am)

Replying to: jjacks (Mar 27, 2012 11:57 pm)
jjacks,
 
I understand that you have quite a bit of mechanical expertise and are very comfortable with working with vehicles. I see that the main unresolved issue that you've been in repeatedly for and are not satisfied that your dealership did their best to diagnose is the vibration that you've been experiencing since purchasing the vehicle. If you would like to set up a Service Request with my department to have this documented further, as well as followed up on to the best of our abilities, please send us an email at socialmediagm.com (include your name/Edmunds username, phone and address, the last 8 of your VIN and current mileage, and the name of your involved dealership).
 
All the best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service

Messages Page 122 of 149

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement