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Sedans Pontiac G8 G8 Problems
49 messages, Last post on Dec 05, 2009 at 5:39 PM
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Anyone have an issue with the transmission on their G8 GT? I've driven a few and the one I own has a quirk that happens about 50% of the time. The problem is that during some stops or slow-downs (bringing the car to 1st gear), the transmission seems to delay for a split second, causing an abrupt start or jerk. When this behavior is displayed in 1st gear, the shift from 2nd to 3rd seems to also be rough (slow shift followed by abrupt surge). I've talked to my bro-in-law who owns a transmission shop and he agrees that it probably isn't mechanical. He says it's more likely a firmware glitch that can be easily fixed by flashing (very common, he says). This is a minor nuisance, the type of issue many would not really recognize as an issue but I figured I'd ask and see if anyone else has had any experience with the problem. Thanks!  
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Replying to: quietpro (Jul 06, 2009 2:08 pm) I love the car though.
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Replying to: wigt (Jul 06, 2009 6:34 pm) It sounds like you're experiencing the same thing. The rough 2-3 shift is almost always when the car is cold or after it has sat and cooled for a while. I'm trying to isolate both as much as possible because I know these are going to be "can not duplicate" issues unless I get "lucky." If I find the trick to making the G8 misbehave, I'll share with the group and maybe y'all can try it on yours. Here's another observation (definitely not a problem). I've noticed that occasionally the car seems to drag as if it were a manual transmission left in gear while other times, it coasts more like what I'm used to with other automatics. Does anyone have any info on this? I haven't played with the manual shifting yet (still in break-in) but I'm thinking this is a computer programming "issue" if anything. However, when the car seems to be coasting more freely, that seems to be when I get the "slip" I'm noticing. Otherwise, it's almost like I'm power-braking as I slow to a stop and even while stopped. I've even noticed (occasionally) when I have that feeling of power-braking at a stop, if I slip the trans into neutral, the car will still lurch forward (slightly) when I release the brake. It's as if the trans has stored energy/pressure that isn't released until it moves. Sorry for the rambling. As stated before, I haven't been able to lock down the particular conditions that are causing this inconsistency with my G8. But, I do appreciate your input. It will help me figure this out eventually. Have a great day, Ron
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It’s funny how one small event can turn you from loving a car to wondering if you made a big mistake. Yesterday I pulled out of a parking spot and heard a loud grinding noise. A couple of times the low front dam has scraped across a concrete bar, but this was LOUD. I got out and sure enough, the right side of the front facia was dangling. It would not “snap” back into place. I drove (slowly) direct to a nearby Pontiac dealer’s body shop. They said the facia broke away as it’s supposed to, to avoid greater sheet-metal damage. They said all I would need is a new facia and new lower cover panel…painted & installed about $2,000 and 2 days, could I bring it in Monday? S**t. I told them to patch it up as best they can without the new facia. They said OK, about $600-$700, bring it in Monday. I asked them to put it together now as best they can so I can get down the road, which they did at no cost (bless ‘em). Unfortunately body parts will only get more expensive and less available for the G8. Lesson learned: do not to pull a G8 very far into a parking spot with a concrete bar across the end of it. 
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Replying to: quietpro (Jul 09, 2009 11:32 am) Check out the transmission section in the owners manual. It references the engine braking you are writing about. My car seems to coast more in auto mode, and engine brakes more in sport mode. The manual says it's to help slow the car and keep the brakes cooler. Hope this helps. |
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Replying to: quietpro (Jul 09, 2009 11:32 am) Normally, you should push down and it should be a consistent line of power up the band with no falling power gaps in that band. Also, a good engine, coupled with a good transmission, you really should feel the transmission shifting, and is also coupled with the smooth, solid power band. My 06 Accord had a nice line of power, no falling gaps. It was also more predictable. Its as if the adaptive programing is too sensitive. I have taken it several time to the dealer. No duplicate issue! Now, I think this might be an issue in general with GM, as I have seen other GM forums with similar issues. How you are you so sure that its not mechanical? The programmer controls when it shifts, but not really how well it shifts, meaning how it feels physically. ?? I have just learned to live with it. I know its not normal. I guess, I will wait for it to become more consistent, If it does at all? It does not happen all the time, but enough for me to know its happening. For all the above issues, I hate the engine! It makes it feel like it has many more miles on it than it does. I have made Pontiac aware of it, my dealer, and yet they are not real motivated. I am just tired of leaving my car there and get no duplicate. They'll honor the warranty, which is about $1,500 in bills already.
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Replying to: bvdj84 (Jul 12, 2009 3:41 pm) Most of the time, my transmission is shifting normally. The issue I'm having is sporadic. The hard shift from 2nd to 3rd seems to only happen when the transmission has cooled. On the way to work this morning, it happened during every 2-3 shift but if it continues as it has in the past, it may only do it a couple times when I drive it at lunch and on the way home. I didn't drive the car at all yesterday so it had about 36 hrs of down time. Throughout last week, I was driving it multiple times each day and only noticed it during the first drive each of those days. As for the slip, it seems to be subsiding and I may not have even noticed it if it were at this point when I first started driving the car. However, now that I have a heightened awareness of it, I notice even the slightest irregularity. Regarding my theory that this isn't mechanical, I'm working from the idea that if it were mechanical, it would be evident all the time e.g., if a gear was damaged, every time that gear was in use, the same noise/vibration/etc. would be evident. In the case of my car, sometimes it's perfectly normal and others, a little off. On that subject, I will be paying attention to the rear end/U-joint. I hear some clunks occasionally back there and won't let that go. With your issues, I would ask a technician to drive along with you and point out your problem to them as it occurs. Keep in mind that they are looking for obvious problems when you drop the car off and you are much more attuned to your vehicle so what seems blatantly obvious to you may be almost unperceivable to them. I can tell you that I had trouble getting most of my friends to notice the suspension problems with my last car. A couple more "car-conscious" guys knew exactly what I was talking about but even the "suspension specialist" at the dealership was unable to notice the problem. No doubt it's frustrating but try not to get too much into the thought that they are intentionally ignoring your problem. My advice would be to find ways to recreate the problem so that they are sure to notice it (a particular stretch of road, certain engine RPM or vehicle speeds, etc.). One last thing, are you talking about problems that occur when it runs in 4-cylinder mode? Or, did you mean that your car has the 3.6L 6-cylinder engine? The G8 has never had a 4-cylinder engine. One last thing, don't expect your rear-wheel-drive Pontiac to drive like a front-wheel-drive Honda. There are so many differences between the two that would always be evident...even if Honda built your G8. Different isn't always bad...sometimes it's just different. In my case, my Impala's engine seemed to idle smoother than the G8's. The transverse engine configuration of my FWD Impala made even the little misses in its idle much less pronounced. So, the G8 suffers from a rougher idle but it's nothing that warrants getting upset. Some folks drive themselves crazy over the little things if there car has any problems. It's mostly a perception thing...once you decide your car is of poor quality, ANYTHING becomes just one more thing that was designed/assembled/etc poorly. I've seen folks overlook big problems on a car they love and then ridicule someone else or their car because it was an "unfavorable" brand. My G8 isn't perfect but I love it. That may change over time but I don't see any indications of it. Have a great day and good luck with yours! Ron
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If you're not happy with the red dash lighting of the DIC in your G8, I just discovered a company that offers to change the color of it and other dash lighting. The price is reasonable but I'm not sure it includes labor (they state that they disassemble the dash, recalibrate all gauges, then reassemble). Here's the link: http://www.whiteautoandmedia.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=fly- page.tpl&product_id=48&category_id=18&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=54&vmcchk=1&I- temid=54 If anyone has any experience with this or something similar, please share. Thanks! |
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Replying to: quietpro (Jul 13, 2009 4:03 am) I want to trade it and be done with it!! However I cannot get a straight answer on realistically upside down I am. |
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Replying to: bvdj84 (Jul 16, 2009 5:02 am) |
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