[SSport16]

So I decided to take my car for a nice drive yesterday up in the mountains, drove the Devils Whip (Hwy 80) in NC to the BRP down through the Diamondback (not before a nice lunch at the Switzerland Inn, beautiful weather up there!). I have taken these roads/route before, so going up the Devils Whip you really need to manually shift, keep it mostly in 3rd/4th gear for best results and best driving. Well the A8 was choking pretty bad yesterday, even in manual mode, you could feel the hard locking and unlocking of the TC, also on the way there on the interstate, car had rumble strip feeling again at highway speeds, especially with cruise control on. Uggg!!!!!!!! Just had the damn thing basically rebuilt last spring, a little over a year ago. Have to bring it back to the dealer at some point soon before it gets worse, just over this whole A8 issue...car would be so much better if the transmission wasn't a nightmare. If it continues this will ultimately be the deciding factor of getting rid of the car, hoping I can at least keep it and enjoy it thoroughly until either the C8 comes out or the 7th gen Camaro arrives...we shall see!

GM are you listening instead of dishing out these band-aids which really only kick the can down the road so to speak?

[Gunmetalmissle]

Get a range or diablo sprint to keep it in 8 cylinder mode. This will prevent a lot of the locking/unlocking.

[SSport16]

I have one, I stopped using it, but might try it again later on this afternoon on the way home from work to see if it helps. Like I said, I already had my transmission ripped apart and rebuilt, over $3K in parts and labor under warranty in spring 2017. If it continues then it is going back to the dealer, just frustrating.

[Joshinator99]

Originally Posted by SSport16

I have one, I stopped using it, but might try it again later on this afternoon on the way home from work to see if it helps. Like I said, I already had my transmission ripped apart and rebuilt, over $3K in parts and labor under warranty in spring 2017. If it continues then it is going back to the dealer, just frustrating.

Can I ask why you stopped using it?

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by Joshinator99

Can I ask why you stopped using it?

I started getting CEL's even after I traded mine into Range to get one with newer FW...don't have the box in front of me, but have version 7 something.

[Joshinator99]

Originally Posted by SSport16

I started getting CEL's even after I traded mine into Range to get one with newer FW...don't have the box in front of me, but have version 7 something.

I think they are version 8.6 currently? Guess I’ll find out, mine is supposed to arrive today.

[SSport16]

Well I plugged mine back in on the way home, car was was a totally different car, smooth, no shudder, no forceful gear changes, nothing, was like it should be...I really don't remember why I stopped using it outside of a couple of CELs...well going to keep using it to see if all stays the same, which I suspect it will. Just ordered the cable with the power switch from Amazon to easily turn it off and on to avoid battery drain.

Seriously, all of this supposed fuel saving crap, get rid of it, just like start/stop, wiah I could disable that in my Equinox...but that is least livable and you get used to that.

Just hoping my TC holds up and no damage has occurred, might flush out the fluid soon just to be sure.

[SSport16]

From what I gather, version 7 and up work pretty well for 2017 and up, think you pick the LED color now, I have the standard blue

[TRZ06]

Tis is why I will never buy an auto. For me, its either DCT or manual, no inbetween.

[Joshinator99]

Originally Posted by SSport16

From what I gather, version 7 and up work pretty well for 2017 and up, think you pick the LED color now, I have the standard blue

I just double checked, new Range AFM disablers are version 8.6. You can tell the version easily when you plug in. In my case, the first LED blinked 8 times followed by the second LED flashing 6 times (so, V8.6). Car runs much smoother without the V4 bull crap. I kept watching the display and did everything I could to get V4 mode to pop up, but nope. Just good old V8. With only a few hundred miles of “regular” use on my car before doing this mod, I’m hoping I’ll be able to avoid all the A8 shuttering nonsense. Oh, no CEL either. So two thumbs up for the Range unit!

[Gunmetalmissle]

Never had a cel with the diablo. I also use a cable with a switch so I can turn it on and off without plugging and unplugging.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/16-Pin-OBD2-C...IAAOSwO1hZis7y

Supposedly waiting until after starting the car to turn on the unit reduces the chances of a cel.

[keon718nyc]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Tis is why I will never buy an auto. For me, its either DCT or manual, no inbetween.

I never had a problem with a auto. Would i get one again, yes! Not a A8 though as i see the problems the TC shudder has caused in my Camaro. I wouldn't let that be a reason not to get another automatic in the future...

[awrj2000]

I posted this before on my experience with the A8 rubble strip issue.

Car is a 2016 2ss. From around 10,000 miles to 23,000 miles it had the shakes.

Dealer "couldn't find the issue" so I finally given up on the repair from them.

Life of the trans fluid is based on temp. In the performance menu with 5 good accelerations to 140mph the fluid temp will be 200+*F. Research trans fluid life vs temp.

I also researched the in trans. filter ability. it will block 70 micron and above.

Since I was pretty well completely upset (P!$$ed) about the issues I decided a one time repair myself to do all I can to solve this.

1: I placed a temporary 10 micron filter in line with the front trans cooler and let the car run about 10 minutes. This is with the front end in the air and holding the brakes shifting constantly between P, R, N, D, M. (flushing all flow paths of the trans.

2: I removed the filter and drained the fluid with the car at idle. (shut down as soon as fluid flow is reduced)
3: Dropped the trans pan and captured the remaining fluid.
4: Cleaned the pan and replaced the filter with a new one.
5: Replaced the pan and pumped New AMSOIL trans fluid into the cooler line (totaled fluid that was captured from steps 2 and 3)
6: Started car and let fluid pump out and be captured again. When it stopped flowing again pumped in new AMSOIL fluid, the amount captured.

Step 6 was repeated 3 times until the fluid appeared to have the red tint of new fluid
Placed the cooler line back on and good to go since…NO MORE ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION.

The original fluid looked like black water (!) something you would expect from your washing machine.
I don’t do track events, but I do drive like I stole it…so 200 on the trans fluid is about twice a month.
Sadly the real fix is aftermarket fluid and when your warranty is up you may finally go that route. I wasn’t getting anywhere with a warranty so I went ahead and taken the chance on the fluid and glad I did.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by Joshinator99

I just double checked, new Range AFM disablers are version 8.6. You can tell the version easily when you plug in. In my case, the first LED blinked 8 times followed by the second LED flashing 6 times (so, V8.6). Car runs much smoother without the V4 bull crap. I kept watching the display and did everything I could to get V4 mode to pop up, but nope. Just good old V8. With only a few hundred miles of “regular” use on my car before doing this mod, I’m hoping I’ll be able to avoid all the A8 shuttering nonsense. Oh, no CEL either. So two thumbs up for the Range unit!

If you have the black cardboard box that the Range came in, it will tell you the version # as well.