[Loaorndnam]

Hi,
I have a Camaro 2017 SS. Recently it has started to have some sort of vibration when I am driving at moderately high speeds (45mph+). The vibration seems to disappear if I release the gas or increase it. The problem also only occurs when the car needs to produce a moderate power output, such as driving up a hill or accelerating. The other weird thing is that if I take the car for a longer drive, the problem will disappear after approximately 45 minutes, but reappears after a week of only shorter drives.

I would greatly appreciate peoples thoughts on what they think might be wrong.

[CanadianVetZL1]

Do you have the A8? If so it is a known issue and you should get it to a dealer pretty quick to treat the A8 shudder.

[ctrlz]

This does sound like the torque converter problem.
What is the length of warranty coverage for this powertrain part? Is this covered under the 5 yr/60000 mi warranty?

[Loaorndnam]

Originally Posted by CanadianVetZL1

Do you have the A8? If so it is a known issue and you should get it to a dealer pretty quick to treat the A8 shudder.

Yeah, this is the A8. I've been trying to read up on it, and looks like I am going to need a flush of the transmission fluid. And if that does not work to change the torque converter. Do you agree?

[Loaorndnam]

Originally Posted by ctrlz

This does sound like the torque converter problem.
What is the length of warranty coverage for this powertrain part? Is this covered under the 5 yr/60000 mi warranty?

I don't know, unfortunately I am outside of the 5 yr/60000 mi warranty anyways.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by Loaorndnam

I don't know, unfortunately I am outside of the 5 yr/60000 mi warranty anyways.

I was hoping someone might chime in and say GM extended the warranty period for this known problem. Wishful thinking.

[FlukeSS]

Originally Posted by Loaorndnam

Yeah, this is the A8. I've been trying to read up on it, and looks like I am going to need a flush of the transmission fluid. And if that does not work to change the torque converter. Do you agree?

This would be the treatment for it yes.

Its a common issue with A8's.

Torque converter only needs to be replaced if you drive on the shudder to long it damages the torque converter, but if you catch it in time all you need is the trans flush/replacement.

The issue is GM used the wrong viscosity trans fluid.

[Strange Flavor]

Sometimes it doesn't take much driving. It showed up on mine, also a '17, at 400 miles and didn't dissipate after the flush. New converter at 1500 miles. Feels like your driving over rumble strips under light acceleration. Particularly between 40 and 60 mph on mine.

Sometimes this gets confused with the cylinder deactivation, but the converter thing is more aggressive. Although anytime the car goes into 4cyl mode it scares me at first because I think the shudder is back. The shudder is aggressive enough for passengers to notice, I don't think the the slight shake from 4cyl is enough to register with the passenger.

I had a tech ride with me with a scanner plugged in. He said he could 100% see it slipping (maybe not the right term) and knew the problem. Maybe they could at least do that for you at the dealership.

I believe the main issue was whatever fluid they used eventually held water and it messes with the clutches/plates or whatever in the converter. My car sat for a while (in Florida humidity) before I bought it. Perhaps if you are in a less humid area it takes longer to show up.

[Loaorndnam]

Originally Posted by Strange Flavor

I believe the main issue was whatever fluid they used eventually held water and it messes with the clutches/plates or whatever in the converter. My car sat for a while (in Florida humidity) before I bought it. Perhaps if you are in a less humid area it takes longer to show up.

That makes a lot of sense. Much of the mileage on the car was from it being driven in Florida.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by Strange Flavor

I believe the main issue was whatever fluid they used eventually held water and it messes with the clutches/plates or whatever in the converter. My car sat for a while (in Florida humidity) before I bought it. Perhaps if you are in a less humid area it takes longer to show up.

This is correct. The original fluid was hygroscopic, meaning it absorbed water. The mixture of oil and water eventually interferes with the clutch plates, which require a uniform layer of oil between them to engage smoothly. They basically slip until the contact pressure locks them together. Add too much water and they will grab hard in some areas while other parts of the surface want to slip. This irregular mating wears things out fast and the clutch plate surfaces will never be smooth again. You can't save them with new fluid.

Moisture gets into this fluid through vents in the system. So high humidity may speed the process.