[ChickenPoop]

They can flush all they want. Once it starts to shudder the TC is toast. No amount of flushing is gonna repair that. It may go away for a minute but it will be back. GM knows this. They also know it will cost hella money to fix it right. Therefore,it ain't gonna get fixed right. Bandaid after bandaid. Shoulda let these assholes go bankrupt.

[Rock-It Man]

The flush is a BS fix. Any mechanism/control system that is susceptible to minute changes in friction is a poorly designed system that will continue to develop problems over time.

There's some interaction between the converter lockup and the AMF that keeps slipping (pun intended) into an unstable mode. Possibly there should be no lockup in 4 cylinder mode, but designers are driven by fuel economy goals to force lockup whenever possible. I recall that my last GM car with an Ecotec 4 had a "lockup" mode that in fact allowed some continuous slippage specifically for the purpose of eliminating shudder (this was described in detail in the shop manual to clarify that lockup was designed to allow that slippage).

The A8 needs a fundamental redesign, not a flush.

[18Hotwheels-SS]

Originally Posted by crosive

I doubt it's just that. The papers we've seen so far show new fluid and a "tool kit", which could very well involve a flash tool for the tcm.

or a funnel for the fluid. At this point it could be either.

I am going with "tool kit" being a fill tube.

[18Hotwheels-SS]

Originally Posted by Korosion

Just sent all my information to them, they are going to file it either tomorrow or early next week.

Korosion,
Where in Florida do you live?

[crosive]

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

The flush is a BS fix. Any mechanism/control system that is susceptible to minute changes in friction is a poorly designed system that will continue to develop problems over time.

There's some interaction between the converter lockup and the AMF that keeps slipping (pun intended) into an unstable mode. Possibly there should be no lockup in 4 cylinder mode, but designers are driven by fuel economy goals to force lockup whenever possible. I recall that my last GM car with an Ecotec 4 had a "lockup" mode that in fact allowed some continuous slippage specifically for the purpose of eliminating shudder (this was described in detail in the shop manual to clarify that lockup was designed to allow that slippage).

The A8 needs a fundamental redesign, not a flush.

the a8 isn't the problem. It's the tc having a design problem of paper friction material. the tcm is programmed to allow slip in 6-7-8 which causes the pumps to keep switching from high to low and back. this is where the shudder comes from. V4 mode allows more slip to alleviate the pulsing associated with how that mode works.

It's not the A8. stop blaming the a8. It's the tc and the tune. if you just replace the tc then a new one will wear out just as fast. if you retune the tcm on an already shuddering tc, then you can mask the issue, but it will return eventually. maybe not in 20k miles, but eventually.

[Korosion]

Originally Posted by 18Hotwheels-SS

Korosion,
Where in Florida do you live?

West Palm Beach

[BRKGBAD]

*Editing for privacy*

[speedup]

My dealer was the same way. When I took it in for the shutter, they acted like they had never heard of it. I printed off the GM service bulletin about the problem and that probably hit the trash as soon as I walked out.

they must be telling these service reps to downplay it.. who knows..

[GearheadSS]

Originally Posted by BRKGBAD

Problem is, the dealer looks at me cross eyed when I try to explain what Al said, and they keep repeating the same lines "we must replicate for us to fix it" and "we only do what the TSB says, not what people say in an online forum" - despite it coming from an engineer at GM.

They're right. They have to do what the TSB says or GM will not pay them for the work and parts. No dealer is just going to replace parts and go against what the TSB says because of this.

Don't fault the dealers here, fault GM for not having a fix in place.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

30k from a set of Michelins is more than most... wish I could get that much out of my tires!

These were on my SRX, Latitude Tour HP's, they were rated for 55K miles, wore evenly, just worn right down, had to fight with Michelin, the first time GM pro rated them and covered most of the cost under warranty. Great riding tire, just wore like crap...known issues with these tires, tons of people out there with the same results.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by BRKGBAD

My experience with GM has been:

- 05 trailblazer
- 12 camaro 2lt/rs
- 15 camaro 2ss
- 17 camaro 2ss

Each one of them had significant issues including the 2012 I bought new. I had a '15 charger for about a year, and traded that because the transmission was terrible (i think thats also an 8speed if i remember right).

I have no idea what I'll do with this car. Guess it depends on how the transmission stuff turns out.

Yeah, to your other comment... Pittsburgh born and raised. Although... I hate this city, hahahaha. I'd much rather live out west, but job and family keep me here.

I hear ya...I originally from NY, couldn't stand NY longer, moved out 13 years ago down south.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by 18Hotwheels-SS

I am going with "tool kit" being a fill tube.

It does say Bosch though, maybe a fancy expensive fill tube. lol.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by BRKGBAD

See here's what I don't understand.

In the one thread Al Oppenheiser said that if you don't address the issue shortly after the shudder begins, the torque converter becomes "burnished", and needs replaced.

When GM said no more TC replacements, wait for the 2019 Q1 fix, they also said they wouldn't replace the TC unless it was damaged.

So, to me, what it sounds like I need (and many others) to do is to have the dealer pull the TC and check for damage. If damaged, order a new one THEN complete the new Q1 fix. Seems redundant to attempt another flush fix if the TC is already damaged, or burnished, as Al puts it. This may not solve the problem we all face as I agree with the other guy who said this all just needs a complete re-design, but it seems stupid to attempt a fix if you have damaged internal parts in your transmission.


Problem is, the dealer looks at me cross eyed when I try to explain what Al said, and they keep repeating the same lines "we must replicate for us to fix it" and "we only do what the TSB says, not what people say in an online forum" - despite it coming from an engineer at GM.

Standard BS line from a dealer, they are worried GM will not pay them, that is why if they do something other than what is in a TSB, they will paying for it themselves and will not be reimbursed the cost of labor and parts.

[SSport16]

Like mentioned above, the bottom line is that most of us have bad TCs that need to be replaced first and foremost. Now whatever this "fix" will include is unknown right now, so if it just another flush with different fluid and even if it includes some sort of TCM tune, the TC is still shot in a lot of these cases and needs replacement. I truly hope at the very least GM will direct dealers/techs to pull off the TC and inspect in during this fix. Guess will we find out within the next 2 months or so.