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2009 Tahoe Transmission/torque Converter Issue

TahoeBuster

By TahoeBuster
in Ask A GM Technician

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TahoeBuster New Member

TahoeBuster

Posted
Posted

I have a 2009 chevy tahoe Z71. Around 40 miles per hour when the transmission is down-shifting (and on occasions up-shifting) it will clunk and/or shutter. Is this a transmission or torque converter issue? Sometimes it is very violent. The dealership tells me it is normal and that there is no fix. I have had several vehicles with this same transmission but I have never experienced this issue. What do you think?

 

 

The vehicle now has 21,000 miles on it. This has been a persistent problem.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

warranty,throw the keys at the serv manager and contact the regional service manager ......they'll fix it after he gets involved,,trust me

TahoeBuster New Member

TahoeBuster

Posted
  • Author
Posted
warranty,throw the keys at the serv manager and contact the regional service manager ......they'll fix it after he gets involved,,trust me

 

The service manager at the dealership showed me a bulletin from the manufacturer given to him from the regional service rep. The bulletin stated that this was a normal occurance and does not cause any destructive issues, therefore there will be no fix. My problem is that I've had at least four other vehicles with this same transmission (suvs and pick-up trucks) and have never experienced this issue. At times, this is a violent occurance and in my opinion it is not normal. Please advise if anyone has any further suggestions. Thanks.

gmtech4 Senior Enthusiast

gmtech4

Posted
Posted

did you see this bulletin ?,

 

bulletins are not given from regional,they are in the GM system and techs access them all the time during diagnoses

 

smells fishy to me

music Senior Enthusiast

music

Posted
Posted
My problem is that I've had at least four other vehicles with this same transmission (suvs and pick-up trucks) and have never experienced this issue. At times, this is a violent occurance and in my opinion it is not normal. Please advise if anyone has any further suggestions. Thanks.

 

Is this the 6L80 transmission?

sgott17 New Member

sgott17

Posted
Posted

Man, I thought I was the only one!! Had absolutely no problem with my Tahoe and I had them flush my transmission fluid with 26K miles. I do pull a camper and I thought it would be best to flush the transmission fluid every 30k miles.

 

Well, I drive it home (about 20 miles) and didn't notice anything. My wife normally drives the truck and did the week after I got it changed. I got in it about a week later and it shook like hell when I accelerated slowly. I asked the wife and of course she said, "I did notice a little shake!" I immediately called the dealer and took it in. I checked the fluid, thinking it wasn't full. It was ok. Next on my mind was they used the wrong fluid, so I was pissed.

 

The dealer (the dealer where i bought it brand new) gave me a rental while they figured out what was wrong. Of course, I got the call the next day telling me, "We didn't feel a shutter or shake as you are indicating." I drove to the dealer and they rode with me and felt the shake.

 

Where we are now is that they know it is shaking and they don't know what is wrong... it corresponded with the fluid flush... they indicated also the service bulletin that stated basically we know it, but we aren't fixing it. Now I am getting pissed because when I drive through town at 40-50 miles per hour, the thing shakes like hell and I don't like it since I paid almost 50 grand for the damn thing.

 

Please keep me informed if you get anywhere. I am driving it in the meantime and hope the damn thing drops on the road, that way they will replace it.

 

I am not sure how yours shakes, but if I stomp on it, it will shift normal, only when I start off on a slow acceleration. It does feel like the torque converter, I had this on another vehicle. But this is happening at 30 mph too. I'll let you know if I hear anything... I may try another dealer...

  • 7 months later...
Asbd0922 New Member

Asbd0922

Posted
Posted
I have a 2009 chevy tahoe Z71. Around 40 miles per hour when the transmission is down-shifting (and on occasions up-shifting) it will clunk and/or shutter. Is this a transmission or torque converter issue? Sometimes it is very violent. The dealership tells me it is normal and that there is no fix. I have had several vehicles with this same transmission but I have never experienced this issue. What do you think?

 

 

The vehicle now has 21,000 miles on it. This has been a persistent problem.

 

Did you get this problem fixed??

Asbd0922 New Member

Asbd0922

Posted
Posted
Man, I thought I was the only one!! Had absolutely no problem with my Tahoe and I had them flush my transmission fluid with 26K miles. I do pull a camper and I thought it would be best to flush the transmission fluid every 30k miles.

 

Well, I drive it home (about 20 miles) and didn't notice anything. My wife normally drives the truck and did the week after I got it changed. I got in it about a week later and it shook like hell when I accelerated slowly. I asked the wife and of course she said, "I did notice a little shake!" I immediately called the dealer and took it in. I checked the fluid, thinking it wasn't full. It was ok. Next on my mind was they used the wrong fluid, so I was pissed.

 

The dealer (the dealer where i bought it brand new) gave me a rental while they figured out what was wrong. Of course, I got the call the next day telling me, "We didn't feel a shutter or shake as you are indicating." I drove to the dealer and they rode with me and felt the shake.

 

Where we are now is that they know it is shaking and they don't know what is wrong... it corresponded with the fluid flush... they indicated also the service bulletin that stated basically we know it, but we aren't fixing it. Now I am getting pissed because when I drive through town at 40-50 miles per hour, the thing shakes like hell and I don't like it since I paid almost 50 grand for the damn thing.

 

Please keep me informed if you get anywhere. I am driving it in the meantime and hope the damn thing drops on the road, that way they will replace it.

 

I am not sure how yours shakes, but if I stomp on it, it will shift normal, only when I start off on a slow acceleration. It does feel like the torque converter, I had this on another vehicle. But this is happening at 30 mph too. I'll let you know if I hear anything... I may try another dealer...

 

 

Did you get the problem fixed?

  • 8 months later...
PURBOILER New Member

PURBOILER

Posted
Posted

I have a 2009 Tahoe and have had the same issue of this clunk or shuttering at speeds of 35 or less. I took it to the dealership in February and they said that it is a learning transmission and because my wife drives it more than i do that when I drive it, it is not always sure what to do. Which i thought sounded crazy, but ok. I just took it back today for the same reason and was able to drive with someone from the dealership and it acted up for him. They took it in and looked up all the updates and found nothing needed. They have bascially told me that it is a known issue, but there is no fix for it. My dealership sound that they have very few issues with tahoe. Not sure if that makes me feel any better about. But i can't believe that a vehicle that costs that much can do that and that's somehow acceptable. Other than that issue, it is a great vehicle. Would love to hear if anyone finds a fix.

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