Transmission Shudder

cubswin02 · October 5, 2007

I am new to this and by no means a mechanic. I would appreciate any help I can get.

I have a 2007 gmc sierra (new body style) with the 4.8 liter v8. At 7200 mile my 3rd gear clutch pack went out requiring a tranny overhaul from the dealer. It was under warranty and I was told that the tranny was assembled wrong from the factory. After I got the truck back it would shudder at low rpm's while trying to maintain a speed in traffic. It feels like the truck for example is in 5th gear but should be in 3rd. Almost like it wants to stall. The dealer originally told me it was because I had taller aftermarket tires on it (33" tires). It didn't have the same problem before the tranny overhaul with the taller 33" tires or the stock tire and wheel set up. I told them that I will put the stock wheels and tires back on and see if it still does it, which it does. Now they are telling me that the tranny trying to "lock up", and that it is normal under those driving conditions (low rpm cruising). During the original repair they gave me a silverado with the same motor and tranny and it didn't do it. There response to why the truck didn't do that before the overhaul is that the transmission has been messed up from day one. They are also telling me that the transmission has to "learn" the way I drive? The truck has had the stock tire and wheel set up on it for about a month now and it still shakes. Can anyone explain the transmission "learning" the way I drive to me? He is telling me that an aftermarket power programmer would allow me to adjust the shift points fixing the problem. I don't think I should have to buy a 500 dollar programmer to make my new truck run smooth. I told them to drive a new truck off of the lot, if they can replicate the problem I want to ride with them when they do. If not, they need to figure out how to fix the problem. If they do replicate the problem on a brand new truck, I want a different truck. The truck I test drove and bought didn't do that, and I wouldn't have bought it if it did. This is my 3rd Sierra in the last 5 years all bought from the same dealer, I would think they would be trying a little harder to fix this. Any help or advice is appreciated. I hate to say because I love my truck, but I don't want it if it drives like this.

Thanks

BigJayDogg3 · October 6, 2007

To find out if it really is the trans relearning (which I doubt) when you get home at night, disconnect the battery, and reconnect it in the morning when you go to leave. If it still shakes (which it prob will) then you know you eliminated that. At this point in the game do not get a programmer. The dealership may very well tell you that the programmer is the reason the trans is having problems,and void the warranty. And even if the dealer has those things to reset the computer if that is just the cause. How many other people have you heard of having problems with their factory shift points. If all the trucks shook like you are talking about, guess what, nobody would buy these trucks.

Wait a minute, how do you have a 5 speed with the 4.8 in a NBS? I've tried configuring one online like that, and didn't have the option for the M/T.

cubswin02 · October 6, 2007

Thank you for the help. I don't have a 5 speed, I was just using that as an example of what the shudder feels like. I agree with you completely, nobody would buy a truck that is running like mine right now. If they won't fix the problem, that is what I will be telling the manager of the dealership I suppose. If it would have ran like this when I test drove it, I never would have bought it.

The dealer has my truck right now, if they don't make this right I will unhook and re hook up my battery like you suggested and go back to them again. They are also telling me that they would reset the shift points, but they don't have that ability, which I don't believe for a minute. I am really getting tired of this, it seems to me they should just make it right. I am very dissapointed in this whole situation.

One other bit of information that may be of some importance, my truck has 3:23 gears. Does anyone have any idea why it is even shuddering like it is? I can find my way around a motor, but an automatic transmission may as well be brain surgery. Thank you everyone for your help.

To find out if it really is the trans relearning (which I doubt) when you get home at night, disconnect the battery, and reconnect it in the morning when you go to leave. If it still shakes (which it prob will) then you know you eliminated that. At this point in the game do not get a programmer. The dealership may very well tell you that the programmer is the reason the trans is having problems,and void the warranty. And even if the dealer has those things to reset the computer if that is just the cause. How many other people have you heard of having problems with their factory shift points. If all the trucks shook like you are talking about, guess what, nobody would buy these trucks.

Wait a minute, how do you have a 5 speed with the 4.8 in a NBS? I've tried configuring one online like that, and didn't have the option for the M/T.

BigJayDogg3 · October 6, 2007

To me, and I'm definitely no mechanic, but it sounds like things aren't quite meshing up correctly. This comes from years of experence of f-ing up my R/C cars.

cubswin02 · October 6, 2007

I agree, whats making me nervous is the dealer is dealer doesn't seem too willing to fix it. I have also had my fair share of screwed up R/C cars. Thank you again for the advice. Anyone have advice on what I should be telling the dealer to get them to understand this isn't what the truck should be doing?

To me, and I'm definitely no mechanic, but it sounds like things aren't quite meshing up correctly. This comes from years of experence of f-ing up my R/C cars.

Zembonez · October 6, 2007

If this was my brand new truck with 7200 miles on it, I'd be raising holy hell with whoever would listen at GM and have them replace it with a new in the crate transmission. (rspecially after they have tried to "fix it" once) It might be different if you had 25,000 miles on it but 7000? I would politely make noise over the head of the local dealer level if they won't do anything about it. They hate that but it usually gets results.

If nothing else have a lawyer write them a letter.

cubswin02 · October 8, 2007

I have been trying to keep my cool, they are on their last chance with me keeping my cool. If they try to tell me that a new truck does this as well I will be going over their heads. If that doesn't work, I will be contacting an attorney. Thank you for the advice.

luminaapv3 · October 8, 2007

I just got one thing to say

What i finds works wonders in almost any situations is getting a little loud in an area where other custumers can hear your problems .

Say things like:

"So you can't fix it or you just don't want to fix it?!!!"

"Well I guess I'm just gonna have to talk to my lawyer about this, he'll be contacting you soon"

"Please call your supervisor down so i can talk to him" or "Please give me the phone numbers of your superiors"

"Can you fix the transmission problem or are your mechanics not qualified?"

and my personal favorite:

"If you don't fix my f...ing truck I'm gonna run it through the f...ing front doors you little piece of sh.t and then I'm gonna get out and start beating people with my #2 golf club and I'm gonna start with YOU!!!!!!"

Of course the last one may get you 15 to life in jail , not recommended!

O.k. I'm done now.

(Discaimer: The last comment is not recommended, use all of my comments at your own risk, gm-truck.com and I assume no responsabilty for your actions, Have a great day!)

cubswin02 · October 9, 2007

Its been a long day with the dealer. I called them this morning to ask how the test drive on a new truck went, they hadn't even done it yet. At that point I called GM. Filed a complaint about not only the transmission, but the fact that I still haven't gotten paperwork from the original overhaul. They have told me that it will be mailed out to me 3 times now, thats after it wasn't ready when I originally picked up the truck from the overhaul. 15 minutes later I got a call from my dealer telling me that all of the trucks do that. I told them they are lying to me, and I am coming down right now to have them take me for a drive in a new truck so they could replicate the problem with the service manager driving. When I got to the dealer they pulled my truck up to take the drive in. I told them that I want to take the ride in the new one since they say they all do it. That's when the service manager told me they couldn't get my truck to replicate the problem. Basically they never tried with a new truck, they just told me they did. So I took the Manager with me and replicated the problem at least a dozen times in my truck, he couldn't deny the problem. He said that they will take care of it. He still isn't sure what the problem is, I told him I don't care what it is as long as they fix it. I'm crossing my fingers. Thank you everyone for your advice. This seems to be a great group.

I just got one thing to say
What i finds works wonders in almost any situations is getting a little loud in an area where other custumers can hear your problems .

Say things like:

"So you can't fix it or you just don't want to fix it?!!!"

"Well I guess I'm just gonna have to talk to my lawyer about this, he'll be contacting you soon"

"Please call your supervisor down so i can talk to him" or "Please give me the phone numbers of your superiors"

"Can you fix the transmission problem or are your mechanics not qualified?"

and my personal favorite:

"If you don't fix my f...ing truck I'm gonna run it through the f...ing front doors you little piece of sh.t and then I'm gonna get out and start beating people with my #2 golf club and I'm gonna start with YOU!!!!!!"

Of course the last one may get you 15 to life in jail , not recommended!

O.k. I'm done now.

(Discaimer: The last comment is not recommended, use all of my comments at your own risk, gm-truck.com and I assume no responsabilty for your actions, Have a great day!)

Draenor · October 9, 2007

If this was my brand new truck with 7200 miles on it, I'd be raising holy hell with whoever would listen at GM and have them replace it with a new in the crate transmission. (rspecially after they have tried to "fix it" once) It might be different if you had 25,000 miles on it but 7000? I would politely make noise over the head of the local dealer level if they won't do anything about it. They hate that but it usually gets results.

If nothing else have a lawyer write them a letter.

+1

Lemon Law if anything else.

RCH · October 11, 2007

Diid they replace the torque converter when they replaced the transmission? If not you might have some of the crap from the previous transmission in there now and need to replace both. Just a guess.

slimjim2525 · October 12, 2007

Simple problem you have here. 1. No new truck does what you desribe, neither does an old one. 2. Just replace the freakin tranny, the whole thing. Problem solved.

Zembonez · October 12, 2007

Simple problem you have here. 1. No new truck does what you desribe, neither does an old one. 2. Just replace the freakin tranny, the whole thing. Problem solved.

10 Days since your first post on this issue... My dealership Service Manager would be looking over his shoulder and running by now.

cubswin02 · October 13, 2007

I agree, very simple problem... the tranny doesn't work. I have been all over the service manager as well as the service writer. The manager has now taken over the situation. As of today, they are putting a new transmission in my truck. They should have it for about another 5 days while a new tranny is shipped from back east and they install it. I have been calling them twice a day and to put it nicely... "expressing my displeasure with the service I have been getting". I have even stopped in a couple of times. The funny thing is GM corporate is no better. They were supposed to call me back the next day after I called them and filed a complaint. I didn't get a call back for two days. They were also supposed to call me back today... No call. This is my 3rd Sierra and I have loved every one, but this experience is really turning me off on GM. The whole situation is just stupid. I'm stuck with them though, the Sierra is the only truck out there that I like. Thank you all for your posts and advice. I'll keep you updated

Simple problem you have here. 1. No new truck does what you desribe, neither does an old one. 2. Just replace the freakin tranny, the whole thing. Problem solved.

10 Days since your first post on this issue... My dealership Service Manager would be looking over his shoulder and running by now.

cubswin02 · October 20, 2007

I just picked up my truck from the dealer. They put in a brand new transmission. They have been trying to get a hold of the GM rep for approval for days now (they say). They finally just put it in without GM approval (they say again). The bottom line is I have a new transmission and the truck runs great. Thank you all for your advice. It has been one heck of a fight, but I got what I wanted in the end.

Thanks again!