09 Six Speed Tranny

[Bowler807]

I was at a dealership the other day looking to replace my 06 crew cab. I asked the salesman about the 09's with the six speed. He said his 09 demo has one and he doesn't like it. He told me that it is constantly shifting and hunting for the proper gear. He kept telling me that I would be better off in an 08.

 

Has anyone driven the 09 with the six speed? Does it constantly shift like the salesman said, or is this salesman just trying to get one of the 08's off the lot?

[svensk]

six speed will be a quicker truck. It has a wicked 1st gear.

[Darkanion]

I have an '07 w/ the 6-spd. It "can" get a little shift-happy, at times. Early on, I learned to use manual mode on side streets and "pretty much" only put it in drive in the freeways. Basically, here's what I do... If I'm going to be going 30 or less, I put it in Manual mode and hit the "up" button until it's in M3. The transmission with auto-shift up to 3rd gear and that's it. 40 or less, I use M4. 50 or less, M5... Freeways, cruising, no stop & go... M6 or Drive. Lots of stop & go, during rush hour? M2 or M3, depending on speeds...

 

Depending on the engine you have in front of it, it may be more or less shift-happy... I would think the 5.3L w/ a 6-spd would possibly be more shift-happy than a 6.2L w/ a 6-spd (like I have), due to less torque and horsepower.

 

My advice : Go drive one and see what you think. Don't let the salesman sell you on something you're not sure you want. And if he won't show you what you DO want to see, find a different dealer ... or get the sales manager at that dealership to find you a salesman who actually wants to show you what you want to see.

 

Best of luck!

[Bowler807]

If your truck is "shift happy" in North Texas, I can imagine what one with the 5.3 in the Pennsylvania hills would be like.

 

Driving one and living with one are two different things, however I do want to try one out.

[asilverblazer]

I always felt the six speeds would obviously have to shift more to be beneficial, and they would shift more than a four speed. More gears more shifts. I recall, there were a lot of complaints about the older four speeds gear hunting, can't see how the six speeds could be any better. I think gear hunting in a loose sense of the word is to be expected with more gears. Another thing too, the more time the transmission is changing between gears is more time the transmission could be putting power on the ground. CVT would be best in my opinion. The benefits of multiple gears, with out the gear changes.

[slomo007]

Sounds like he's just trying to get a deal done now, and he knows he won't be able to sell you a 6 speed right now.

 

I would just wait and drive it for yourself before deciding. Then, when it's out, buy it from a different salesman just to prove your point.

[jrrod2004]

there was that update for the hunting gears issue. most of the guys here locally that have had that done have noticed a decrease in the hunting but it is still present

[pm26]

Read the complaints about the 6 speed transmission shifting on the HD truck forum. I would expect the lighter duty 6 speed to have the same programming as the HD transmission.

[iscsidude]

I thought the six speed had the TCM inside the tranny itself.

If this is true, wouldn't this limit the ability of swapping TCMs and programming them to your liking ???

 

My biggest complaint on this GMT900 are the shift points and Torque Management delays.

I haven't a clue what is controlled via TCM vs. ECM but having them both external/swappable seems like a big plus.

 

Then again, if I drove mainly on the highway, shift points and TM delays wouldn't apply so much.

In that case I would want the six speed for the better fuel economy.

[redvett]

NO the #1500 LD is in the CAFE fuel family and has different calibrations than the #2500 & up series which is not in the CAFE requirements. Any truck with a #8600 GVW is HD. With the transmission shifting to keep the engine in the power-band the fuel economy & power will be optimum same as a semi trucker will shift to keep his rig in the power-band. If you dont like the shifting now what are you going to do when we have 7 & 8 speed transmissions.

 

Read the complaints about the 6 speed transmission shifting on the HD truck forum. I would expect the lighter duty 6 speed to have the same programming as the HD transmission.

[Darkanion]

If you dont like the shifting now what are you going to do when we have 7 & 8 speed transmissions.

Probably complain even more...

[2000DV4.8]

If you dont like the shifting now what are you going to do when we have 7 & 8 speed transmissions.

Probably complain even more...

 

 

Doesn't Mercedes have a 7 spd, and Lexus have an 8?

 

Fawking ridiculous, IMO. 4 works fine, could use another gear between 3rd and 4th, but it works. Why the HELL would you need an 8 speed transmission in a freaking luxury car?

[jrrod2004]

If you dont like the shifting now what are you going to do when we have 7 & 8 speed transmissions.

Probably complain even more...

 

 

Doesn't Mercedes have a 7 spd, and Lexus have an 8?

 

Fawking ridiculous, IMO. 4 works fine, could use another gear between 3rd and 4th, but it works. Why the HELL would you need an 8 speed transmission in a freaking luxury car?

 

 

 

so when the sunshell or the ring or the gear strips out, they can rape you!!!! and also for bragging rights.

[Rat4go]

I agree with some of the other posters who say DRIVE IT! If you tow, you should like it better due to ratios, grade braking features, and availability of integrated trailer brake controller. If you don't tow, you should still see better highway fuel econ and overall performance due to trans ratios and the use of the 3.42 (instead of 3.73) axle.

 

I also agree that it's almost certainly not the same calibration as the 6.0L HD nor the 6.2L LD trucks as it'll be more slanted toward fuel economy.

 

If you do drive it, PLEASE post your observations for the rest of us!

[2018GMC]

I was at a dealership the other day looking to replace my 06 crew cab. I asked the salesman about the 09's with the six speed. He said his 09 demo has one and he doesn't like it. He told me that it is constantly shifting and hunting for the proper gear. He kept telling me that I would be better off in an 08.

 

Has anyone driven the 09 with the six speed? Does it constantly shift like the salesman said, or is this salesman just trying to get one of the 08's off the lot?

 

The salesman is just trying to get rid of the 08's. I would drive both and then decide. I dont NEED a truck now so dont mind waiting. If there was a SCREAMING deal on an o8 (at least 10K off MSRP) I would probably go for it. With talks of GM merging with chrystler I'm sure there will be good deals on 09's early next year. I am waiting for an 09 6.0 6 speed myself. I was going for the 6.2 but you have to get the SLT package for that. I have driven both and perfer the 6 speed. It really launches from a stop with the super low 1st gear. Also on the highway when it downshifts it is a minor change in engine speed not like a 4 speed dropping a gear you definaly notice. If you need more power press down some more and you drop 2 or 3 gears. I am waiting.