We have talked about the transmission in our Silverado before and the less than smooth shift from first to second. I can't tell you that it has gotten any better or any worse but there does seem to be a new noise related to the transmission. Now when shifting into drive from neutral there is a pause and then a clunk as the gear engages. I don't remember the shift from neutral to drive sounding so violent in the previous times I have driven our Silverado. I'm not sure if this is just a sign of aging or if something will need to be done about it, but I am sure we will keep you updated
Seth Compton, Broadband Production Coordinator @ 31,198 miles
Anonymous says:
09:41 AM, 06/16/08
Even if it's just a sign of aging that's still pretty bad for a less-than-two-year-old truck.
Anonymous says:
10:45 AM, 06/16/08
Not a good sign. Have you guys re-taken it to a dealer for further inspection?
Doesn't this gm product have a 5-year, 100k warranty on it's powertrain? That's a blessing.
Get it checked out already.
Anonymous says:
10:51 AM, 06/16/08
There shouldn't be any clunks in a relatively new truck.
Anonymous says:
11:01 AM, 06/16/08
My GM transmissioned Isuzu Rodeo started doing that a few months before it self destructed. I suggest you run not walk to the dealer and get it checked out.
Anonymous says:
03:04 PM, 06/16/08
Wow - very bad sign when this is the market segment GM has been fawning over for the last few years and pouring all its product development into. And after 31K the tranny is about to go out? <sigh>
Anonymous says:
03:33 PM, 06/16/08
Sounds like U-joint clunk, which for GM trucks is pretty common. If you don't like it, they'll chuck u-joints in it for you. I'm sorry that there isn't a dealership technician on the west coast that can diagnose or repair an automatic transmission in a Chevy pickup. Whats the deal there? Is the service just that crappy?
Anonymous says:
04:18 PM, 06/16/08
jdub53084 - Good question. No excuse for the issues that there have been with this truck's transmission, but at the very least, a dealer should recognize something isn't right and really make an attempt to sort it out. I know, mechanically, all might be "in spec" as they often say, but when it's so obvious something isn't right...HAS to go further.
We had an '02 Avalanche 5.3L with the 4L60E and all was flawless from day one to 33k miles 2+ years later. Never a hitch and the most beautifully shifting and running vehicle we've owned. Traded it for an '04 Suburban with the same powertrain, and it generally was enough of the same in driving, except for a terrible thunk and sometimes lurch at the 1-2 shift if you were light on the throttle and/or varying it at the speed for that shift. Did it from day one, and a few times, just taking off from a stop, there was a horrible lurch and bang that felt like being rear-ended, but it was the 1-2 shift weirdness. Unless in the right case, it wasn't a bother and my parents never made a complaint about it in 3.5 years and 56k miles--traded it feeling and running exactly the same.
So this clunking and thunking is not right, but it's also seemingly not uncommon in some of these--yet it seems to always be hard for dealers to figure out what is going on, really, in relation since they "seem fine" technically.
Anonymous says:
04:21 PM, 06/16/08
Actually...Edmunds, you have a direct line to the manufacturer. You drive, service, buy, etc. most of the cars like everyday people, but when something like this is going on and a dealer isn't a help...CALL GM directly and voice the complaint. They, like any manufacturer, hate to have a problem not be fixed and become a public blog of sorts and usually will respond or jump right in to figure it out.
At least not doing anything in that regard--even not for real owners who might have the same issues and are also not getting anywhere--is dumb when you can. Pick up the phone...or I'm actually surprised no one has called you themselves after watching what's gone on.
Anonymous says:
07:00 PM, 06/16/08
It's experiences like this that can swear someone off of a brand for good. Even if it's nothing - which I highly doubt - the perception of weak quality can be enough to sour one's experience with a given manufacturer.
I'd bring it in pre-emptively before you end up blasting parts across the PCH.
greenpony says:
11:12 AM, 06/17/08
"CALL GM directly and voice the complaint."
I've used this as a last resort when the traction control on one of my cars repeatedly failed. I ended up getting a real fix (the culprit was not the traction control, but the wiring harness TO the traction control) for no charge, with no warranty coverage. It's been fine for the last 2+ years/40k miles.
anilpunjabi says:
12:59 PM, 06/17/08
could someone at edmunds do me a favor and see if the 4 speed transmission in the silverado is the same that was sold to volvo for the 2003 xc90(I know the transmission was sourced from GM). If it is then edmunds and other silverado owners are in for a bad surprise - ours along with other xc90 T6 owners have had transmission failures - ours has been twice in five yrs(luckily we have an extended warranty), but lets just say the dealership experience has been less than stellar. My email is lexusap@gmail.com. Thanxs
firstwagon says:
04:11 PM, 06/17/08
Not likely as the XC90 is a front drive platform. My in-laws S60 has gone through 2 transmissions so far as well. Bet that's the same one.
cx7lover says:
12:58 AM, 06/18/08
The XC90 T6 used a GM transmission. They changed it thank god.
bmxkid7117 says:
03:28 AM, 06/18/08
my 03 civic coupe is going on its second tranny. first one went at 56,000 and this ones showing bad signs at 70,000.... that and now it needs new suspension parts in the front. i loved this car when i first got it... now i just want it gone.