New Transmission Installed. FLARE STILL THERE!! REALLY??

[sweetair]

Well, I just got my G8 GT back last night from having a new/rebuilt transmission installed due to water being in the existing one from the transmission dip stick tube I installed. Yeah, I know, pretty stupid. Anyhow, the dealer really helped me out more than what I thought due to this really not being a warrantable. Anyhow..................there is still a flare on certain shifts in both regular drive and sport mode, and I am not really getting on her when it is flaring. Before she started showing signs of issues, she was shifting just fine. There are only 386xx miles on her.

Is this really going to be the new ride. Sit back and enjoy the flare? I've heard that with a tune it is resovled, but shouldn't there be GM tune that takes care of that? What causes the flare in the first place? Is something slipping? I don't really like it and don't want to be hurting something as I want to get many more miles out of this car,

Thanks in advance for thoughts.

Bill

[rocket69GTP]

Are you still carrying a warranty with this tranny? If not, then take it to a reputable tuner and have them retune it to get rid of it.

[GXPaycheck]

Stock tune sux. Get 'er done by a pro.

[sweetair]

It's still under warranty. I'm being told to give it a little time to let the transmission learn. I'm going to go this route and hope this is what needs to take place. Thanks.
Are you still carrying a warranty with this tranny? If not, then take it to a reputable tuner and have them retune it to get rid of it.

[cynic783]

Well, I just got my G8 GT back last night from having a new/rebuilt transmission installed due to water being in the existing one from the transmission dip stick tube I installed. Yeah, I know, pretty stupid. Anyhow, the dealer really helped me out more than what I thought due to this really not being a warrantable. Anyhow..................there is still a flare on certain shifts in both regular drive and sport mode, and I am not really getting on her when it is flaring. Before she started showing signs of issues, she was shifting just fine. There are only 386xx miles on her.

Is this really going to be the new ride. Sit back and enjoy the flare? I've heard that with a tune it is resovled, but shouldn't there be GM tune that takes care of that? What causes the flare in the first place? Is something slipping? I don't really like it and don't want to be hurting something as I want to get many more miles out of this car,

Thanks in advance for thoughts.

Bill

A few possibilities.

1. They didn't actually do anything and just charged you for the rebuild. Cynical, but possible.
2. 17 year old Mechanic went and did donuts in the parking lot after installing the new trans for 2 hours. Again, cynical, but possible.
3. They rebuilt it and didn't do a good job.
4. They didn't install it correctly or broke something while installing.
5. The trans does not have the correct stock TCM tune.
6. You have an incorrect ECM tune that is sending incorrect torque values to the TCM.
7. One of the things connected to the transmission is broken, e.g. the Torque Converter, Driveshaft, or Rear Differential.
8. You didn't give the transmission long enough to adapt after install.
9. Any combination of the above or other factors as well.

This is infuriating I know. And I am getting ready to go down the same road with my G8 GT that has a hurt transmission I believe. So I am very curious as to what the resolution is. Hang in there.

[sweetair]

#2 is the one that really cracks me up. It's gotta be that one. lol
A few possibilities.

1. They didn't actually do anything and just charged you for the rebuild. Cynical, but possible.
2. 17 year old Mechanic went and did donuts in the parking lot after installing the new trans for 2 hours. Again, cynical, but possible.
3. They rebuilt it and didn't do a good job.
4. They didn't install it correctly or broke something while installing.
5. The trans does not have the correct stock TCM tune.
6. You have an incorrect ECM tune that is sending incorrect torque values to the TCM.
7. One of the things connected to the transmission is broken, e.g. the Torque Converter, Driveshaft, or Rear Differential.
8. You didn't give the transmission long enough to adapt after install.
9. Any combination of the above or other factors as well.

This is infuriating I know. And I am getting ready to go down the same road with my G8 GT that has a hurt transmission I believe. So I am very curious as to what the resolution is. Hang in there.

[Frostopsy]

Make sure the fluid is topped off. Funny, no one even mentioned the first thing any mechanic would do. And the easiest/cheap thing to do.

If all is good, the fluid isn't horribly colored or smell burnt (again, who knows what the shop did) and assuming the trans was rebuilt, let it "break in". That's my advice for the moment. There is some other good suggestions on here if there is something wrong with it.

[sweetair]

The install was done at a GM dealership by a mechanic I know and trust. Even though I personally haven't checked the level I am sure it is where it is supposed to be. I spoke to the shop foreman this morning as well to discuss what he calls a "sloppy shift" not a flare. I am being advised to give it time to break in and learn and that is what I am going to do. I need to get my motor mounts installed in a few weeks when they come in and I'll see where this goes.

[wreckwriter]

I think you'll be ok. Trans needs to learn how you drive. Give it 100 miles of normal driving (don't get on the freeway and go 50 miles out and turn around). If its still funky after that ask them to check fluid level, be sure they know how.

[TailG8er]

Does it flare on the 1-2 shift when driving slowly?

Mine did that and was 1.5 qts low.

Good chance it needs to learn though.

[sweetair]

It's more between 2-3. 1-2 is ok.

[MIEngineer]

Drive it a bit. I don't care if the tech is your brother, it is free peace of mind...check fluid level ;)

[GXPaycheck]

I bet they didn't fill it correctly.

[sweetair]

After driving it a bit I am feeling more confident in the transmission. It is shifting a whole lot better. I'm not beating on her, just driving. First driving her does seem to still make a slight difference, where she shifts better after she warms up a touch.

[wreckwriter]

Cold trans will not perform properly, needs a bit of warmth in it. If you're not confident get them to verify fluid level. Trans must be warm for that too btw.

[XplicitPerformance]

Yeah these things are real finnicky when resetting the TCM. Drive it around like others have stated and let it "learn". If it keeps on after 100-200 miles than I would definitely take it back.

[GM Customer Service]

The install was done at a GM dealership by a mechanic I know and trust. Even though I personally haven't checked the level I am sure it is where it is supposed to be. I spoke to the shop foreman this morning as well to discuss what he calls a "sloppy shift" not a flare. I am being advised to give it time to break in and learn and that is what I am going to do. I need to get my motor mounts installed in a few weeks when they come in and I'll see where this goes.

Please let us know any updates you may have with this concern. We are here at your convenience.

Brandon
GM Customer Service

[todds87ss]

Just because it is new/rebuilt does not mean it is not subject to the same tsb...

[sweetair]

I thank you all for the replies and thoughts. This is what makes this site, and others like it the shiznit. The car is going to be going back in a few weeks when they install the updated motor mounts (completely under warranty) and if this issue is not resolved by then, it will be re-investigated for sure.

[johnbell2]

I always read these flare threads... the "fact of life" I find amusing is the 2-3 flare I get after stopping to fill up the gas. At no other time will it flare, cold or warm, sitting for a while or multiple frequent ignition cycles, _only_ after I stop to fill 'er up. Didn't matter if it was stock or tuned and has done it from day one. Dealer has checked fluid level multiple times and says all is a-ok. After it does that initial flare it never does it again until the next fill up. I can reproduce this at will. I've just learned to deal with it but I do think it's pretty funny how specific the conditions are to reproduce it. I even had Brian on board logging when it happened and he thought it was strange but nothing showed up.

[Eric_GT]

No flare in manual mode. ;)

[johnbell2]

No flare in manual mode. ;)

Not true. I tried to see if my "fill up" flare would go away if I shifted in manual mode. Nope, it still will do that. Same thing, it only flares that one time and then never again until the next gas stop. It's bizarre.

[roman1978]

i have the same condition after driving for a while if i shut the car of and start it back up within 5 min it feels like its holding the gear and then shifts. only does it for one time. This is my second tranny and both were doing the same exact thing.

[sweetair]

This shifting issue has got to be with the TCM, right?

[GuatoLT1]

Is your TCM tuned?

[cynic783]

the ecm talks to the tcm. the ecm tells the tcm how much torque it is delivering. ask your tuner about this. if he/she can/won't help, msg me and I'll put you in touch with someone

[STL_G8GT]

the ecm talks to the tcm. the ecm tells the tcm how much torque it is delivering. ask your tuner about this. if he/she can/won't help, msg me and I'll put you in touch with someone

Yeah, some Dave guy that knows his stuff... I think... :uhm: :)

[cynic783]

Happy with my DSteck tune. He is in MO. Since OP is in Texas might be worth a road trip to see Patrick G.

[todds87ss]

AFAIK, Pat G tunes still have 2-3 shift flare - at least mine does.