A8's and Torque Converter failure
01-29-2016, 10:57 AM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
A8's and Torque Converter failure
After unknowingly having several symptoms of torque converter failure I finally located a dealer who properly diagnosed my transmission problem as a bad o-ring in the torque converter. A new torque converter will be installed next week. I have a 2015 A8 born October 2014 and noticed a problem with the transmission at about 10K miles. I decided to do a little research into the symptoms of a bad torque converter and have included a partial list.
(1) - Surging and Lugging - Your car can't seem to maintain constant speed. I noticed this especially when in cruise control (in V4) and your RPMs go up and down. In cruise control, on a level surface, you should seen very little movement in your RPMs.
(2) - Shuddering - Feels like you are running over a rough road when you are on a smooth road. Comes and goes without warning. Mine did this and I thought my front tires were out of balance.
(3) - Vehicle Lurches - Mine did this maybe 3-4 times when at slow idle.
(4) - Slow to go into gears including reverse. Mine was slow to go into reverse.
(5) - Gears don't shift easy.
(6) - Strange Noises - Clicking or revving.
(7) - Gears Slipping - Loss of acceleration.
(8) - Overheating.
Hope this info helps other A8 owners who might be having torque converter problems and not know it.
(1) - Surging and Lugging - Your car can't seem to maintain constant speed. I noticed this especially when in cruise control (in V4) and your RPMs go up and down. In cruise control, on a level surface, you should seen very little movement in your RPMs.
(2) - Shuddering - Feels like you are running over a rough road when you are on a smooth road. Comes and goes without warning. Mine did this and I thought my front tires were out of balance.
(3) - Vehicle Lurches - Mine did this maybe 3-4 times when at slow idle.
(4) - Slow to go into gears including reverse. Mine was slow to go into reverse.
(5) - Gears don't shift easy.
(6) - Strange Noises - Clicking or revving.
(7) - Gears Slipping - Loss of acceleration.
(8) - Overheating.
Hope this info helps other A8 owners who might be having torque converter problems and not know it.
Last edited by Red C8 of Jax; 02-12-2017 at 10:22 AM.
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Popular Reply
05-09-2017, 11:45 AM
Guys, this image i created will help you understand the stator support TSB and what exactly is being replaced and how far they are going into transmission: (THIS IS THE 8L90)
Attachment 48127198
Attachment 48127198
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Tin-can (07-03-2019)
01-29-2016, 01:33 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Mine has a really bad delay going into drive or reverse along with a nice "bang". I did the fluid level check proceedure and all was good. I have a cam and blower so im sure the dealer would just laugh if i tried to warranty this. Wish there was a nice tsb for this as it seems like a pretty big problem
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paceviper (06-27-2018)
01-29-2016, 02:28 PM
#4
Dear God they are now able to replace the T/C without total trans replacement now? Or maybe they now just have spare parts.?
01-29-2016, 02:50 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2012
Location: Hagerstown MD
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Hope it all works out well. Please let us know.
01-29-2016, 03:09 PM
#6
I'm experiencing most of what you have listed except for the overheating. Is there a TSB that you might have that I can give to my dealer? I've done the reflash of the transmission and that helped but after a few months, it is back but doesnt occur as often as it used to. Already regretting getting this auto transmission...
01-29-2016, 03:57 PM
#8
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I'm experiencing most of what you have listed except for the overheating. Is there a TSB that you might have that I can give to my dealer? I've done the reflash of the transmission and that helped but after a few months, it is back but doesnt occur as often as it used to. Already regretting getting this auto transmission...
01-29-2016, 04:38 PM
#9
Instructor
The dealership I go to knows about the problem and is now installing the new torque converter without replacing the transmission.
I literally just returned from the dealership - having recurring problems with my '16 - and the service manager confirmed the torque converter problem and said he has 4 Corvettes coming in to get the torque converter changed out. I guess early on they were changing out the transmission and torque converter. Then, as GM obtained more field data, they identified the problem and are now only replacing the torque converter. At this dealership, for the past month or so, they weren't replacing anything (transmission, TC) while they were waiting for the new torque converter. Thus, why there are 4 coming in all at once to have them changed out.
I don't know, but 4 coming in at one time, at one dealership, and all failing in the past month or so seems to be a lot.
I literally just returned from the dealership - having recurring problems with my '16 - and the service manager confirmed the torque converter problem and said he has 4 Corvettes coming in to get the torque converter changed out. I guess early on they were changing out the transmission and torque converter. Then, as GM obtained more field data, they identified the problem and are now only replacing the torque converter. At this dealership, for the past month or so, they weren't replacing anything (transmission, TC) while they were waiting for the new torque converter. Thus, why there are 4 coming in all at once to have them changed out.
I don't know, but 4 coming in at one time, at one dealership, and all failing in the past month or so seems to be a lot.
01-29-2016, 04:51 PM
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The dealership I go to knows about the problem and is now installing the new torque converter without replacing the transmission.
I literally just returned from the dealership - having recurring problems with my '16 - and the service manager confirmed the torque converter problem and said he has 4 Corvettes coming in to get the torque converter changed out. I guess early on they were changing out the transmission and torque converter. Then, as GM obtained more field data, they identified the problem and are now only replacing the torque converter. At this dealership, for the past month or so, they weren't replacing anything (transmission, TC) while they were waiting for the new torque converter. Thus, why there are 4 coming in all at once to have them changed out.
I don't know, but 4 coming in at one time, at one dealership, and all failing in the past month or so seems to be a lot.
I literally just returned from the dealership - having recurring problems with my '16 - and the service manager confirmed the torque converter problem and said he has 4 Corvettes coming in to get the torque converter changed out. I guess early on they were changing out the transmission and torque converter. Then, as GM obtained more field data, they identified the problem and are now only replacing the torque converter. At this dealership, for the past month or so, they weren't replacing anything (transmission, TC) while they were waiting for the new torque converter. Thus, why there are 4 coming in all at once to have them changed out.
I don't know, but 4 coming in at one time, at one dealership, and all failing in the past month or so seems to be a lot.
My dealer is replacing the torque converters in two C-7s with A8s before mine is replaced. Are you having transmission problems with your 2016?
01-29-2016, 04:54 PM
#11
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Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Jacksonville Florida
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I had all of the issues except for the overheating. My car is an early 2015 model I actually picked it up Nov 2014. It started with just a slow shift, slipping, from 1st to 2nd when the car had sat for a couple of days. That was about 5 months ago. I took it to the dealer and they called up the corvette specialty guys who said yes there was an issue but at the time they were looking into it and would get back to me. The surging started about a month ago I took it into the dealer 2 weeks ago and talked with the mechnic and he said they had just diagnosed the same issue the day prior on another car with the same problem and the fix was to replace the transmission. I thought that was a bit exsesive because I had figured it was a torque converter issue but they said that is what GM told them. So I was just notified that my trans is in and it goes in next week.
After unknowingly having several symptoms of torque converter failure I finally located a dealer who properly diagnosed my transmission problem as a bad o-ring in the torque converter. A new torque converter will be installed next week. I have a 2015 A8 born October 2014 and noticed a problem with the transmission at about 10K miles. I decided to do a little research into the symptoms of a bad torque converter and have included a partial list.
(1) - Surging and Lugging - Your car can't seem to maintain constant speed. I noticed this especially when in cruise control in V4 and your RPMs go up and down. This IS NOT normal unless you go from v4 into V8.
(2) - Shuddering - Feels like you are running over a rough road when you are on a smooth road. Comes and goes without warning. Mine did this and I thought my front tires were out of balance.
(3) - Vehicle Lurches - Mine did this maybe 3-4 times when at slow idle.
(4) - Slow to go into gears including reverse. Mine was slow to go into reverse.
(5) - Gears don't shift easy.
(6) - Strange Noises - Clicking or revving.
(7) - Gears Slipping - Loss of acceleration.
(8) - Overheating.
Hope this info helps other A8 owners who might be having torque converter problems and not know it.
(1) - Surging and Lugging - Your car can't seem to maintain constant speed. I noticed this especially when in cruise control in V4 and your RPMs go up and down. This IS NOT normal unless you go from v4 into V8.
(2) - Shuddering - Feels like you are running over a rough road when you are on a smooth road. Comes and goes without warning. Mine did this and I thought my front tires were out of balance.
(3) - Vehicle Lurches - Mine did this maybe 3-4 times when at slow idle.
(4) - Slow to go into gears including reverse. Mine was slow to go into reverse.
(5) - Gears don't shift easy.
(6) - Strange Noises - Clicking or revving.
(7) - Gears Slipping - Loss of acceleration.
(8) - Overheating.
Hope this info helps other A8 owners who might be having torque converter problems and not know it.
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Ryan R (05-21-2018)
01-29-2016, 05:38 PM
#12
I had all of the issues except for the overheating. My car is an early 2015 model I actually picked it up Nov 2014. It started with just a slow shift, slipping, from 1st to 2nd when the car had sat for a couple of days. That was about 5 months ago. I took it to the dealer and they called up the corvette specialty guys who said yes there was an issue but at the time they were looking into it and would get back to me. The surging started about a month ago I took it into the dealer 2 weeks ago and talked with the mechnic and he said they had just diagnosed the same issue the day prior on another car with the same problem and the fix was to replace the transmission. I thought that was a bit exsesive because I had figured it was a torque converter issue but they said that is what GM told them. So I was just notified that my trans is in and it goes in next week.
01-29-2016, 05:44 PM
#13
Will you please ask your Dealer for me on Monday if it would be OK to have my Dealer in Chicago call them to exchange information so we can finally get my car fixed. Oh a ray of hope!
01-29-2016, 06:16 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2012
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
This thread is worrisome. How many miles on your cars when you first noted problems?
01-29-2016, 06:30 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Plymouth Massachusetts
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Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Unmodified
Very scary guys good luck with your 2015 A8 trannys getting fixed!
01-29-2016, 06:50 PM
#16
Race Director
Its like a catch22, while I would rather not have a car thats been messed with; theres the chance the problem could surface anytime on one that hasnt been fixed/
01-29-2016, 07:06 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
But I agree its not a good feeling having the underside of your new car gutted and put back together. Its a choice of living with the issues until you sell/trade it or getting it fixed and taking a chance its all done properly. If my car didnt have any problems I sure would not bring it in to get the trans/converter swapped - time will tell.
Last edited by kp; 01-29-2016 at 07:09 PM.
01-29-2016, 07:24 PM
#19
Instructor
Not sure what the problem is. Transmission control module intermitantly stops communicating with ECM and the car goes into limp mode. Started doing it with 100 miles on it. We thought it was a bad ground. Dealer is documenting everything and bringing a GM tech in to consult with. Good luck with yours.
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Red C8 of Jax (01-29-2016)
01-29-2016, 07:52 PM
#20
would not hurt the Gods down in B.G. to read it also ..
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