rich_r31

Picked up an '08 MT and the transmission is not smooth at all. (especially when cold) It feels like I am on the edge of getting gear clash when going between gears. (no grinding noise, but feels like there should be by the effort involved) I am guessing this is not normal and maybe needs the linkage adjusted. At speeds in excess of 100MPH, the problem is even worse, and requires a lot of effort when shifting at high RPMs/ high speeds. The car only has 550 miles on it, so maybe the trans is just stiff and needs to be broken in?? Anyone else experience similar issues? Thanks!

RushThruLife

They all seem to be a little tight when not warmed up. But should be fine after a few miles(fluid warmup). But not constantly. get it checked out.

HorsePower Junkie

Shift it gently until the transmission fluid reaches operating temperature, it only takes a few minutes to warm up.

speedy_steve

I have the same sensation in my '08 MT. I spoke to the dealer and asked if anyone else has complained about the same and he said no. My tranny is particularly fussy about 3rd gear when cold. Feels as though I am grinding the gears a little going from 2-3 or like the clutch isn't depressed all the way. This goes away once everything is warm and then it shifts smoothly.

Steve

rich_r31

My issue exactly. I have owned many MT cars (Vipers, Z28, Bimmer, C5, etc) and have never had this issue. Back to the dealer I go... BTW, Did you take yours back to the dealer? Was there a fix?

talon90

And it seems like a good idea to thrashing the transmission when the components and the fluid is cold?

rich_r31

Do you wait 20 minutes for your car to warm up before driving it? I start my car and drive. I experience this with normal driving/ normal shifting. I am not starting the car and launching at 4500 rpm and shifting at 6K when cold.

talon90

It is just a good idea to let the fluids come up to temp before you start driving agressively. I too start my car and drive. It's just that my neighborhood doesn't have a speed limit of 100 mph as you mentioned in your post.

I guess I'm just lucky that I have to drive several miles to get to a road where I can enjoy the car.

For what it is worth, my car does not experience this problem. Yes, shifts are a little stiff while the fluid is cold. I expect this. They are not when the fluid warms up and the viscosity shifts so that it is doing a better job of lubricating as it is supposed to. You may want to consider a trip to a dealer if you find that it is a problem.

The T6060 should be able to row through the gears with a minimum of effort. When I drove one the shift effort was such that I could move through the gears with just my thumb and forefinger on the shifter. My car is a 2005 with the T56 and it is considerably firmer (almost notchy) but so was my 1997 with T56.

JJC5

Cold trans fluid doesn't allow the syncros to get up to speed as fast. Do one of two things when cold:
When shifting, find the spot where the syncros engage, then pause before completing the shift.
Double clutch and it should go in smoother.

TR-6060

Double clutching the 1-2 and 2-3 for the first couple of miles when the ambient temp is less than 50 solves this problem completely for me. Once warmed up, the tranny is perfect.

speedy_steve

No, not yet. I did mention to the tech as well when I was having my racing spoiler installed and he suggested I wait until my first oil change since he had never heard of this issue either and thought the gears might just need to be worked in a little. If the issue persists he will look at it then. He claims that all vettes are a little stiff while they are still new (I have 850 miles on mine).

Steve

JPchevy

FYI, we had a '07 MT in here at the dealer with a similar complaint. We put in a new shifter and the problem went away.

tjl5709

I have a 08 and installed the MGW shifter. Still tight when cold, but a whole lot more fun when warm.

Stage IT

Alot of people have had problems with the new 08 tranny including me . mine started to clear up on its own after about 1600 miles. i took mine in to at 760mi and they said it was the norm i was like BS but it sorted itself out.

El Dorado

Exactly the same with mine, at first I thought I was not stepping on the cluth all the way, but now know it is in the tranny. Mine mostly does it going 1st -2nd and a little 2nd-3rd. Only 1100 miles and for now double clutching solves it till it warms up

Irv

This doesn't sound normal at all. I'd ask the dealer to have your regional GM rep take a look at it. (Dealers are notoriously poor at diagnosing manual transmission problems, but you may get lucky.) The T6060 is not a huge improvement over the T56, but the behavior you describe would be unacceptable for either transmission. Don't count out your clutch mechanism for causing this either.

rich_r31

I did a search on 6060 and it seems like MANY people are experiencing issues with the T6060. Something seems amiss here. I had 'er out again over the weekend and when shifting from 1-2 at 5500 RPM, I get a grind like I forgot to clutch. (This is after an hour of driving... car is warmed up just fine) Synchros aren't keeping up perhaps? The good news is, I can keep the car for 5 years before I have to dump it due to being out of warranty.

C6Tim

"Upgrade" to the A6 and you won't have that problem. I know it costs more than a manual, but it's worth the extra bucks to have the latest and best technology.

Sorry, could not stop myself... Every thread I read about automatics has at least 3 or 4 guys who chime in and thrash the A6, so I thought I would return the favor.

jschindler

All 08's seem to do this when the ambient temperature is low (seems like below about 50 degrees for me) and the first couple of miles of driving.

I was at my dealer the other day and they were not aware of any TSB's on it, but said they would check for me.

BTW, this is NOT a shifter problem, its a Tremec 6060 problem. I had two 2005's with the same shifter and had no issues. This problem never came up on the forum until the 08s came out, and I think everyone who has driven an 08 in cold weather says theirs does it.

3 Z06ZR1

I have 12k. I had the same thing. I switched to royal purple. Plus with the miles I have no issues. Only a good feel and it shifts good all the time.