gears grinding when cold
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Columbia SC
gears grinding when cold
Some may have read my post about my transmission sucking...well with the recent cold weather, I can not shift into any gear without there being resistance (I know it's not physically happening, but it feels like the gear that I'm changing to is spinning the opposite way of the gear that I'm changing from...) The problems begin to stop when I reach my destination (be it work or home) which is about 13 miles away...
Should I take the thing back in...I took it in once because I couldn't get it into first or out of first. They "adjusted the pressure plate" - Whatever I don't even know of an adjustment that could be made on the pressure plate...any comment will help; thanks
Should I take the thing back in...I took it in once because I couldn't get it into first or out of first. They "adjusted the pressure plate" - Whatever I don't even know of an adjustment that could be made on the pressure plate...any comment will help; thanks
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
There's no "adjustment" of the pressure plate. Nor is the clutch master rod adjustable. In fact, there's NOTHING to adjust on the hydraulic clutch system. The only thing they possibly could have done, was put a spacer BEHIND the slave to increase the throw (by moving the throwout closer to pressure plate - similar to the spacer included with SPEC clutches).
Sounds like they be blowing SMOKE up yer chute. I'd love to see the comments on the warranty service ticket for that "adjustment".
There was a TSB for 05 MN6's, that involved replacing the 1st gear syncho's, but since difficulty getting into 1st was documented in the owners manual - I guess that makes it a FEATURE, not an ISSUE...
Rick
Sounds like they be blowing SMOKE up yer chute. I'd love to see the comments on the warranty service ticket for that "adjustment".
There was a TSB for 05 MN6's, that involved replacing the 1st gear syncho's, but since difficulty getting into 1st was documented in the owners manual - I guess that makes it a FEATURE, not an ISSUE...
Rick
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Columbia SC
HAHAHA! I figured that...they had to mail me the service ticket because they "didn't have a code to declare the adjustment so they could get paid for the labor"...HA!
Yeah, I still can't get it into first gear. It happens at almost every red light. Them: "I see what you're talking about, but I don't see it as a problem". Me: "you pay the damn payment every month and tell me that 'it's not a problem'."
Yeah, It's a late '05 ( i think July '05 was the build date) - I guess I'll call tomorrow to make an appointment at another dealership. Thanks...Hopefully it'll go well.
Yeah, I still can't get it into first gear. It happens at almost every red light. Them: "I see what you're talking about, but I don't see it as a problem". Me: "you pay the damn payment every month and tell me that 'it's not a problem'."
Yeah, It's a late '05 ( i think July '05 was the build date) - I guess I'll call tomorrow to make an appointment at another dealership. Thanks...Hopefully it'll go well.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
Originally Posted by aaaaa
I had problems with my mn6. Now with the A4. I hate GM trannies.
Tremec trannies are used in more than just GM cars. Alot of the issue is the shift rod geometry with a rear mounted tranny. GTO's have the same tranny, and it shifts completely different - though a common problem alot of GTO guys have when "quick shifting" is going for the 3-4 shift and hitting 2nd by accident (with DISASTEROUS RESULTS - like 8500RPM over-revs).
I've commented before, out of all the manual trannies I've driven (american, german, ***), I'm totally dissapointed by the way the vette shifts...
Rick
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by SickRick
There's no "adjustment" of the pressure plate. Nor is the clutch master rod adjustable. In fact, there's NOTHING to adjust on the hydraulic clutch system. The only thing they possibly could have done, was put a spacer BEHIND the slave to increase the throw (by moving the throwout closer to pressure plate - similar to the spacer included with SPEC clutches).
...
Rick
...
Rick
Not that they might not be making stuff up, but if this was set wrong originally or got out of whack it could cause problems - like perhaps the clutch not disengaging fully.
Regarding it being hard to stuff into gear when cold, mine is a bit stiff too until it warms up. I wonder if the Royal Purple Synchromax would help with this.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 855
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by tylerz28ss
Some may have read my post about my transmission sucking...well with the recent cold weather, I can not shift into any gear without there being resistance (I know it's not physically happening, but it feels like the gear that I'm changing to is spinning the opposite way of the gear that I'm changing from...) The problems begin to stop when I reach my destination (be it work or home) which is about 13 miles away...
Should I take the thing back in...I took it in once because I couldn't get it into first or out of first. They "adjusted the pressure plate" - Whatever I don't even know of an adjustment that could be made on the pressure plate...any comment will help; thanks
Should I take the thing back in...I took it in once because I couldn't get it into first or out of first. They "adjusted the pressure plate" - Whatever I don't even know of an adjustment that could be made on the pressure plate...any comment will help; thanks
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,520
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
This is probably too simple, but did you try changing out your clutch fluid?
Not that mine was as balky as yours, but just by changing out the fluid, shifting and clutching is much easier and smoother. My clutch fluid looked like hell after 2 years of inattention.
Do a search for Ranger's procedure.
Basically sucking out most of the fluid with a turkey baster or syringe, replacing the fluid, hammering the clutch (car off) a bunch a times, then redo the whole process until the fluid stays clear.
Not that mine was as balky as yours, but just by changing out the fluid, shifting and clutching is much easier and smoother. My clutch fluid looked like hell after 2 years of inattention.
Do a search for Ranger's procedure.
Basically sucking out most of the fluid with a turkey baster or syringe, replacing the fluid, hammering the clutch (car off) a bunch a times, then redo the whole process until the fluid stays clear.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Originally Posted by tylerz28ss
Some may have read my post about my transmission sucking...well with the recent cold weather, I can not shift into any gear without there being resistance (I know it's not physically happening, but it feels like the gear that I'm changing to is spinning the opposite way of the gear that I'm changing from...) The problems begin to stop when I reach my destination (be it work or home) which is about 13 miles away...
The key, IMO, is the fact that the balky shifting goes away when the transmission warms up...if it were a clutch problem, I wouldn't expect it to get better as it warmed up. ALL C6 Corvette Tremec T-56 transmissions have varying degrees of balky shifting when the fluid is cold.
Last winter, even though I live in a warmer climate, I experienced shifter "drag" from first to second, and second to third, and, sometimes, minor gear noise on engagement. Some owners have gotten relief with mileage; others say no after 10K miles. Some have changed to synthetic ATF (Must meet GM's H Spec), and swear that the shifting is smoother.
I recognize it's the nature of the beast, and I plan to take no action until I believe it's abnormal. I'm waiting to see how it is this winter...it's supposed to be cold here, so it should get a good test.
Last edited by JmpnJckFlsh; Oct 26, 2006 at 01:03 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Tx
Can't get it into 1st, that's a problem. There is a bulletin for that, tell mr dealer to do the bulletin. That bulletin involves replacing some internal trans parts. There is another bulletin for a flywheel problem, ask the dealer if yours is affected by that.
Shifts are a little stiff and grindy when cold. Not really grinding, but you can feel the gears spin up and clash a bit going in. Normal, nature of the beast. All my MN6s have done that, put in some synthetic - that will help some. I used Amsoil with good results. Cold shifting, give the throttle a little blip before going into gear. This will match the gear rpms and shift smoother when cold.
Shifts are a little stiff and grindy when cold. Not really grinding, but you can feel the gears spin up and clash a bit going in. Normal, nature of the beast. All my MN6s have done that, put in some synthetic - that will help some. I used Amsoil with good results. Cold shifting, give the throttle a little blip before going into gear. This will match the gear rpms and shift smoother when cold.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,520
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by Michrider
Can't get it into 1st, that's a problem. There is a bulletin for that, tell mr dealer to do the bulletin. That bulletin involves replacing some internal trans parts. There is another bulletin for a flywheel problem, ask the dealer if yours is affected by that.
Shifts are a little stiff and grindy when cold. Not really grinding, but you can feel the gears spin up and clash a bit going in. Normal, nature of the beast. All my MN6s have done that, put in some synthetic - that will help some. I used Amsoil with good results. Cold shifting, give the throttle a little blip before going into gear. This will match the gear rpms and shift smoother when cold.
Shifts are a little stiff and grindy when cold. Not really grinding, but you can feel the gears spin up and clash a bit going in. Normal, nature of the beast. All my MN6s have done that, put in some synthetic - that will help some. I used Amsoil with good results. Cold shifting, give the throttle a little blip before going into gear. This will match the gear rpms and shift smoother when cold.
My first gear shifts when cold are easier and smoother now, as opposed to previous with 2 year old ugly fluid.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
In my 07 Z51 M6, I experienced rough shifting (feels like lazy synchros) when the trans fluid is cold. I haven't had a problem of getting it into any gear. All is OK when things were fully warm. There has also been a slight improvement after putting 3000 km on the machine.
Anyhow, I like things perfect so I wanted to try synthetic AFT & see if that would help. I tried Mobil 1 AFT and the shifts smoothed a bit when the fluid is cold. Again, all OK when things are fully warm.
Then a couple of days ago, I finally tried RP Synchromax and I can say the shifts are noticably smoother when cold. While still not perfect in my view, a lot better than where I started from.
Anyhow, I like things perfect so I wanted to try synthetic AFT & see if that would help. I tried Mobil 1 AFT and the shifts smoothed a bit when the fluid is cold. Again, all OK when things are fully warm.
Then a couple of days ago, I finally tried RP Synchromax and I can say the shifts are noticably smoother when cold. While still not perfect in my view, a lot better than where I started from.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Columbia SC
Thanks for the great responses...when I talk to the guy again, I will be sure to communicate the flywheel bulletin, and the first gear bulletin (I'm sure that they have no clue that they exist...or they may not even know what a bulletin is; I really wonder...). I suppose I could also suggest that they replace the clutch and tranny fluid, but I don't don't know if they cover that under warranty...and if they're like everyone else, they'll say they did it when they really didn't. I guess we'll see...
I hate to be cynical, but I trust that when I do get it back, it will be at best in the same condition in which I gave it to them. I am really losing all faith in the General. I spoke to the Corvette specialist at the dealership and he said "You just can't have performance and reliability man...you just can't have it both..." That kinda pissed me off...
I hate to be cynical, but I trust that when I do get it back, it will be at best in the same condition in which I gave it to them. I am really losing all faith in the General. I spoke to the Corvette specialist at the dealership and he said "You just can't have performance and reliability man...you just can't have it both..." That kinda pissed me off...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Smith River CA
The key, IMO, is the fact that the balky shifting goes away when the transmission warms up...if it were a clutch problem, I wouldn't expect it to get better as it warmed up. ALL C6 Corvette Tremec T-56 transmissions have varying degrees of balky shifting when the fluid is cold.
Last winter, even though I live in a warmer climate, I experienced shifter "drag" from first to second, and second to third, and, sometimes, minor gear noise on engagement. Some owners have gotten relief with mileage; others say no after 10K miles. Some have changed to synthetic ATF (Must meet GM's H Spec), and swear that the shifting is smoother.
I recognize it's the nature of the beast, and I plan to take no action until I believe it's abnormal. I'm waiting to see how it is this winter...it's supposed to be cold here, so it should get a good test.
Last winter, even though I live in a warmer climate, I experienced shifter "drag" from first to second, and second to third, and, sometimes, minor gear noise on engagement. Some owners have gotten relief with mileage; others say no after 10K miles. Some have changed to synthetic ATF (Must meet GM's H Spec), and swear that the shifting is smoother.
I recognize it's the nature of the beast, and I plan to take no action until I believe it's abnormal. I'm waiting to see how it is this winter...it's supposed to be cold here, so it should get a good test.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Mine's a little stiff in cold weather until it really warms up, which takes a while. GM started using a new fluid, Dexron VI, but I don't know whether all C6 MN6's are certified for this fluid. If you try it, please tell us how it works. I'm thinking about making the change.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
Mine's a little stiff in cold weather until it really warms up, which takes a while. GM started using a new fluid, Dexron VI, but I don't know whether all C6 MN6's are certified for this fluid. If you try it, please tell us how it works. I'm thinking about making the change.
__________________
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
I've been monitoring this thread for awhile to see how people are making out in the winter with their MN6s, especially new ones. My trans. is new and exhibits the stiffness like you and others have described here. It also gets appreciably better as it warms up. I'm interested in learning how other people are dealing with it. Getting better with age, or not. You mentioned that you would see how it performed in the winter so I thought I'd check in with you and see how you're faring in the cold weather.
Although it's been colder, my transmission seems noticeably better this year, but I now make my first few shifts very slowly. For example, I shift from first slowly to neutral, pause, then slowly into second. By shifting slowly, I'm experiencing just a muffled "click" or two as the second and third gears engage. After several miles are driven, the problem goes away completely.
Since this temporary inconvenience is minor and seems to be improving, I don't plan to change my transmission fluid.
Last edited by JmpnJckFlsh; Jan 21, 2007 at 11:52 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Smith River CA
Sorry, I missed your 1/19 post until today.
Although it's been colder, my transmission seems noticeably better this year, but I now make my first few shifts very slowly. For example, I shift from first slowly to neutral, pause, then slowly into second. By shifting slowly, I'm experiencing just a muffled "click" or two as the second and third gears engage. After several miles are driven, the problem goes away completely.
Since this temporary inconvenience is minor and seems to be improving, I don't plan to change my transmission fluid.
Although it's been colder, my transmission seems noticeably better this year, but I now make my first few shifts very slowly. For example, I shift from first slowly to neutral, pause, then slowly into second. By shifting slowly, I'm experiencing just a muffled "click" or two as the second and third gears engage. After several miles are driven, the problem goes away completely.
Since this temporary inconvenience is minor and seems to be improving, I don't plan to change my transmission fluid.
