Yet another A8 question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 643
Likes: 70
From: EAST TEXAS
Yet another A8 question
I know many are getting tired of A8 questions but I'll ask anyway.
My car is a 2016 with a build date of July 2015. The issue I am still having is the slipping/abrupt shift into 2nd gear the first time of each drive. It's as if a hydraulic clutch control valve bleeds down as the car sits for a while and the valve has to be reprimed or the air purged out of it at the first shift. After the first shift of each drive it works fine. By experimenting I have found that it is not temperature related. Nor do I think that this is associated with the torque converter/shudder issue. Does anyone know what is actually going on in the transmission hardware or controls that causes this and does it ever clear up? My dealer service man says just to be patient and keep putting miles on it, but I am about to believe this is something that is not going to clear up on it's on. Any more knowledge out there?
My car is a 2016 with a build date of July 2015. The issue I am still having is the slipping/abrupt shift into 2nd gear the first time of each drive. It's as if a hydraulic clutch control valve bleeds down as the car sits for a while and the valve has to be reprimed or the air purged out of it at the first shift. After the first shift of each drive it works fine. By experimenting I have found that it is not temperature related. Nor do I think that this is associated with the torque converter/shudder issue. Does anyone know what is actually going on in the transmission hardware or controls that causes this and does it ever clear up? My dealer service man says just to be patient and keep putting miles on it, but I am about to believe this is something that is not going to clear up on it's on. Any more knowledge out there?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 29
From: McKinney TX
I have the exact same behavior your describing with my 2016 z51 mfg july 2015. Vin is 1G1YM3D79G5103388
3980 miles
3980 miles
Last edited by SpeedUp; Dec 9, 2016 at 07:29 AM. Reason: vin/mileage
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,495
Likes: 1,263
From: Jacksonville FL
Not a TC problem, maybe your tranny is learning your driving habits. I would drive it like I stole it for a while and see what happens. It will either get better or worse. When I first got my car (A8) it would hold in first when cold and dump into 2nd. After several months it corrected itself and continues to shift fine and I now have 23K on the car.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 694
From: Lagrange KY
I've noticed that on mine a few times, but only on the first shift of the day when the engine is cold and if I crawl away after slipping it into gear. If I allow the car to warm up for about a minute, then accelerate at a normal rate, it never happens. And its always with just that first shift. It's not terribly abrupt, just noticeable, and I don't really consider it a problem.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 195
Likes: 75
From: san diego ca
I suspect it is normal, my build date December 2015, 7800 miles does the same thing but only on the first shift into second gear after that it shifts normally. The first startup after sitting overnight it knocks when shifting from park to reverse but If I let it run for maybe a minute it will shift into reverse without the knock. Other than those two items, it works great.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
I know many are getting tired of A8 questions but I'll ask anyway.
My car is a 2016 with a build date of July 2015. The issue I am still having is the slipping/abrupt shift into 2nd gear the first time of each drive. It's as if a hydraulic clutch control valve bleeds down as the car sits for a while and the valve has to be reprimed or the air purged out of it at the first shift. After the first shift of each drive it works fine. By experimenting I have found that it is not temperature related. Nor do I think that this is associated with the torque converter/shudder issue. Does anyone know what is actually going on in the transmission hardware or controls that causes this and does it ever clear up? My dealer service man says just to be patient and keep putting miles on it, but I am about to believe this is something that is not going to clear up on it's on. Any more knowledge out there?
My car is a 2016 with a build date of July 2015. The issue I am still having is the slipping/abrupt shift into 2nd gear the first time of each drive. It's as if a hydraulic clutch control valve bleeds down as the car sits for a while and the valve has to be reprimed or the air purged out of it at the first shift. After the first shift of each drive it works fine. By experimenting I have found that it is not temperature related. Nor do I think that this is associated with the torque converter/shudder issue. Does anyone know what is actually going on in the transmission hardware or controls that causes this and does it ever clear up? My dealer service man says just to be patient and keep putting miles on it, but I am about to believe this is something that is not going to clear up on it's on. Any more knowledge out there?
Last edited by corvette-22; Dec 9, 2016 at 10:13 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,488
Likes: 1,028
From: MN
Greetings from Minnesota. Just my thoughts on this. I had the hard shift on 1-2 for a while, then I "trained" it out. Here is my history:
1. Purchased the car and had no problem with the 1-2.
2. Read about hard 1-2 shifts, so decided I should drive very conservatively for a while before the first 1-2 shift. This made it WAY worse.
3. Reverted to simply driving off normally. For me, with normal acceleration (nothing fast) I shift 1-2 at about 100 feet out of the drive. 1-2 went back to normal.
So unless you also have other symptoms like RPM fluctuation, delayed engagement, etc. you might not have a mechanical problem.
[PS: I have never had a manual transmission that shifted the same cold and warm either.]
[PSS: Hate winter in MN]
1. Purchased the car and had no problem with the 1-2.
2. Read about hard 1-2 shifts, so decided I should drive very conservatively for a while before the first 1-2 shift. This made it WAY worse.
3. Reverted to simply driving off normally. For me, with normal acceleration (nothing fast) I shift 1-2 at about 100 feet out of the drive. 1-2 went back to normal.
So unless you also have other symptoms like RPM fluctuation, delayed engagement, etc. you might not have a mechanical problem.
[PS: I have never had a manual transmission that shifted the same cold and warm either.]
[PSS: Hate winter in MN]
Last edited by JonMN; Dec 9, 2016 at 12:12 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
I suspect it is normal, my build date December 2015, 7800 miles does the same thing but only on the first shift into second gear after that it shifts normally. The first startup after sitting overnight it knocks when shifting from park to reverse but If I let it run for maybe a minute it will shift into reverse without the knock. Other than those two items, it works great.
I'm not sharing this to make folks with the problem angry. I just wanted to indicate it is not normal so you can proceed accordingly.
Last edited by joemessman; Dec 9, 2016 at 12:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,800
Likes: 2,653
From: Down south in Dixie
Let me share my experience with my build of Oct 2015. I have never had any of the described issues with mine. I can start it up and immediately shift in reverse and smooth as silk. That rough business between first and second and vice versa, never had it. And I might add, I just drive the Bajezus out of this rig.
I'm not sharing this to make folks with the problem angry. I just wanted to indicate it is not normal so you can proceed accordingly.
I'm not sharing this to make folks with the problem angry. I just wanted to indicate it is not normal so you can proceed accordingly.
Ummmm, maybe it's yours that's not normal Joe.
BTW OP, my 03/16 build has been fine as an GM A8 goes. But, that's not to say it doesn't have it's quirks.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 313
From: Tarpon Springs FL
FL Events Coordinator
I only have the slipping part.....mine also is a july 2015 build on a 2016 Z51. There is a TSB on our problem. They need to remove the Tranny...open it up and replace the SINGLE check valve with a DOUBLE. After going to Stingray Chevy and seeing all the trannies on the floor with parts all over I decided to wait and maybe do something before my warranty is up. In the meantime, after I start the car I shift from Park to reverse then to drive and back to reverse and it moves just fine out of my garage. Also.....it doesn't do it all the time. I have no other problems with the transmission other than that. Also, It only happens after it sits over night.....I have 7000 miles on it now.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 313
From: Tarpon Springs FL
FL Events Coordinator
That can hardly be the case with me.....On the way home from the Museum I had it up to 170+ a few times .... have had it to the strip a few times....and when I'm at a light....I am ALWAYS looking. NOPE, I drive it like it was meant to be driven for sure. Like I said in my post...the only problem I have is after it sits over night.....it doesn't move until the fluid pressure builds up. I'm guessing "fluid Build up" because I go back and forth from D to R and it is fine or let it idle for 30 seconds. And, it doesn't do it all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
My 2016 is a late June 2015 build and I had the hard 1-2 shift along with some other issues. I had my TC and stator support replaced and I still have the rough 1-2 shift when the car is cold. It goes away once it is warmed up. I don't know for sure that my car has the double check valve or not. Perhaps this was done at the same time as the TC. If this is your only problem with your tranny, I would live with it but you may well develop other issues and end up needing a new TC. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
First, I disagree with those who suggest that you need to "stop driving like a wimp" and "drive like you stole it." We're talking about the first shift out of the driveway when cold and at that time the car should be driven moderately, even lightly, until normal operating temperature is attained--or at least until the tach shows its full range. (JMHO)
Second, my 12/18/14 build has always had the same issue. While researching that and other A8 issues for that past 18 months I think most complaints on the first cold shift is that it is too hard, not too soft. My driveway is long and I always get into 2nd gear before I hit the street. That shift is always sloppy though not what I would call a "flare." About a year ago I did a TCM software update (#14876) with "fast-learn" procedure and the sloppy 1>2 cold upshift improved somewhat. Today I don't even notice it, and if you haven't done that I would go ahead with it if your car qualifies--i.e., it doesn't already have that or a more current software version installed.
Second, my 12/18/14 build has always had the same issue. While researching that and other A8 issues for that past 18 months I think most complaints on the first cold shift is that it is too hard, not too soft. My driveway is long and I always get into 2nd gear before I hit the street. That shift is always sloppy though not what I would call a "flare." About a year ago I did a TCM software update (#14876) with "fast-learn" procedure and the sloppy 1>2 cold upshift improved somewhat. Today I don't even notice it, and if you haven't done that I would go ahead with it if your car qualifies--i.e., it doesn't already have that or a more current software version installed.
Last edited by iclick; Dec 9, 2016 at 05:51 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
It will apply to yours too. Take my word for it. Don't put up with it. Make them fix it. Depending on where you take it, it probably won't be a battle to get it fixed. I had a discussion with a certain service manager I know personally and he indicated to me that the TSB #16-NA-014 will roll up to yours too.
Last edited by joemessman; Dec 10, 2016 at 08:16 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
It will apply to yours too. Take my word for it. Don't put up with it. Make them fix it. Depending on where you take it, it probably won't be a battle to get it fixed. I had a discussion with a certain service manager I know personally and he indicated to me that the TSB #16-NA-014 will roll up to yours too.