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I received my Z51 C8 in July of 2021. It currently has 4,050 miles and have driven my new transmission for over 1,500 miles. Doing great so far. My trans was one of the ones with a porous housing.
I got the P1961 code tonight with 444 miles on my 2022. So far it's shifting ok. My friend just picked up his 2022 and just had his transmission replaced with 6 miles. 2 more transmissions died on the C8 group on Facebook this week alone.
In my town I know of at least 2 others that had transmissions replaced.
Could the problem be getting worse?
For what it's worth, my non-Z51 was delivered in August of 2021. I drove the car to Florida in a heavy rain storm in early November from New Jersey. Anyway, after about 4,000 miles on the odometer, the check engine light came on and the transmission felt like it downshifted on its own. I brought the car to a Florida dealer and it followed the first step of the transmission TSB (Clean the solenoid 3 times and do a quick reset, copy attached). That worked until I was halfway through my drive back to NJ in late March. I brought the car to my dealer in NJ and they replaced the valve body but had to wait for two weeks for the factory to send them the program (This is the second step in the TSB if the first one doesn't work). I'm at about 6,400 miles now and everything seems fine. I love this car and am happy with how GM/dealers have handled the repair.
It seems that the cars which have the serious problems are acknowledged early in ownership, like in the first 500-1,000 miles. Just my observation.
For what it's worth, my non-Z51 was delivered in August of 2021. I drove the car to Florida in a heavy rain storm in early November from New Jersey. Anyway, after about 4,000 miles on the odometer, the check engine light came on and the transmission felt like it downshifted on its own. I brought the car to a Florida dealer and it followed the first step of the transmission TSB (Clean the solenoid 3 times and do a quick reset, copy attached). That worked until I was halfway through my drive back to NJ in late March. I brought the car to my dealer in NJ and they replaced the valve body but had to wait for two weeks for the factory to send them the program (This is the second step in the TSB if the first one doesn't work). I'm at about 6,400 miles now and everything seems fine. I love this car and am happy with how GM/dealers have handled the repair.
It seems that the cars which have the serious problems are acknowledged early in ownership, like in the first 500-1,000 miles. Just my observation.
FWIW, IMO your experience supports my having my DCT Filter changed when I had my engine oil change when in 12 months as the OLM was down to 5% life left with <4000 miles. The DCT filter change (which I had late August 2021) included a DCT flush. That is part of the filter change procedure. I won't have 7500 miles buy this late August when the DCT filter is supposed. to be changed.
I watched the Tech perform the flush. Took about 10 minutes with his PC connected to my car via the OBD port and GM's service computer via WiFi. The GM program conducted the Flush. We watched. His screen showed what was being done as valves etc cycled with the engine running. The procedure said it was to dislodge and debris which it directed to the filter BEFORE it was removed. Appears to me the initial wear of the multiplate clutch plates, metallic parts from gears, shift forks, synchro cones etc wearing in can cause blocking of valves and passages.
Does anyone notice in 2nd gear in traffic, the tranny is sort of jerky? I only have 1000 miles on it, but did notice it sitting in traffic. Not crazy bad, but never had that with PDK?
Does anyone notice in 2nd gear in traffic, the tranny is sort of jerky? I only have 1000 miles on it, but did notice it sitting in traffic. Not crazy bad, but never had that with PDK?
Have not noticed that, so far pretty smooth sailing except for the check engine light with a tranny code last night.
Does anyone notice in 2nd gear in traffic, the tranny is sort of jerky? I only have 1000 miles on it, but did notice it sitting in traffic. Not crazy bad, but never had that with PDK?
It gets smoother with time. The first gear clutch felt that way for ~500 miles but it gets mating wear for the multiple clutches slipping slightly when stopped. The 2nd gear clutch only get use going into 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th so probably takes a bit longer. At 5500 miles mine are perfectly smooth and have been so for probably since ~1000 miles.
Larger diameter out clutch disks get to wear in faster slipping slightly when stopped.
Does anyone notice in 2nd gear in traffic, the tranny is sort of jerky? I only have 1000 miles on it, but did notice it sitting in traffic. Not crazy bad, but never had that with PDK?
I actually had something like this happen. I was coming back from a trip from NC to FL last week and I had to stop for gas at a BP station.
The next day my vehicle had a "shudder" in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. It felt really jerky, like the vehicle was surging. It went away as the vehicle was driven / warmed up. No codes on the OBD2, but my misfires #'s are up.
My guess is that I got shitty gas from that highway station. I am considering dumping some octane booster in the tank, maybe they sold me premium gas but were pumping 87?
That brings up the question, does anyone know if there is a recommended octane booster / fuel treatment to use?
Lucas, VP, STP, K100, 104+, RoyalPurple, Boostane, Techron, Rislone, RaceGas, Klotz, ????
Last edited by dohabandit; Apr 24, 2022 at 11:13 AM.
I actually had something like this happen. I was coming back from a trip from NC to FL last week and I had to stop for gas at a BP station.
The next day my vehicle had a "shudder" in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. It felt really jerky, like the vehicle was surging. It went away as the vehicle was driven / warmed up. No codes on the OBD2, but my misfires #'s are up.
My guess is that I got shitty gas from that highway station. I am considering dumping some octane booster in the tank, maybe they sold me premium gas but were pumping 87?
That brings up the question, does anyone know if there is a recommended octane booster / fuel treatment to use?
Lucas, VP, STP, K100, 104+, RoyalPurple, Boostane, Techron, Rislone, RaceGas, Klotz, ????
Most have MMT (don't know if there any that don't have MMT). The owner's manual has a specific warnings using fuels with metal additives.
The best course of action is probably to top off with the highest octane you can find.
I actually had something like this happen. I was coming back from a trip from NC to FL last week and I had to stop for gas at a BP station.
The next day my vehicle had a "shudder" in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. It felt really jerky, like the vehicle was surging. It went away as the vehicle was driven / warmed up. No codes on the OBD2, but my misfires #'s are up.
My guess is that I got shitty gas from that highway station. I am considering dumping some octane booster in the tank, maybe they sold me premium gas but were pumping 87?
That brings up the question, does anyone know if there is a recommended octane booster / fuel treatment to use?
Lucas, VP, STP, K100, 104+, RoyalPurple, Boostane, Techron, Rislone, RaceGas, Klotz, ????
Recall having that happen with my truck with a Hypertech programmer that pushed the timing and needed a lower temp thermostat. However was convinced that station my have not sold a lot of hi test. I only fill the Vette where they get lots of customers using hi test.
Before using an additive find a hot rod shop or drag racer as they will usually sell you race gas that is 100+ octane. Can go to a small airport that is for private plains etc and get similar!
There are some 50,000 or more C8s on the road. If these issues were truly commonplace this forum would almost no posts other than failed DCTs. Are there more issues than GM and Tremec would like? Sure. Is it really a common problem. Not likely. Even if 10% failed that would be 5,000 to 6,000 people with bad DCTs, and there's just no evidence to support that number.
My DCT has been completely smooth from the day we drove it off the lot on 3/22/22 with 3 miles on the odometer through the current just over 1K miles today. Not a single odd jolt, nothing. It seems that the "learning" or "break-in" experiences some describe on these threads do not apply to all.
@Mobil 1 - I'm in that same FB group and I'm about to get off that page because there are so many non-C8 owners on it and the few people who do post that own them post a lot of inaccurate information.
Originally Posted by DSOMrulz
There are some 50,000 or more C8s on the road. If these issues were truly commonplace this forum would almost no posts other than failed DCTs. Are there more issues than GM and Tremec would like? Sure. Is it really a common problem. Not likely. Even if 10% failed that would be 5,000 to 6,000 people with bad DCTs, and there's just no evidence to support that number.
I initially said I see 3 a week, I think I have to update that to 4 a week. :-(
Originally Posted by Mobil 1
I got the P1961 code tonight with 444 miles on my 2022. So far it's shifting ok. My friend just picked up his 2022 and just had his transmission replaced with 6 miles. 2 more transmissions died on the C8 group on Facebook this week alone.
In my town I know of at least 2 others that had transmissions replaced.
Could the problem be getting worse?
I initially said I see 3 a week, I think I have to update that to 4 a week. :-(
At the current build rate in Bowling Green that would mean that 99.54% of the DCTs that go out the door don't fail. This is why I am not worried about my DCT. I use it all the time and am having a blast driving my C8.
At the current build rate in Bowling Green that would mean that 99.54% of the DCTs that go out the door don't fail. This is why I am not worried about my DCT. I use it all the time and am having a blast driving my C8.
As well you should, I was concerned but really enjoying the car and being really good during it's break in since it only had 470 miles on it. Then my check engine light came on a couple nights ago with a transmission code of P1961.
The light went out and it is shifting normally but now I am fearing I might be in that 1%.
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