No neutral!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 148
Likes: 92
From: SW Florida
No neutral!!
The reason for this post is so no one is as surprised as I was if this should happen to you. Hopefully you all will never experience issues with your C8, but if you do save yourself the time and headache trying to put the car in neutral.
If your C8 shutdown even if you have power you will not be able to shift into neutral. I’m only talking about an event where the car will not start. This means wherever it shuts down that’s it! Call a flat bed and close your eyes when they’re loading and unloading it’s not pretty! Make sure the wrecker operator is experienced!! Thankfully the two times mine had to be loaded went ok with no damage. A safety switch in one of the compartments to put the car in neutral would be a great feature just saying. Good luck all!! I hope you never experience any issues! As for my dream car, it’s now in GM’s hands. 🙏🏼
forgot to add, I know about the special tool techs have that will allow them to put it in neutral. That does the owner no good since the rear compartment along with the breather has to be removed to access the tranny.
If your C8 shutdown even if you have power you will not be able to shift into neutral. I’m only talking about an event where the car will not start. This means wherever it shuts down that’s it! Call a flat bed and close your eyes when they’re loading and unloading it’s not pretty! Make sure the wrecker operator is experienced!! Thankfully the two times mine had to be loaded went ok with no damage. A safety switch in one of the compartments to put the car in neutral would be a great feature just saying. Good luck all!! I hope you never experience any issues! As for my dream car, it’s now in GM’s hands. 🙏🏼
forgot to add, I know about the special tool techs have that will allow them to put it in neutral. That does the owner no good since the rear compartment along with the breather has to be removed to access the tranny.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,876
Likes: 782
From: Stamford, CT
I went through this with my E60 M5 SMG trannny. It's the worst engineering decision I can think of. Imagine if your car is stuck in a not so accessible place like in a garage. I know the reason why there's no 'release' for the DCT but doesn't mean i have to like it 
.
On the M5 at least, if you selected N before powering off, it would stay in N. The Vette has a whole procedure to make it stay in N.
.On the M5 at least, if you selected N before powering off, it would stay in N. The Vette has a whole procedure to make it stay in N.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 148
Likes: 92
From: SW Florida
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 276
Likes: 40
From: Augusta GA
My 2014 Audi RS5 has a 7 speed DCT. All you have to do to get the car in neutral is, 1. Push the start button, foot not on the brake so it doesn't actually start. 2. Push the brake. 3. Move the shift lever to neutral.
I wish the C8 had the same functionality.
I wish the C8 had the same functionality.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 562
Likes: 290
From: Philly Suburbs PA
I have a few sets of wheel Dolly’s that I used to use when moving my cars around one of my warehouses and they did a great job of getting a car of mine in a similar situation no issues getting the car on the flat bed. There are a lot of high dealers around where I live and some of the flat bed drivers have these for this reason alone. There are not cheap (cheap ones are around $500 a set of 4) but I don’t think I would trust anyone without them. Unfortunately in your case OP they would have only helped if they had them on the truck. Might be something to ask if you end up in a situation like this.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 13,180
Likes: 10,521
There are ways around it. The E-Ray has an electric hydraulic pump to allow taking the transmission out of park when the engine isn't running. That's necessary for stealth mode operation, but could be implemented on the regular cars, too. It just costs more than GM (and other manufacturers) is willing to spend.