Second gear grinding & remedy

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Mark down another person for the grind on the 1-2 shift. Seems to also only happen under spirited driving conditions. The gear oil fix sounds promising but getting the dealer to replace it to preserve the warranty is going to be interesting.
Still this car should be able to pull off shifts up to the rev limiter. The limiter is there to protect you from over revving the engine. If it wasn't meant to be revved that high the the limiter would be set down to a lower rpm.

I noted your grind experience with 1- 2 shift under spirited driving conditions. Are you planning on taking it to the dealer to have diagnosed and fixed? Please keep me posted on your vehicle.

Vanessa,
GM Customer Service

 

[SSpeckerwood]

Not to be rude, but the dealer has nothing to do with oil that is too light.

 

[TurboSonicLT]

^^^ Correct-o! Got my 2qts of Red-Line MT-90 yesterday from Amazon. Going to dealer today to see what they will do about my grinding gear.

 

[StrictlyCustom]

I've noticed the grind twice now and called my dealer and plan on taking it in Saturday to take the garage manager for a test ride. After the 2nd grind I don't do any 1st-2nd spirited driving but am sure I can duplicate it. I'll keep you posted, unless the solution has been found already?

 

[sonic#1]

I'm glad i'm not the only one that's grinding as i thought it was me... I've driven manuals for a long time and haven't had this issue. Its always when entering a highway or rapidly accelerating from a stop that it does it.

I've taken it to the dealer and they said they cant find anything wrong with it. Should i just get the MT oil changed to the Redline brand and risk voiding the warranty? its not a black and white answer if the oil is supposed to be sealed for life. If this is an issue with the oil itself, GM should be obliged to change at no cost to us.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

i did the oil change to MT-90 and it won't void your warranty one bit.

i've made multiple No Lift Shifts (NLS) from 1st to 2nd with my tuned sonic and never have had a grind after the fluid change.
in fact i did a NLS this morning leaving McDonalds with my medium Mocha-Frappe.

 

[sonic#1]

Nice! I think i will give it a try...

I'll talk to my dealer see if they can do the MT oil change for me if i supply it to them.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

they should, if not just buy 2 quarts. drain and refill. its pretty easy.

 

[Preloader]

+1

It is VERY easy to do. You'll need a 10mm Allen for the drain and an 8mm for the fill plug.

I will say that I've managed to grind a couple times since I did the Redline switch, but it was nowhere near as violent as the grind was with the stock gear oil.

Worth the $30 and 15-20 minutes.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

what RPM you shifting at??

 

[Preloader]

4500. Honestly, it's probably user error. I'm used to the instant clutch response of a mechanical clutch. I haven't seen the hydraulic master on the Sonic, but I'm thinking it's not mechanical. I just gotta get used to it I think.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

you don't wanna try to shift until that clutch is all the way down. i've learned that. typically i shift around 4700-4800rpm's with no problems and i do it fast enough that my traction control will still come on even though i've tapped the button and held it down. lol

 

[Preloader]

That fuse disappeared after the first day on mine.
I wonder if it has to do with throttle load during shifting?

 

[SSpeckerwood]

i think it has to do with the economy clutch

 

[Eric Smit]

The piss poor useless excuse for an economy clutch.


-Eric Smit

 

[StrictlyCustom]

I haven't read all 11 pages but....I HAD the issue and had the dealer research and found a service bulletin about the shifter cable, dropped it off for an hour and picked it up no more "grinding/ratcheting." I'm thinking the heavier fluid is just quieting the noise. I told the dealer of that remedy when I took it in last week and they inquired w/ GM and they DIDN'T approve of that solution.

 

[Eric Smit]

I haven't read all 11 pages but....I HAD the issue and had the dealer research and found a service bulletin about the shifter cable, dropped it off for an hour and picked it up no more "grinding/ratcheting." I'm thinking the heavier fluid is just quieting the noise. I told the dealer of that remedy when I took it in last week and they inquired w/ GM and they DIDN'T approve of that solution.

Could you find that service bulletin number please?


-Eric Smit

 

[Preloader]

Requesting bulletin number too please.

 

[SSpeckerwood]

I'd like to see this bulletin that no dealer I've talked to has heard of.


Also, when it would grind with me, it wouldn't go into 2nd gear.

Whoever told you it quiets the noise should be kicked in the nuts. unless it was a lady tech, and she should be kicked in the snapper.....

 

[Foxbox]

Just swapped my fluid out today, makes a world of difference. I'd suggest swapping in the redline fluid to everyone. I paid $26 for the two quarts and it literally takes 15 minutes to change out.