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As far as the gear searching at 45, or any other speed for the matter, that is a product of programming. Contrary to what they will tell you, the transmission doesn't 'learn' anything. That irritates the fire out of me. The transmission selects outcomes from a preprogrammed set of input data......your driving style hasn't got squat to do with junk driving characteristics of the transmission.
The transmissions can't be fixed. It can be 'helped' a bit with programming. The only thing that will fix this transmission is an internal re-design of the hard parts.
And fyi, the 6 speed does not get any better gas mileage than the 4 speed. If anything, it's worse.
www.rangetechnology.com
The AFM is part of the reason for the jerks. Get the one that will keep it in V8 mode.
It will make your truck more pleasant to drive.
They do shift a bit hard when new and they do 'learn' driving style, but are biased for fuel economy. If you suddenly change the way you are driving... the transmission will be confused and shifting may be erratic. To force the computer to relearn your style, disconnect the battery for at least 30 minutes. It took at least 20K miles for the shift quality to smooth out on my 2010/5.3L. My only complaint with the transmission is with the way manual mode works. I think GM needs to re-think the way they do manual mode and let the driver force the transmission to start in 2nd or 3rd for snowy conditions. But that is a minor annoyance. Overall, I am quite happy with my 2010 Silverado and would buy it again.
A little "googling" turns up few complaints with the reliability and durability of the 6L80e/90e transmissions, in fact, most, who are knowledgeable about transmissions, think they are excellent.
As long as the transmission and computer in your 2011 Sierra are stock and unmodified, I am sure that GM will take care of you.
The range technology product turns off the AFM and all reports states it takes the clunkiness out of the powertrain.
Let's face it-the torque mgmt, the AFM, and the poorly designed 6 speed transmission takes a lot of pleasure OUT of owning this vehicle.
I know, I own one.
Thanks for enlightening me about the Range Technology product. I thought it was a tuner, but I see now that it just fools the computer and locks out AFM via the OBD port. I can do the same thing by putting the transmission in M5.
I must not be as demanding as you are... I like driving my Silverado.
I am sure you are aware that "certification" means paying a fee to GM to become certified and then a Royalty for each quart sold. In addition to the standard tests.
I am not an engineer, but I would venture to say the Amsoil meets or exceeds GMs requirement as the product is already formulated. If you browse other forums online-many Silverado owners are reporting good results and improved powertrain smoothness with the two products I mentioned above.
I blew a line at night last summer and smoked the 3rd gear clutches. Transmission was rebuilt and new filter and oil switched out. Electrical?
I also hit a deer a few months ago and had to replace front differential. Don't know if this had anything to do with it.
If you're considering a new 2013 GMC Sierra or 2013 Chevrolet Silverado make sure you take it on a long test drive at 45 mph on level ground. Turn the Driver Display to Instant Economy. Ask the salesman if the Active Fuel Management AFM is seamless from four cylinders to eight. Sure GM says its seamless from eight to four. You're essentially coasting. During the test drive, determine if the transmission is growling as the AFM activates all eight cylinders. Make sure you grill the salesman with questions such as "has General Motors received overwhelming complaints about this transmission"? "Have they received complaints about clunking"? "Are there General Motors maintenance directives referencing all of the complaints"? "Do the directives instruct the dealer to avoid the issue and tell the owner "it's operating as designed"?
DRIVE IT EXTENSIVELY THEN ASK IF THE GENERAL MOTORS SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION WITH AFM IS AN ACKWARD MESS. MANY ARE.
In their latest seasonal publication, GMC The Magazine, on page 5, they state the "engines seamlessly switch to four cylinders." Hey GMC Magazine, why not describe the opposite, the switch back up to eight cylinders? Oh, that's right, I'm sure omission of that little tidbit was an oversight! The switch up to eight IS FAR FROM SEAMLESS. It's actually incredibly annoying and no, you never get used to it. A friend put dual pipes and glass packs on his. That makes the growling and lagging even more noticeable.
New General Motors GMC Chevrolet Truck buyer beware and drive these trucks extensively before purchase of these new GMC Chevrolet trucks.
Just trying to clarify.
The problems you describe are isolated to some trucks between model year 2009 and 2012.
Not all clunk. However, I am not sure if all trucks have sloppy transmissions, or some owners standards for quality are not the same. In my truck (2011) the transmission is "sloppy" and the AFM isn't a smooth transition either. Five different dealers have stated "You have the latest software".
Your post was a "copy and paste" from a poster who used to post called "string" who should have never purchsed his truck in the first place. FYI-he got rid of the truck and went to a Honda Accord "Crosstour". Think about it.....
Some would disagree with your opinion, some feel it's cheaper to replace a part in a vehicle than to buy a new one. This would hold true to a certain point.
I have 1999 chevy silverado 1500.
It drove fine, now it slips out of gear wont gointo any gear, Ill pull over sit 5 minutes start again its fine a short distance then slips out of gear again. Please help!