jrizzuto

I was going to add this to the existing threads but they are so HUGE I thought it was best to start a new one.

I had the typical A8 issues -
morning delays from reverse to drive
the first 1-2 or 2-1 shift BANGS in place
Harsh 2-1 shifts in stop-and-go traffic.

After much discussion, my dealership performed the stator replacement. Apparently the torque convertor is NOT the issue. They also said that early reports that said there was a defective o-ring in the TC is wrong since there isn't an o-ring at all
Anyway the drive back from the shop felt great. Downshifts felt positive - crisp, not sloppy. Cant wait to really try it out. The service manager was kind enough to send me pics of the job as they progressed, I'll post them ASAP. Warning- these photos will be disturbing to some and are graphic in nature. They sure scared the hell out of me.

Here is the parts list in case anyone needs to know
GM
124260071 gasket 1
11548404 bolt 2
11548201 bolt 11
24266366 seal 1
24272658 gasket 1
24259119 washer 1
24259427 washer 1
24271697 seal kit 1
24277234 support 1
24277964 cover 1
24259216 seal 1
24266709 seal 1
24266593 ring 2
19331925 fluid 12

JR

here are the pics...

Steve Garrett

Wow Jim....tough looking at some of those pictures. But I'm glad everything worked out.

95bat

You say surgery and in picture #5 it looks like there are bloody rags on the floor lol

I think I am going to take mine in for the same surgery next week Thank you for posting up that the car drives much better afterward!

SharkGrayStingray

wow, those pics are tough to look at. I hope i never have problems (built 12/15/2014)

jrizzuto

So this morning was the first test.
1- Backed out of the garage, went to "D" and no lag. Good so far.
2- Went to the corner stop sign maybe 50 feet) felt it go from 2-1...no bang.
3 -Normal driving: hard to describe, felt crisp and positive, quick 1-2 and 2-3 upshifts that feel a lot more pronounced than before...not wishy-washy or sloppy. Kinda feels like it surges into gear rather than just slipping in. I like it.
4 - Coasting 30-40 MPH and hit maybe 40% throttle, the downshifts are VERY responsive.

So far I like it. If it stays this way, I will be satisfied.

tones_Z

You're a very brave man! Good for you. I hope it works out for you after all that disassembly. I just don't have faith in most dealership "mechanics", not to say that they are not great ones out there. That's just me though.
Good luck and keep us posted!

jrizzuto

You're not alone in your thinking. I STILL can't believe I went through with it. However I have to say my dealership has some really good mechanics, and some real Corvette enthusiasts. Not sure if I'm allowed to mention names here but Keith Overturf (Service Manager) in Huffines Chevy in Plano is TOPS.

Lets just hope the GM prescribed fix works as expected.

pbergmann

That would kill me to see may car ripped apart like that... just think all the things that could get screwed up, good mechanics or not.

Still pisses me off that GM can't get something like a transmission right the first time...
Oh wait they've been building cars for 100+ years!!

Glad it worked out for you

ron landgraf

Was there any feedback from the dealer or GM as to the failure mode?

jrizzuto

No not really. But they were aware of the symptoms and the proposed fix. And they told me they have several more on line waiting for the same fix. Looks like they will be busy for some time.

\Boost Monkey/

Was this their first attempt? Or done before yours.

Man looking at those pics was rough... Hurts a little to know my C7 is in the same amount of pieces as I type this post.

jrizzuto

LOL yeah, it was very traumatic. I'll be driving into the office tomorrow so can't wait to give it a run. I think my car was their 1st. But again, the shop is really good.

I look at it this way. The car is under full warrantee. The shop did the prescribed service per GMs recommendation. If it didn't fix the root cause, and GM has no other bright ideas, then they will have to take the car back. I certainly would NOT entertain ripping it all apart a second time to do ...whatever.
Time will tell. Good luck to all of us.

HANNY

Of course the stator is in the torque convertor and a vital part for fluid coupling. In the old days you couldn't just swap out the stator you had to swap out the entire convertor.
An interesting thing that most people don't know about is there is nothing mechanical connecting the engine to the transmission, its actually fluid coupling which is kinda hard to grasp, the stator/turbine get spun up by the fins and the fluid spins them causing the car to move. Most kinda think there is something mechanical between the engine and transmission, but there isn't. Its fluid coupling. In school it took me a day to wrap my head around this idea, simple but hard to picture it in your mind.
I'm assuming the c7 convertor can be taken apart and the stator swapped out. looking at your pictures it looks like they took the trans pan off and possibly had the valve body apart to? not sure why they would do that unless the new stator requires some valve body parts to compensate for it as well.
Glad it worked and it may look scary but not to worry, its not as surgical as you would think. Now if they had the entire valve body, pump, clutches, solenoids etc apart I would be a little worried, but even then a good tech with a little training can handle it no problem. But I doubt they did unless the tech was just bored, LOL. hanny

jrizzuto

Take a look at the parts list I provided up top in my original post. You would probably understand what they did better than me. Let me know your thoughts on this.

Also, I do notice crisper downshifts but I also notice something else, its hard to describe. In gears 3-4-5, when coasting, I detect some significant "engine braking"...not as much as when you are in performance mode after nailing it, but it's there and wasn't before. I kinda like it (I think)

Edit: I removed this, it was in my imagination...(but I definitely notice a decrease in gas mileage. I used to get better than 30, now I see 27.) Gas mileage is just as it was before.

Thoughts?

Thanks
JR

seCen

Im getting the same operation on the car but the parts are supposedly on back order so it wont be for a few more weeks. The dealership also changed out the belt tensioner. Dont know if that was the caused for the rattling underneath the car but I like how stiff the shifter is now.

tones_Z

They're not the only ones though. So don't feel bad. Ram trucks have transmission issues. Jeep SRT, GMC trucks and Chevy Silverado trucks have some issues as well with their transmissions. (I was going to purchase a 2016 Jeep SRT, but after hearing about all the transmission issues on a 70K vehicle, I took a pass. Too bad, because I really wanted one. )

Z06 1of38

Was there a break in procedure you had to follow after you got it back?

Or is it right back to normal driving?

jrizzuto

Normal driving. No re-learn....nothing.

Richard Ames

Did they reprogram the transmission? I still have the cold lag park or reverse to drive "wham" when cold. RO states GM tech said normal with possible later update.. They did the reprogram but months before the stater update.

DRLC5

Good info. Is your ride a 2015 or 16? Glad it worked out for you.