Transmission Question

[concorso]

The short answer is yes, it CAN void your warranty. Any mod can void warranty if the dealership thinks it does. Youd have to fight them to prove otherwise. Ive heard a service manager say that anything after the cat is ok with warranty. Ive heard another guy say the same thing but add that anything before the MAF is fine as well. And then there are places like Lindsay that will install the mods themselves. The rules are fairly clear, but most dealerships will let you do light mods, as long as it doesn't mess with emissions, etc.

I always make friends with the gm or service manager or warranty rep or all of them...bring them in some Starbucks and discuss light mods with them. If fact I do this with every purchase anyhow, it never hurts to have them on your side when it comes time to warranty questionable repairs...

[Z71]

While not speaking of a CAI specifically (its hints to it), read this.

Info - Automatic Transmission Shift, Engine Driveability Concerns or Service Engine Soon (SES) Light On as a Result of the Use of an Excessively/Over-Oiled Aftermarket, Reusable Air Filter #04-07-30-013A - (Jan 25, 2005)

2005 and Prior GM Cars and Light Duty Trucks

2005 and Prior Saturn Models

2003-2005 HUMMER H2

This bulletin is being revised to add additional model years and to clarify warranty coverage. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-07-30-013 (Section 07 -- Transmission/Transaxle).

DO THIS:

First, Inspect the vehicle for a reusable aftermarket excessively over- oiled air filter.

DON'T DO THIS:

DO NOT repair MAF sensors under warranty if concerns result from the use of an excessively/over-oiled aftermarket, reusable air filter.

The use of an excessively/over-oiled aftermarket, reusable air filter may result in:

• Service Engine Soon (SES) Light On
• Transmission shift concerns, slipping and damaged clutch(es) or band(s)
• Engine driveability concerns, poor acceleration from a stop, limited engine RPM range

The oil that is used on these air filter elements may be transferred onto the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor causing contamination of the sensor. As a result, the Grams per Second (GPS) signal from the MAF may be low and any or all of the concerns listed above may occur.

When servicing a vehicle with any of these concerns, be sure to check for the presence of an aftermarket reusable, excessively/over-oiled air filter. The MAF, GPS reading should be compared to a like vehicle with an OEM air box and filter under the same driving conditions to verify the concern.

The use of an aftermarket reusable air filter DOES NOT void the vehicle's warranty.

If an aftermarket reusable air filter is used, technicians should inspect the MAF sensor element and the air induction hose for contamination of oil prior to making warranty repairs.

Transmission or engine driveability concerns (related to the MAF sensor being contaminated with oil) that are the result of the use of an aftermarket reusable, excessively/over-oiled air filter are not considered to be warrantable repair items.

[bigdawgfoxx]

So, if the dealer bitched that it voided the warranty, we could give him this number (#04-07-30-013A) and he could look up where it says it DOES NOT void the warranty. I would figure GM would want to do whatever it could to void the warranty though...

[JimmyH]

I had tach needle wavering, and some shudder on the 4-5 shift. They reflashed the ECU for the first, and replaced the torque converter for the second. After that all has been well.

What I want to know is this: when you are coasting down from say 30-40 miles per hour, does your transmission downshift along the way? Or does it wait until you come to a complete stop and drop back to first? I dont have alot of experience with auto trans cars, but the ones I have driven have never downshifted as the car slows. Also, my trans WILL NOT shift into fifth until I reach 40. Is this normal?

The only reason I question this; I have spent time comparing normal Drive to sport shift (without manually shifting). I have found absolutely NO difference between the two. I keep wondering if my trans is stuck in sport mode even when in normal drive.

[Spyke]

Originally Posted by JimmyH

What I want to know is this: when you are coasting down from say 30-40 miles per hour, does your transmission downshift along the way? Or does it wait until you come to a complete stop and drop back to first? I dont have alot of experience with auto trans cars, but the ones I have driven have never downshifted as the car slows. Also, my trans WILL NOT shift into fifth until I reach 40. Is this normal?

If I drive normally, at around 38 mph, the overdrive kicks in. then, if you let go the gas, the transmission will downshift in 5th or 4th at just below 25 mph. Sometimes I try to calculate how many gear shifts. sometimes, the 4th doesn't shift and it goes directly from 3rd to 5th gear at 25-28 mph if I accelerate very smoothly and reaching 38 mph, the overdrive kicks in.

By the way, how come I count 4 shifts (5 gears) when my car is in the 4th position? when in 3rd position, it doesnt go higher than the 3rd gear, thats normal but for the 4th position, I wanna know.

Can someone explain me how an automatic transmission works in the cts? what does the torque converter do exactly? I'm very curious tks!

[bigdawgfoxx]

JimmyH, My tach needle moves around kinda weird like you're describing. If I'm cruising at 40 or so and slowing down, sometimes the RPMs go from 1500 to 1000 and then back up...

[Spyke]

BigDawgfoxx, try this: if at 40-45 mph your rpms drop from 1500 to 1000 then back up, try going down a hill at the same speed where your car (engine and transmission) can barely hold your current speed and watch your rpm dropping, jumping back up, going back to 1000, 1500, 1000, 1500 etc.

[bigdawgfoxx]

Yeah spyke...thats what mine does..but not every time

[Spyke]

little update with the problem.. yesterday night, I was driving.. it was cold outside so I put the a/c off. Weird.. the transmission doesn't do the up and down thing anymore. I tested it enough without the a/c than when putting back on the a/c, the problem was back. So I could almost say that the transmission is doing fine but maybe a software update or calibration of the transmission with the a/c. I'll make an appointment with another dealer monday.

[Z71]

When dealers or their people throw out the 'Void Warranty" words its a scare tactic to intimidate you.