I have a '09 G8 V6. I never had a 5 speed trans before so I don't know if this is normal. When I gradually accelerate from a dead stop 1st seems to 'slip' or hesitate; it's also a very quick shift to 2nd. It doesn't feel like a smooth transition to 2nd. Once it gets to 2nd the car takes off. If I'm aggressive on acceleartion it seems to be 'normal' to me. Me last car was an '02 Monte Carlo SS, shifts were smooth and uneventful.

Also - I hate to ask these 2 questions but:

What do you mean by a 'tune' and what is 'wot' ?

Thanks for all the info from the past threads.

it might be normal for v6 we all have the same compains about the 6 speen on the v8
I know exactely what you mean I had a GP before this one and the shifts were much smouther then this one. Tune is reprograming your transmissin with laptop or handheld programmer

wide open throtle

I'm pretty sure that 1st to 2nd shift is how all the 5-speed v6's are. Mine does it. I'm pretty sure there is no tune for the v6, I've heard a Cold Air Intake helps on the hesitation but I'm not confident. Other than that I'd say it's operating normally.

Tyhanks for all the replys. Wanted to make sure my new G8 didn't have a problem.

I have a '09 G8 V6. I never had a 5 speed trans before so I don't know if this is normal. When I gradually accelerate from a dead stop 1st seems to 'slip' or hesitate; it's also a very quick shift to 2nd. It doesn't feel like a smooth transition to 2nd. Once it gets to 2nd the car takes off. If I'm aggressive on acceleartion it seems to be 'normal' to me. Me last car was an '02 Monte Carlo SS, shifts were smooth and uneventful.

Also - I hate to ask these 2 questions but:

What do you mean by a 'tune' and what is 'wot' ?

Thanks for all the info from the past threads.

That's actually a really good question.I have the same car '09.I've noticed this for quite some time now but never bothered to bring it up, assuming it was normal.You almost have to shift it yourself from 1st to 2nd with your foot,if you don't the shift feels really sloppy.You either have to take off real slow and easy or hit the throttle hard,if you do it in between it feels like it's skipping.It's weird,but normal.Great question!

A tune is re-programming the ECU(computer)thru the Diagnostic connector under the drivers side dash.Makes the car respond quicker,more horsepower.
WOT means wide open throttle,pushing the gas pedal to the floor.:driving:

Not to scare anyone here. But somehow how I blew my tranny out in the V6. Took it to the stealership about two weeks prior to it going out and said it's going out, something is wrong with it. Their response... it's ok, we checked it, couldn't find a thing wrong with ok. Two weeks later... planetary gear in it seized, couldn't tear it down. Took it out and replaced the whole unit. My car has no hesitation at all. Gears change flawlessly for the most part. Then again I do have a Cold Air Intake, which is ten times better than the stock intake. I wonder how the car could breathe, when I took that mess off. Woke her up though. I drive it pretty spirited most of the time and no issuses since the tranny was replaced. It does has a harsh downshift at times. When I punch it a bit and then release real quickly. But that is only on ocassion and very rare. If it gets progressively worse, give the ole stealership a shot at it. Hope this helps..

5 year powertrain warranty,have time.Oh and ahh...thanks for the scare,JK.

I'll get them to check it out on mine one of these days.Thanks for the heads up.

I always felt that slippage was torque management. If you shift manually from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd at too low an rpm you'll feel some slippage. I never feel it in 1st though.

-Dennis-

Every time I see "Tranny questions" I expect to see a big picture of Rupaul when I open the thread. :gr_jest:

I have an '08 and I've always wondered about this. If I take off from a stop a little more aggressively than normal then the hesitation feeling goes away. Every now and then I can feel it drop gears rather roughly when coming to a stop. None of my passengers ever notice the down shift though.
Kinda glad I'm not alone...unless we're all in for a bad surprise down the road.

This doesn't sound like a normal behavior to me- I have two 5L40E's, one in the G8 and one in the Sol, and I have never felt slippage in first gear in either, or a sloppy 1-2 shift.

A 1-2 shift takes place at about 10 mph in normal driving.

The electronic torque convertor clutch control in the 5L40E can "cube" or slip, but AFAIK, this is limited to third, fourth, and fifth gears. If you live in a mountainous / hilly area like I do, this feature minimizes downshifting and makes the car very pleasant to drive.

The 5L40E is a premium transmission that was / is used in a lot of expensive luxury cars. It doesn't act funky.

I checked my window sticker. TRANSMISSION made in FRANCE, hhhmmmm

Engine made in Mexico, rest of car made in Australia? Welcome to 2010.

My Engine was made in the United States

I have a '09 G8 V6. I never had a 5 speed trans before so I don't know if this is normal. When I gradually accelerate from a dead stop 1st seems to 'slip' or hesitate; it's also a very quick shift to 2nd. It doesn't feel like a smooth transition to 2nd. Once it gets to 2nd the car takes off. If I'm aggressive on acceleartion it seems to be 'normal' to me. Me last car was an '02 Monte Carlo SS, shifts were smooth and uneventful.

Also - I hate to ask these 2 questions but:

What do you mean by a 'tune' and what is 'wot' ?

Thanks for all the info from the past threads.

I know this is a late post.

Mine does the same thing, I'm not worried. I think GM has alot of torque management programmed into it, thats what that slipping feeling is. And the quick 1-2 shift may have to do with emissions and fuel economy, sorta like the skip shift in manual transmissions.

I've been noticing my 2nd gear flaring when i'm in manual sport shift mode.
At normal acceleration when I manually shift it into second it feels like it's shifting again in between 2nd and 3rd.It feels like my 2nd gear is flaring.But on hard acceleration manual shift it's fine.Another issue i have to discuss with the dealer,the list keeps getting longer and longer.

Oh... I thought this was a thread about men in women's clothing. Sorry. I'll leave now.

Oh... I thought this was a thread about men in women's clothing. Sorry. I'll leave now.

Oh really? And this interested you to open the thread?HAHA!! .....and the dude digs purple,hmmmm....JK!

Oh really? And this interested you to open the thread?HAHA!! .....and the dude digs purple,hmmmm....JK!

That's not a dude, dude.

That's not a dude, dude.

Are you suurrrre???

What's wrong with purple??

What's wrong with purple??

Nothing.I didn't know it was a chick driving a purple car.I'll shut up now.

Oh... I thought this was a thread about men in women's clothing. Sorry. I'll leave now.

oofff.

I'm not a chick, I'm a sheila, that's what we call us wimmins down here you know. And yes, I'm quite sure. :D

gm4life, it was a joke. No offence at all intended to any men who wear women's clothing. :)

gm4life, it was a joke. No offence at all intended to any men who wear women's clothing. :)

I know it was a joke. Just when I read it, I had a bad vision in my head.

You mean like drag racing? Men driving fast cars, while they're wearing women's clothing?
:D

I've got an 09 5 speed and it doesn't slip, but 1st gear seems really short and almost useless. Would run alot smoother if you could start in second. However I just installed a CAI and while in sport mode it runs a hell of a lot better. Or maybe the transmisson is going? Oh well another 100K left on warranty

I always felt that slippage was torque management. If you shift manually from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd at too low an rpm you'll feel some slippage. I never feel it in 1st though.

-Dennis-

I thought only the 6 speed automatic transmission comes with torque management. Could be wrong I imagine, anything is possible.

Here is the transmission specification. I've highlighted the part about torque management.

2008 Hydra-Matic 5L40 (M82, MX5)

Hydra-Matic 5L40 five-speed electronically controlled automatic Car / Truck transmission
(M82 rear wheel drive, MX5 all wheel drive )

SUMMARY OF NEW OR CHANGED FEATURES
Carryover content and features from 2007 model year

2008 APPLICATIONS: SATURN SKY AND SKY RED LINE, PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP
The Saturn Sky and Sky Red Line roadsters, and the Pontiac Solstice GXP, use a unique adapter ring to adapt the driveshaft to the 5L40.

LOW MAINTENANCE

The unique assembly procedure aids the long-term durability of the Hydra-Matic 5L40. No maintenance is required and there is an elimination of any potential contaminants entering the transmission since it is assembled in a “clean room,” which was the first of its kind for transmission assembly. In addition, the components are not inserted into the case, which is conventional assembly practice, but the case is slid over the assembled components with visual sensors monitoring parts alignments and component quality. The Hydra-Matic 5L40 uses the new DEXRON® VI fluid and is filled for life, requiring no maintenance. The fluid is added at the transmission plant eliminating the chance of contamination at the vehicle assembly sites.

OVERVIEW

The SRX rear-drive sport utility uses the 5L40; the RPO for this application is M82. The all-wheel-drive SRX sport utility uses the 5L40 with a modified rear flange for the all-wheel-drive unit; the RPO for this application is MX5. The internal components of the 2008 5L40 remain identical to that which was used in the STS and SRX applications during the previous model year.

The SRX crossover SUV powered by the 3.6L V6 VVT engine uses either the rear wheel drive or all wheel drive versions of the 5L40.

Part way through the 2006 model year the Solstice roadster was available with the 5L40 with a unique drive flange to adapt the transmission to the driveshaft.


The 5L40 is designed with a three-piece case. All upshifts and downshifts are accomplished with one-way roller clutches (which lock if rotated in one direction and run free if spun in the other) and are therefore “free-wheeling.” This eliminates the need to synchronize the applying and releasing of clutches or bands and provides superb built-in shift quality. The 5L40 uses a single electrical connector to minimize potential leak paths for fluid, and all electrical sensors and switches are internal or are connected internally to simplify vehicle assembly.

The 5L40 uses GM’s Electronic Controlled Capacity Clutch (ECCC) technology, which dampens engine torque pulses. Other sophisticated electronic controls enable shift mode selection, shift patterns that adapt to driving conditions and driver style, traction control capability, engine torque management during shifts, and powertrain protection capabilities. There is also a reverse lockout safety feature, which inhibits the transmission from engaging the reverse gear when the shift lever has been inadvertently moved to reverse while the vehicle is still moving forward above a certain speed.

The Hydra-Matic 5L40 is produced in Strasbourg, France.

2008 Hydra-Matic 5L40 Transmission ( M82 RWD, MX5 AWD ) 011007
Type: five speed rear-wheel-drive, electronically controlled automatic overdrive transmission with torque converter clutch
Engine range: 1.8L to 3.6L - Gasoline or Diesel
Maximum engine torque: 260 lb-ft (353 Nm)
Maximum gearbox torque: 494 lb-ft (670 Nm)
Gear ratios:
First: 3.42
Second: 2.21
Third: 1.6
Fourth: 1
Fifth: 0.75
Reverse: 3.02
Maximum shift speed: 1-2 7000 rpm
2-3 7000 rpm
3-4 6800 rpm
4-5 6800 rpm
Maximum validated gross vehicle weight: 7716 lb (3500 kg)
4-position quadrant: P, R, N, D & DSC +/-
7-position quadrant: P, R, N, D, 4, 3, 2
Case material: die cast aluminum
Shift pattern: (3) three-way on/off solenoids
Shift quality: variable bleed solenoid
Torque converter clutch: pulse width modulated solenoid control
Available control features: internal mode switch
reverse lockout
multiple shift patterns (selectable or adaptive)
engine torque management on all shifts
altitude and temperature compensation
adaptive shift time
air conditioning cutoff
Oil Life System
OBDII/EOBD
Converter size: 245mm (reference)
258mm (diameter of torque converter turbine) single or dual plate
Fluid type: DEXRON® III
Transmission weight: wet:80,5 kg to 83,1 kg - 245 mm TCC
wet 84,6 kg to 85,5 kg - 258 mm TCC
Fluid capacity (approximate): dry: 8.5L (9.5 qt) (with 245mm)
Pressure taps available: line pressure
Assembly sites: Strasbourg, France
Applications: Cadillac SRX (M82/MX5)
Saturn Sky (M82)
Pontiac Solstice (M82)

-Dennis-

Thanks for highlighting it. I stand corrected. Third time in my lifetime. Just kidding.... fourth time. :slap:

LOL. I knew I'd read it before. Just had to dig up the info.
Unfortunately no one escapes electronic big brother these days.

-Dennis-

Torque management is pretty much standard. It's CYA for GM mostly.

I found this thread interesting so I started to investigate further. Check out this link on our G8 statistics... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_G8. I remember seeing threads about G8 owners adding a trans dip stick and always wondered why our 5L40-E trans didn't come with one. Since our trans is assembled in a clean room (first of its kind) and details where taken not to allow contaminants enter the assembly along with the use of Dextron VI fluid for life, this mod must be allowing the trans to be compromised. It's nice knowing that I will not have to perform a transmission service on my car. GM also supplied this same 5L40-E transmission to BMW for the X5 and 5 series sedans.

I wish I saw this thread when it was originated. Car built in Australia, engine built in Australia, trans built by the French(argh). Two out of three ain't bad. My 1st to 2nd shifting in normal and WOT are fine with no slippage. My concern is when I go to WOT and have to get out of the throttle quickly because someone pulls in front of me. The transmission does a harsh downshift and the engine revs high to about 5000 rpm. That gets my attention.

I checked my window sticker. TRANSMISSION made in FRANCE, hhhmmmm


From the land that gave us the 2CV, Amphicar, and the guillotine?
Transmission problems-let them eat cake..........

And don't forget Michelin tires and Grey Goose vodka, both of which my wife adores.

And don't forget Michelin tires and Grey Goose vodka, both of which my wife adores.

You're right, and I did forget the Statue of Liberty........