Transmission Issues with 2011 Cruze

[Giz]

I have a 2012 cruze and called the dealer today about the transmission, the answer i got was that it is an adaptive transmission...... I am no expert but i have not heard of this.

[Higgs Boson]

I have a 2012 cruze and called the dealer today about the transmission, the answer i got was that it is an adaptive transmission...... I am no expert but i have not heard of this.

well, now you have. ;-) the transmission doesn't adapt but the computer controlling it can and does adjust shift pressures and points in accordance with your driving style.

[Giz]

Thank you very much it is great to know that . I will pass that along to a co-worker who has a 2011 Chevy Malibu and is having the same issue.

[fastdriver]

Turbo lag is inherent in the design. There is nothing like the responsiveness of a naturally aspirated engine.

There are advantages to turbocharging but if it is your first, I am not surprised by your distaste for the initial lack of response.

Since you seem to be well aware of turbo issues, could you please tell me the ADVANTAGES of turbocharging?. It can't be performance OR gas mileage because my 2004 Chevy Aveo is peppier and smoother shifting than this thing I have now. I never gave any thought about a turbo engine. I did not drive it before I bought it. Even if I did and felt the lag and crazy shifting, I would have been told it had an adaptive tranny and that would have been that. Not being an expert in these areas I would not have known any different like many people here. I figured that turbo would just give a bigger boost to a little 4 cyl. engine. I had a supercharged Buick Riviera several years back and figured that it just added a little something to the engine.

You are saying that ALL the EXPENSIVE cars on the market that are tubos, act like this? I find that very hard to believe, but I will defer to you because I have NO clue!

[Higgs Boson]

I'll get back to you tomorrow because I'm on my phone right now and it will be too late to log on later. In the mean time might I suggest google? It can at least open the door for you and maybe you can develop some specific questions.... Turbocharging is my favorite type of forced induction. However, for a daily driver u can't beat natural aspiration. Getting amazing gas mileage and still having just enough power to merge on the highway isn't easy and that's when the turbo comes in handy in this application. I'll get back to you tomorrow, there is too much to say to say it from a phone.

[fastdriver]

I'll get back to you tomorrow because I'm on my phone right now and it will be too late to log on later. In the mean time might I suggest google? It can at least open the door for you and maybe you can develop some specific questions.... Turbocharging is my favorite type of forced induction. However, for a daily driver u can't beat natural aspiration. Getting amazing gas mileage and still having just enough power to merge on the highway isn't easy and that's when the turbo comes in handy in this application. I'll get back to you tomorrow, there is too much to say to say it from a phone.

I did Google. I do have another question- WHEN EXACTLY should one FEEL this "turbo lag"? When slowly accelarating from a traffic light OR merging with traffic on the interstate and getting up to speed quickly? Between the sloppy/jerking shifting and the turbo lag, I don't know what I am experiencing. Then, there's the "drive-by-wire" situation too. Combine all three and all I can say is hurry up 2 years and fly by so I can move on to something better! All I know right now is I will NEVER get another turbo, a car with an "adaptive" transmission or a car with "drive-by-wire" if this is what they drive like! I have NEVER had a car like this in my life. Even my POS "award winning" 1999 Chrysler 300M was better than this. That car didn't have mechanical problems, it was everything else that kept breaking, leaking, acting up etc. It went when you stepped on the gas and it shifted fine even with its "learning tranny". Then again, it wasn't a turbo and most likely did NOT have "drive-by-wire"!

All these Porsches and Saabs etc. with turbos act like this or the more expensive the car, the less the lag?

[george__]

Is this issue gone in the 2012 models?

[JoeCruze]

So the service manager has confirmed my transmission was slipping when it would shift into 4th gear. They will be replacing an Electronic Solenoid that was leaking and the Clutch Pack but the parts are about a 7 - 10 day wait away. No other damage to the transmission can be seen at this point.

I'm glad that I've purchased extended warranty on this car that will keep it covered for as long as I'm paying for it. Something tells me I'm going to need it.

[rbtec]

I did Google. I do have another question- WHEN EXACTLY should one FEEL this "turbo lag"? When slowly accelarating from a traffic light OR merging with traffic on the interstate and getting up to speed quickly? Between the sloppy/jerking shifting and the turbo lag, I don't know what I am experiencing. Then, there's the "drive-by-wire" situation too. Combine all three and all I can say is hurry up 2 years and fly by so I can move on to something better! All I know right now is I will NEVER get another turbo, a car with an "adaptive" transmission or a car with "drive-by-wire" if this is what they drive like! I have NEVER had a car like this in my life. Even my POS "award winning" 1999 Chrysler 300M was better than this. That car didn't have mechanical problems, it was everything else that kept breaking, leaking, acting up etc. It went when you stepped on the gas and it shifted fine even with its "learning tranny". Then again, it wasn't a turbo and most likely did NOT have "drive-by-wire"!

All these Porsches and Saabs etc. with turbos act like this or the more expensive the car, the less the lag?

Good luck finding a car without turbo, drive by wire or adaptive transmission.


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[Higgs Boson]

I did Google. I do have another question- WHEN EXACTLY should one FEEL this "turbo lag"? When slowly accelarating from a traffic light OR merging with traffic on the interstate and getting up to speed quickly? Between the sloppy/jerking shifting and the turbo lag, I don't know what I am experiencing. Then, there's the "drive-by-wire" situation too. Combine all three and all I can say is hurry up 2 years and fly by so I can move on to something better! All I know right now is I will NEVER get another turbo, a car with an "adaptive" transmission or a car with "drive-by-wire" if this is what they drive like! I have NEVER had a car like this in my life. Even my POS "award winning" 1999 Chrysler 300M was better than this. That car didn't have mechanical problems, it was everything else that kept breaking, leaking, acting up etc. It went when you stepped on the gas and it shifted fine even with its "learning tranny". Then again, it wasn't a turbo and most likely did NOT have "drive-by-wire"!

All these Porsches and Saabs etc. with turbos act like this or the more expensive the car, the less the lag?

High end cars have lag, too.

I wouldn't call a Saab a high end car though, more like a shiny POS....but that's another thread....

It sounds like this is just a case of "I'm not used to this." You may have to change your driving style. I would recommend you get a tune, maybe from the VT guy since you are in CT....Drive by wire response can be tightened up, trans and engine properties can be changed within the mechanical abilities of each, then you have to change parts when you want to exceed those limits.

If you liked the 99 300M, I really don't know what to tell you. ;-)

If you are looking for a car that gets 40MPG as a priority and has merging power secondary, the Cruze is a nice choice. If you want something with a linear power band, power to pass at will with your eyes closed, with decent mileage but closer to 30MPG, most of the 6 cylinder choices out there will work. If you want to have a really good time, sideways if desired, get a V8....

Turbo lag is caused by having a very small engine (1.4 liters is ungodly tiny) that doesn't have the power to pull the car without the boost of the turbo. Until the turbo kicks in you don't really move, lol....that's what 20k/40MPG gets you.

Will the twin turbo V8 2012 M5 have lag? Yes, but not to the extent of the Cruze, and since the V8 will have more power by itself than most people ever experience in another car, they will usually never notice it. But, alas, you can have 5 Cruze's for one M5.

Also, there are twin scroll turbos, sequential turbo set ups, etc, etc to try and get a more linear power band from the system. A small engine with turbo is going to be laggy, but it does provide great mileage at part throttle. That's the point of the Cruze. It's not a Grand Marquis, cruiser boat with a big engine that glides effortlessly from NYC to LA.