We have a 2011 - one day last month wife went to go to work. Backed out of the garage, then shifted to drive, and nothing happened. No slip, just nothing. Trying to manually put transmission into 2nd or 3rd gear, nothing. Reverse worked GREAT so she figured out how to use reverse and the slope of our driveway to get the car back in the garage.
Checked fluid level and found it was OK. Did research and found that GM had a TSB about this from 2016 - replace the transmission control module to solve the problem. It can affect any gear as the transmission shift solenoids can fail at random. They're part of the module.
I found nothing specific on this problem within Cruzetalk (just some youtubers showing their car sitting in drive, doing nothing, while reverse still works.) So here ya go.
You can order a DORMAN 609-001 remanufactured one from several retailers. I bought one ($275) from Summit Racing: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-609-001/overview/make/chevrolet/model/cruze/year/2011
You have to call over the phone, have your VIN ready and they will make sure the part matches. There is a $300 core deposit but they send you a prepaid return label. I got the part the next day, but they said it could be up to 6 days.
To remove the TCM, you need to remove:
Battery (10mm deep socket)
Battery box (13mm, flathead screwdriver, needle nose pliers to get connectors off). Slide control module up and off of the box on the left.
Remove radiator hoses from water outlet housing - I left the other end attached to the radiator after cussing at the engineer who designed this part of the cruze for a couple hours. (channel lock pliers)
Remove air intake hose (unplug sensor on top of pipe (temp?) and flathead screwdriver) I also left this on rather than removing the whole thing. It was in the way but I already gave up on the radiator hose and I could move it a bit now.
Remove transmission cooler lines (13mm wrench or gear wrench is what I used) from where they connect to transmission - leave in place, can move.
Remove stupid bracket that holds + and - cables from battery to get to starter or some nonsense. Again, just need to wiggle it, can leave in place. (10mm socket.)
**** Don't mess up this next step!**
Remove TCM connector. This thing was really stuck on mine and I shattered the connector when removing. $40 mistake. Photo attached; you will need to remove the red plastic clip thingy (slide to left) then insert a short flathead screwdriver as shown in the image, then pry to the left to get the connector's bracket to remove. If you break it, the part number is 1350-3939 and is about $40 at your dealer. They don't stock it.
Remove TCM cover bolts. They are all identical.
10mm I believe. Some had to be accessed through the bottom, but GM liberated me from the belly pan and our good fuel economy years ago with their recall, so it was easy - ish to access. Slid the cover out and to the top left.
Remove three connectors from the TCM to the rest of the transmission. One is on the bottom.
TCM itself has 12 bolts on the left, and three bolts on the right. Refer to your new part for locations. There is a filter screen that will come off too.
NEW TCM should have alignment bolts that hold the screen in place and make it easy to get in place. Mine had one broken so I used a dab of superglue and some luck to get it in place.
Assembly reverse of removal. Refill per instructions on Cruzetalk.
Apparently you can take the transmission to a dealer or transmission shop to reprogram your tranny. Mine seems to be doing OK and relearning shifting (was weird for the first few times)
Photos:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iXi0q10G2PxYeN3UwdBb1j_xzGtzWeuE/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EyOlq_-4HiZlHwwEf5rUVCajbZhWlrvg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1do6oXqc36xcldN_6coRFEDtehWCJVrLV/view?usp=sharing
2011 chevrolet chevy cruze transmission control module 1.4 turbo LT Automatic transmission control module reverse only shift solenoid failure loss gear no reverse no forward gear runs but won't shift transmission stuck in neutral
Checked fluid level and found it was OK. Did research and found that GM had a TSB about this from 2016 - replace the transmission control module to solve the problem. It can affect any gear as the transmission shift solenoids can fail at random. They're part of the module.
I found nothing specific on this problem within Cruzetalk (just some youtubers showing their car sitting in drive, doing nothing, while reverse still works.) So here ya go.
You can order a DORMAN 609-001 remanufactured one from several retailers. I bought one ($275) from Summit Racing: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-609-001/overview/make/chevrolet/model/cruze/year/2011
You have to call over the phone, have your VIN ready and they will make sure the part matches. There is a $300 core deposit but they send you a prepaid return label. I got the part the next day, but they said it could be up to 6 days.
To remove the TCM, you need to remove:
Battery (10mm deep socket)
Battery box (13mm, flathead screwdriver, needle nose pliers to get connectors off). Slide control module up and off of the box on the left.
Remove radiator hoses from water outlet housing - I left the other end attached to the radiator after cussing at the engineer who designed this part of the cruze for a couple hours. (channel lock pliers)
Remove air intake hose (unplug sensor on top of pipe (temp?) and flathead screwdriver) I also left this on rather than removing the whole thing. It was in the way but I already gave up on the radiator hose and I could move it a bit now.
Remove transmission cooler lines (13mm wrench or gear wrench is what I used) from where they connect to transmission - leave in place, can move.
Remove stupid bracket that holds + and - cables from battery to get to starter or some nonsense. Again, just need to wiggle it, can leave in place. (10mm socket.)
**** Don't mess up this next step!**
Remove TCM connector. This thing was really stuck on mine and I shattered the connector when removing. $40 mistake. Photo attached; you will need to remove the red plastic clip thingy (slide to left) then insert a short flathead screwdriver as shown in the image, then pry to the left to get the connector's bracket to remove. If you break it, the part number is 1350-3939 and is about $40 at your dealer. They don't stock it.
Remove TCM cover bolts. They are all identical.
10mm I believe. Some had to be accessed through the bottom, but GM liberated me from the belly pan and our good fuel economy years ago with their recall, so it was easy - ish to access. Slid the cover out and to the top left.Remove three connectors from the TCM to the rest of the transmission. One is on the bottom.
TCM itself has 12 bolts on the left, and three bolts on the right. Refer to your new part for locations. There is a filter screen that will come off too.
NEW TCM should have alignment bolts that hold the screen in place and make it easy to get in place. Mine had one broken so I used a dab of superglue and some luck to get it in place.
Assembly reverse of removal. Refill per instructions on Cruzetalk.
Apparently you can take the transmission to a dealer or transmission shop to reprogram your tranny. Mine seems to be doing OK and relearning shifting (was weird for the first few times)
Photos:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iXi0q10G2PxYeN3UwdBb1j_xzGtzWeuE/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EyOlq_-4HiZlHwwEf5rUVCajbZhWlrvg/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1do6oXqc36xcldN_6coRFEDtehWCJVrLV/view?usp=sharing
2011 chevrolet chevy cruze transmission control module 1.4 turbo LT Automatic transmission control module reverse only shift solenoid failure loss gear no reverse no forward gear runs but won't shift transmission stuck in neutral
