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Where did 3rd gear go?

4501 Views 22 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Patman
Worked fine last night however, when going to work this morning I cannot put my car into 3rd gear. I have 1-2-4-5-6-R. Just cannot shift into 3rd moving or otherwise. No previous signs of 3rd gear problems.
Depending on how I shift into 4 has been grinding a little going in but still works fine. Was going to go straight to dealer but thought I would give it a day.
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Given 4th issues, a cable is probably out of adjustment.
Mine just started being really clunky going into 3rd - just when it got really cold this week. Never done that before.
Yea I am starting to think the cold weather has something to do with it? Got real cold this weekend in Cincinnati and this is a new tranny replaced about 10K miles ago so I took to same dealer. Hopefully linkage problem and quick fix and covered under power train warranty. They gave me a 2017 Cruze for a loaner Automatic needless to say but it was the car I was thinking about buying. Hopefully they have an answer tomorrow!
Called dealer and @ 2PM they knew nothing(no parts ordered?) so they said don't worry continue to drive 2017 Cruze LT covered under power train. OK I just miss driving my car just feels more comfortable etc. Hopefully tomorrow and not another tranny. We'll see.
Update. Got a call yesterday they said there is something going on in the tranny looks like I will be getting another new one. I am happy they are taking care of it but kind of
unsettling that this is a 2nd one that had problems. Never had problems like this before with any of my cars. They put me in a 2017 Cruze LT loaner automatic. Very nice car.
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Update. Got a call yesterday they said there is something going on in the tranny looks like I will be getting another new one. I am happy they are taking care of it but kind of
unsettling that this is a 2nd one that had problems. Never had problems like this before with any of my cars. They put me in a 2017 Cruze LT loaner automatic. Very nice car.
Looks like they trying to do the same to you as they did J and have you just upgrade to a gen 2 auto. If you do, I recommend Premier. You already went LS to Eco, no 2LT to take the next step up so Premer is the next one. In theory a non RS Premer with no added options is a 2LT.
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Looks like they trying to do the same to you as they did J and have you just upgrade to a gen 2 auto. If you do, I recommend Premier. You already went LS to Eco, no 2LT to take the next step up so Premier is the next one. In theory a non RS Premier with no added options is a 2LT.
I thought the same thing but honestly, I don't like it that much(kinda thankful they gave it to me so I don't buy one): Too small for me and above all not a manual transmission. The LS to Eco was due to availability and I wrecked the LS besides I wanted to see what to see what all the talk about the 1.4 was since I had the 1.8(all my choice not dealer). If I consider anything it would be either the LT/RS with 25 K and 6 M or a 2LT with a manual that I have seen. As long as it is covered under power train I don't care and I get my car back
Too small for me and above all not a manual transmission
Lol it's MUCH bigger than the first gen on the inside.

I'd be pissed they're taking half the car apart AGAIN, because they definitely screwed up several things on my reinstalls. A transmission shouldn't fail in that kinda time.
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Got a call this afternoon, my car is done so I picked it up after work and it runs great!! Gearbox is tight and all feels new and well! Definitely a "happy camper" now! Don't remember the tranny feeling this tight after the first time they replaced after 3rd went out.
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Got a call this afternoon, my car is done so I picked it up after work and it runs great!! Gearbox is tight and all feels new and well! Definitely a "happy camper" now! Don't remember the tranny feeling this tight after the first time they replaced after 3rd went out.
Finger Crossed!:th_dblthumb2:
Got a call this afternoon, my car is done so I picked it up after work and it runs great!! Gearbox is tight and all feels new and well! Definitely a "happy camper" now! Don't remember the tranny feeling this tight after the first time they replaced after 3rd went out.
What was the diagnosis?
What was the diagnosis?

Didn't "tell" me what was wrong just that they replaced under warranty. When asked what is going on with transmissions I was told there have been some problems with them. After looking at the invoice, they found synchros bad probably also cause of starting to grind going into 4th. They replaced with a re manufactured transmission covered under warranty and w/o warranty would have been thousands to replace. But cost me $ 32 for oil change and rotation. As I said I don't remember the tranny feeling as tight as it does now after they replaced it when third gear went out 10K miles ago. Starting to wonder if they did replace and not just repair last time?
Didn't "tell" me what was wrong just that they replaced under warranty. When asked what is going on with transmissions I was told there have been some problems with them. After looking at the invoice, they found synchros bad probably also cause of starting to grind going into 4th. They replaced with a re manufactured transmission covered under warranty and w/o warranty would have been thousands to replace. But cost me $ 32 for oil change and rotation. As I said I don't remember the tranny feeling as tight as it does now after they replaced it when third gear went out 10K miles ago. Starting to wonder if they did replace and not just repair last time?
They don't rebuild the manuals in dealers - they just replace the whole thing, then ship the old one back to GM. My guess would be that they didn't totally rebuild that one that had the same issue as your last one either.

Well, best of luck with the new one.
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I wonder if the first replacement wasn't properly installed and had an alignment issue.
Hope this one fixes your tranny issues. How much warranty do you have left?
You might want to talk to a customer service person. Considering that's a 2012 and you've had constant trans issues with it, I'd be worried about the long term. Be on the lookout for any strange noises.

They offered me an extended powertrain warranty on the transmission in mine for another 2 years after the expiration date.
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Hope this one fixes your tranny issues. How much warranty do you have left?
This is a 2012 with 81K so the btb is over. Both tranny repairs were done under power train warranty. So at 81 K and 4 years old, I am not sure how much I have left. I am not sure what the limits of the power train warranty are. But I hope this will be last of the problems I have. I had the clutch replaced with the first tranny work and just recently had the shocks/struts replaced not too long ago so it rides like a new car again. In all the time I had the car the tranny is the first/only problems I have had so I think I have a good dependable car. Hope all is well for a while now.
This is a 2012 with 81K so the btb is over. Both tranny repairs were done under power train warranty. So at 81 K and 4 years old, I am not sure how much I have left. I am not sure what the limits of the power train warranty are. But I hope this will be last of the problems I have. I had the clutch replaced with the first tranny work and just recently had the shocks/struts replaced not too long ago so it rides like a new car again. In all the time I had the car the tranny is the first/only problems I have had so I think I have a good dependable car. Hope all is well for a while now.
I hope so too. I only had 1 trans issue and replacement. The key is to hope they did fill it all the way and not under fill.
Would it have been possible to replace an Eco tranny with and "LT" tranny? Remember I mentioned about how "fast" the car drove w/o feeling it and minimal engine braking. I have only been driving for @ 150 miles and not sure if the tranny needs to "break in" or what but it feels like a little lower gearing but runs about 2K rpms at 65 mph. As I said I did not feel this dramatic of a difference when replaced/repaired last time? By all means not complaining as I like the way the car drives. Just curious.
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