2019 Cruze Transmission

[etf_Mechanic]

Hello. I bought a used 2019 Cruze last week from a popular local GM dealer and the Transmission will not upshift into 6th gear on cold mornings so far below freezing. This happens after hitting my first incline that drops the Trans into 5th gear with the cruise control on. So in other words once this happens the Trans is stuck in 5th gear the rest of my drive into work about 20 miles. They want to sell me the Mechanics package and I am wondering if I should, or should not. This car has the life time power train warrantee.

[maxwedge]

This is normal, the pcm holds back 6th until it sees a certain temp from the trans fluid. My Malibu didn't shift to 6th for 11 miles when it was 15 below up here in NYS. Btw, welcome to the forum. Not shifting to 6th after 20 miles does seem unusual though, unless it was uphill. They can scan those functions to look for any issues.

[etf_Mechanic]

@Max - Thanks for the welcome... OK so the temp here was 22-28 degrees all 3 days this past week which is pretty normal at least 3 months a year. Have small rolling hills so there was plenty of flat driving after the first shift. Which reminds me, it actually does shift into 6 gear early on while I am driving, but after I hit that first incline and the tranny shifts down to keep me at 74mph, it never shifts back to 6th. So here is my commute, I drive about 7 miles on a 55MPH county HYWY, hit I-71 and get up to 74mph for around 5 miles then I hit that incline that makes it shift, then its about 20 miles to downtown Cincinnati. Friday was the coldest day so when I left work at 2pm I hit the interstate again within a couple miles and found out right away it was still stuck in 5th gear. It finally up shifted about 10 miles out.
Its not going to get below freezing this coming week until maybe Friday so I am interested in seeing what happens with the temperature around 35-45 at 5:30am.

[Blue Bowtie]

Mileage? Trans oil change at 50K intervals? Only Dexron HP fluid used?

[etf_Mechanic]

36,000 Yes was well maintained with a one borrower lease. So before I take her in, are you thinking I need to purchase that Mechanic Plan they sell or will they honor their Powertrain guarantee because for me this tranny seems to be broken. I just don't want them coming at me with "Need to replace the "ABC" module first, but thats not covered because its not the powertrain.

[maxwedge]

I would at least go on record with the dealer regarding your concerns with the condition. In NYS our used car lemon law would cover drive train issues for 60 days or 3k miles.

[etf_Mechanic]

Thats why I came here. I totally forgot about that one so will check it out. Thanks a bunch Max!

[etf_Mechanic]

Darn, no lemon law in KY. Interestingly the service records show "Transmission Serviced" on 7/31/2020 and 9/18/2020 by the same dealer I bought it from. Makes me wonder what that was all about.... They did not print the details on those 2 incidents so maybe I need to be asking for the details.

[maxwedge]

Yup, something was going on. Btw, the factory warranty was 5/60 on the major powertrain components.

[Blue Bowtie]

I would be pushing hard for warranty service and complete service records.

[etf_Mechanic]

Thanks again! Yeah I am on it today will let everyone know how this works out.

[etf_Mechanic]

I am also taking more videos of the dash board today. a longer one that proves it shifts int 6th gear but gets stuck later in my drive to work in 5th gear.

[etf_Mechanic]

It was too warm for the tranny to get stuck in 5th today, but it was only 26 degrees when it shifted into 6th about 3 miles from home. By the time I got to the interstate where it sticks it was 32-35 degrees. Yeah believe it or not the temps vary that much out in these rural areas. 28 degrees seems to be the breaking point on that tranny. It was definitely 28 one morning last week it happened. Next update will probably be in a week as the temps are going to be higher than normal.

[etf_Mechanic]

They replaced the control module. Said they took off the side panel replaced it and refilled. I think they should have drained all the fluid and counted that as my Transmission Service which is due at 48,000 miles which is only 11,000 miles away and when I asked about it I never heard a response. With all the headaches this malfunction caused me that's the least Tom Gill Chevrolet could have done for a customer. Probably the last time I buy from them. FYI Resistance Test on the Solenoid was too high so that is why they replaced the control module. I gave the Technician a 25 minute video to prove that at temperatures 28 degrees and lower, this transmission was getting stuck in 5th gear.

[maxwedge]

Some info, my 2015 Malibu, 6 sp same basic trans as yours, this am 17 degrees out, no 5-6 shift for about 4 miles, then another 3 miles before the tcc engaged, which drops the engine about 200 rpm, that will only engage under lite load in 6th.