2003 Automatic Transmission Clunk

I'm new to this forum, so thanks in advance for any help.

I have a 2003 Z71. It now has about 14000 miles on it. The clunking problem started at about 3000 miles/9 months ago and was limited to shifts between 1st and 2nd gear. It has been back to the dealer 7 times for this problem.

The tranny was reporgrammed, a nickle plated slip yoke was installed, controls on the 4x4 were replaced, a jumper wire was added to the alternator to reduce electronic noise and now I have a more pronounced clunk between 1 and 2, and it's starting to clunk between all gears, including going into reverse.

After trying all of this, GM TAC is telling my mechanic that this is "normal" and no repair should be attempted. Sounds to me like an engineering problem that they don't want to fess up to. I have a difficult time believing that anything considered normal is getting louder and much more frequent, and the clunk that it's making now has to be doing damage.

I've tried to sell the truck, but to two guys that test drove it both said is sounds like it have a U-joint out or it was abused! (It's never been off the road.) It has now gotten to the point where I drive my '95 Buick instead of my new truck. It's driving me nuts.

Short of hiring a lawer, is there any way of actully fixing this problem?

Try a local transmission shop, ans have them check the valve body. GM seems to be reluctant to take the time to fix the problem correctly. This should get you into good shape. It may cost you a few bucks, but I have given up on any service from the dealerships. I do not even allow them to put the recall parts on, I make them give me the parts and I pay to have a mechanic put them on. Some dealerships probably do great work, but ours here messed up my 2002, and after legal negotiations, replaced it with a 2004. Good Luck, Marty

Forgot to mension, a shift solenoid was also replaced. Has anyone actually gotten one of these clunkers fixed?

By the way . . . the truck is for sale . . . anyone interested? :)

Thanks Marty, I'll give the tranny guy a call. I just hate paying for warranty repair on a $34000 truck. But I guess it's better than using it as a garage ornament.

Heres a great phone number to get a fire going on your truck. GM Chevrolet customer assistance center 1-800-222-1020. They will help you with your dealership, and may help if you have to pay an outside repair shop to fix your truck. Don't give up, the squeaky wheel will get the tranny fixed. Good Luck, Marty

Apparently, the squeaky wheel gets the shaft. I've been talking back and forth with GM Customer Service about this problem. They also spoke with the Technical Assistance Center, who told them that this condition is "normal". They also advised me that taking it to a transmission shop to get it fixed would void the warranty on the truck. (I'll bet they would like that.)

A side note (venting frustration). . . I've been reading through the posts about various problems with the newer trucks (i.e. piston spap, transmissions going out, 4x4 not working) and it appears the GMs typical response is "this is a normal condition". Do they really believe that everyone out there is that stupid. My last four trucks have been Fords, the only problems that I had with any of them is the CD player in my 2002 F150 would skip and I blew a front hub in my '96. Ford replaced both without a quibble. Granted, a CD player or hub doesn't cost anywhere near a transmission, but it appears that GM is far more willing to give up customers than correct a flaw. Either that, or their engineering has gotten so poor that they have no idea how to correct the flaws. I asked the Chevy dealer about trading it in, and they told me that they would take it to the auction to see what they could get for it. In other words, they don't want it either. The truck books over $26K with the options, but the best offer I can get is $20K. Right now, I'm at the point where I'd give an attorney every dime he gets out of them, just to get it out of them. In any case, I'm unloading the truck and buying another Ford.
Thanks for the help.

Got a quote to fix the problems from a transmission shop after a three hour diagnostic. $1800.00.
The tech told me that the problem is the 1-2 cluch pack relasing late on the shift and the it has most likely done it since it was new. The noise started whan the late release and resulting torque caused abnormal wear in the tranny. It will require a full rebuild and replacement of the valve body (which caused the problem). 13,000 miles and it has the wear of the 70,000 mile transmission.
GM still won't fix it, so I've hired an attorney.