2005 Chevy Uplander transmission rebuild

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So about 5 months ago we had the transmission rebuilt in the Uplander. It was having issues when taking off from a stop, it would hesitate then slam into gear, and I do mean SLAM! Finally had it looked at and they said it needed a rebuild, they said some of the planetary gears were ground up and there was copper flakes in the transmission. Anyway when they finished up and I drove it, it shuddered and vibrated into second gear, I was not impressed to say the least. The mechanic said its normal it needs to "wear in". I said ok and moved on. About 2 weeks later it was still vibrating into second (by vibrating i mean not shifting smoothly, its just clunky feeling, feels like marbles in between the clutches or something). So I took it back again and said I was not happy with it, he scanned it and sure enough it was applying way too much pressure when shifting, giving it a hard shift. He opened it up and found the 1-2 clutch was "loose" and he had to put shims on it. It felt like butter for about 2 days then went back to the vibration between 1 and 2nd gear and feeling clunky, to I took it back again and he said all is well, "its shifting normal" he said. Oh, and all this time it was still having the banging issue from a stop, which ended up in him putting in a higher stall torque converter and a new solenoid. Anyway I said all that to say this, is it normal to feel that 1st to 2nd gear shift? This is on a 2005 Chevy Uplander. Im not happy with how it feels, but all his testing says its normal. Every time he reset the trans it shifts like butter for 2 days or so, then goes back to the hard 1st to 2nd gear shift. What do you guys think?
 
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How did it shift when you guys first got it? It doesn't sound normal to me.

I've got a very similar (if not the same) transmission in our Impala, and have had many many similar variants of the GM FWD 4-speed auto in other cars throughout my family and by no means do they shift like this. Even with higher mileage.
 
Originally Posted By: redhat
How did it shift when you guys first got it? It doesn't sound normal to me.

I've got a very similar (if not the same) transmission in our Impala, and have had many many similar variants of the GM FWD 4-speed auto in other cars throughout my family and by no means do they shift like this. Even with higher mileage.


Its always had a very slight vibration feeling when shifting, this is not a long vibration. It just feels rocky, or notchy...just not smooth like I would like it. I was hoping the trans rebuild would fix it, it has all new clutches, and all new soft parts. I dont get why its still like this. Its been back 3 times and they cant find anything wrong with it. It shifts at the right time always, just has a notchy, rocky, unsmooth feeling during the shift. (this is only from 1st to 2nd gear). Has not got any worse or better.
 
A bang shift, especially 1-2 in these means the pcm is commanding max line pressure. When it shifts for a couple of days great and then starts doing it again is further proof of this. Driving it like this will tear it up again. Basically something is causing the pcm to command max pressure, it could be mechanically, something worn out(usually valve body), or electrical, like the solenoids, epc, or connectors etc. If he tried changing a solenoid, a fault code must be coming up for him to do that, but it sounds like its not the problem. these transmissions shift smooth when its working properly, so if its notchy, banging, vibrating, chattering, its not good. He needs to find the problem and fix it.
 
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This is the 'rents car...If it was mine it would have gone back until it was perfect! When you spend that kind of money it needs to be right, just wanted to get you guys opinion on the matter, so the consensus is its not normal..what I thought.
 
Pretty much normal for a rebuilt job. Russia roulette.

If it doesn't feel right, it's NOT right.
 
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