Me Too

I just got my ZO6 and I know exactly what your talking about. I hear the same noise from the shift knob. Here's a twist, when accelerating in 3rd gear(around 4500 to 5200 rpm) the transmission slips from 3rd to neutral. This has happened 3 times and I have not been abusing the car at all. VERY FRUSTRATED!!

 

I just got my ZO6 and I know exactly what your talking about. I hear the same noise from the shift knob. Here's a twist, when accelerating in 3rd gear(around 4500 to 5200 rpm) the transmission slips from 3rd to neutral. This has happened 3 times and I have not been abusing the car at all. VERY FRUSTRATED!!

That's a sign of the 3rd gear syncro being bad, take it to the dealer pronto! It could be the linkage not engaging 3rd gear completely but I doubt it. You got a transmission problem, you'll probably be without the car for a while but I wouldn't waste any time getting it into the service dept. I hope your local dealer is knowledgable to work on your Z06?

EFE

 

So what does this mean....will the transmission need to be replaced? (I know you can not be sure, but you sound like you know what you're talking about)

 

So what does this mean....will the transmission need to be replaced? (I know you can not be sure, but you sound like you know what you're talking about)

No! It means they will have to disassemble the trans and install a new 3rd gear syncro. As for the noise in 2nd gear, I think we will need a lot of others to complain about it before GM might fix it, don't know how they will handle it yet?
EFE

 

I dont have a Z06 but my C6 has the same sound in second gear. It seems to start out at about 3500 rpm or so. I thought it was maybe just because it was new and needs to wear in. I guess I will take it in to the idiots at Chevy and have them look at it.

 

My Z06 started having the same noise in 2nd gear. Started about 300 miles. I will mention when I take in for service but this will be awhile as I only have 500 miles on it.
If anyone else addresses this with their dealer it would be great if you would post their response.

 

Same problem with mine... around 3500 rpm in 2nd gear.
However, it quiets down the warmer the tranny gets.
Talked to my Vette tech at the Chevy dealer and he said there is
a bulletin on this problem.
He is ordering the new parts... should be in next week.
I'll let you guys know the outcome.

 

Same problem with mine... around 3500 rpm in 2nd gear.
However, it quiets down the warmer the tranny gets.
Talked to my Vette tech at the Chevy dealer and he said there is
a bulletin on this problem.
He is ordering the new parts... should be in next week.
I'll let you guys know the outcome.

Did they say the part is installed on the shifter or in the tranny? If I grab the shifter and hold it tight, I can make the sound go away which tells me the shifter can be insulated better from the tranny! The vibration from the tranny causes the shifter to vibrate and thus the noise, so I would think better insulator grommets on the shifter linkage might fix the problem.

EFE Z06

 

Sorry, don't know what parts, but I'll find out mis week.
You are right about holding the shift knob tight...
mine quiets down too.
The mechanic did say the reason mine quites down the warmer
the tranny gets is due to everything expanding and getting tighter.
Mine also shifts smoother and less notchy the warmer it gets.
This will be interesting.

 

Sorry, don't know what parts, but I'll find out mis week.
You are right about holding the shift knob tight...
mine quiets down too.
The mechanic did say the reason mine quites down the warmer
the tranny gets is due to everything expanding and getting tighter.
Mine also shifts smoother and less notchy the warmer it gets.
This will be interesting.

Shifting smoother when the trans is warmer is normal, the oil lubricates the syncros easier, when cold most manual transmissions are harder to shift.

I took my car into the dealer Friday (Chevy & Cadillacs) and had the service manager go out for a spin with me to hear the problem. He said some of the Cadillacs have had the same problem and he'll get back with me after he speaks with Chevy about the Corvettes, believing they have the same problem also. Since the noise only comes through the shifter in second and fourth gear, I came to realize the vibration is connected to the shifter only when in the furthest back or rear position (2nd & 4th), not in the front or most forward position. He agreed it could probably be fixed with better grommets or some kind of teflon bushings which I think BMW uses. He didn't tell me what they did to the Cadillacs to fix the problem.

GM is obviously aware of this defect. I will post the latest status as I find out more!


EFE Z06

 

CD, I hope your tech has really found a solution and is able to help you, I'd love for you to be able to share the repair info with us because as of this point I still have been unable to affect any worthwhile reduction of this noise on two Z06's in my area, and GM has been no help. They cuurently have no information regarding the higher rpm noise that you, EFE and others are experiencing. GM is still preaching that the low rpm (1200-2200) rpm resonance is "NOC"(normal operating characteristic) in 2005 and newer cars, and that the 3000rpm plus growl from the C5's(which get upgraded bushings) doesnt occur in the C6.:huh:

GM was actually replacing transmissions and balancing driveshaft for several noise/vibration concerns in the CTS-V.

 

Hey Guys...
I Will Stay On This Like A Fly On %%##!
Keep You Posted.
Cd

 

Same thing with my Z06. Also the sound is reduced if I hold/press the shift knob. Would love to get the solution. The GM techs here in Sweden aren't really up to date!

 

Same thing with my Z06. Also the sound is reduced if I hold/press the shift knob. Would love to get the solution. The GM techs here in Sweden aren't really up to date!

It's simply a matter of better isolating the shifter from the tranny! The best solution would be to design a better transmission that doesn't produce the vibration, but knowing GM, that's probably not going to happen too soon.

So, to solve the current problem they need to install some king of linkage between the trans and the shifter that would isolate the vibration between the two. Some kind of supper strong composite arms might do the trick?

For the quick fix, I would think they have to use some sort of well insulated grommets where the linkage hooks up to the shifter, I can't think of any other easy solution other than teflon coating the shifter forks within the transmission.

EFE Z06

 

Wonder if there are any short-throw shift kits out there
that might solve the problem...
Anyone read any reviews?

 

By holding onto the shifter to reduce the vibration you will do damage to your linkage. The vibration is still occurring, so it will find another outlet, and invariably that will be linkage points. And you could lose a gear or two.

Had a vibration problem in my old 350Z in 2nd (3rd? can't recall) gear... sounds like it may have been worse than what you are experiencing. I tried to silence it on and off by putting some pressure on the shifter. Whammo, lost Reverse and 6th gear.

Took it in, Nissan fixed the linkage, and the shift was as good as new, and no vibration.

Relax. Just get it to the dealer and get it fixed.

 

Someone needs to fab up some nice carbon fibre shift linkages....CF's natural vabration damping characteristics make it the easy choice!!!

Anyone for a set of $1100 shift linkages??

 

I've got the perfect solution!

Shift by wire!


No vibration transfer, ultra short shifting gate and the latest trans technology!

Come-on GM, give it to us? :thumbsup:

EFE Z06

 

I first noticed a small vibrational noise coming from my shift lever when in 2nd gear and accelerating (under torque) right after I bought the car. Since I've raced Chevys for years and know that transmission shifters can carry lots of noise from the trans into the drivers compartment, the little amount I heard in my Z06 really didn't bother me. But in the last few days I'm noticing the noise increasing now and I'm even hearing it a little bit in 4th gear under acceleration.

Is anybody else hearing this small vibrational chatter noise (sort of like exhaust chatter) coming through their shifter in mainly 2nd gear? I know it is coming from the friction of the shifter forks within the transmission rubbing against 2nd gear, I didn't expect to hear it this loud this soon. Perhaps this is what the magazine reviewers were talking about when several said they didn't like the noise they heard coming from the Z06 trans?

In the interview that I think Auto Week had last month with Dave Hill and the new Chief Engineer taking his place, when asked what would they change or improve on the new Z06, they said the transmission as one thing and improving the interior as another. Could this be what the complaint is regarding the transmission noise?

I think this is one of the major differences between manual transmissions that come in cars like my BMW and Mercedes vs. the big three American cars. I haven't heard this noise for a few years because I have been driving a BMW, and I've heard their transmissions use very good teflon bushings (or something similar) to eliminate this problem.

It's obvious that this friction noise is transmitted from the trans gear through the linkage and up into the shifter. If I grab the shifter and hold it tight, I can make the noise subside, but I don't want to have to do that all the time! It's noticeable even with my exhaust butterflies opened all the time.

I still love the car, but if this gets any louder then I would call it a real defect in the transmission design. If other Z06 owners are hearing this, please post on this thread, I'll use all these responses when I speak to GM. Thanks!

EFE Z06

Yes, I am getting this too. It's like a staccato "clattering" sound coming from inside the shifter handle as though a marble were rapidly bouncing back and forth inside the shift knob and it is very annoying.

Please keep us updated on the fix!

 

Update!

I met with the regional service rep for Corvettes today at my local dealer and gave him a ride so he could hear the tranny noise. He said this was much different than the previous problem they have been dealing with and kept care of.

He totally agreed this noise was not acceptable and he was going to call the engineers as soon as we got back to the dealership. He said they might not have an answer until next week, but the problem needed attention! I now wait to hear from him.

I also addressed the problem of the front tires throwing rocks at the rear brake vents and causing little dings all around them, he took several pictures and said this would be addressed also. I told him mud flaps are standard on the rear and I couldn't understand why they didn't design them for the front tires which throw all kinds of road debris at the sides of the car.

I told him it's a shame to buy a $70k car and within 2000 miles the paint is chipping around the rear vent on most of the Z06's, unless of course you live and drive where the streets are absolutely clean, Arizona streets are not! :thumbsup:

EFE Z06

 

Update!

I met with the regional service rep for Corvettes today at my local dealer and gave him a ride so he could hear the tranny noise. He said this was much different than the previous problem they have been dealing with and kept care of.

He totally agreed this noise was not acceptable and he was going to call the engineers as soon as we got back to the dealership. He said they might not have an answer until next week, but the problem needed attention! I now wait to hear from him.

I also addressed the problem of the front tires throwing rocks at the rear brake vents and causing little dings all around them, he took several pictures and said this would be addressed also. I told him mud flaps are standard on the rear and I couldn't understand why they didn't design them for the front tires which throw all kinds of road debris at the sides of the car.

I told him it's a shame to buy a $70k car and within 2000 miles the paint is chipping around the rear vent on most of the Z06's, unless of course you live and drive where the streets are absolutely clean, Arizona streets are not! :thumbsup:

EFE Z06

EFE, I lived in Scottsdale and Granite Dells (about 17 years in AZ all together) I hear you about the rocks. A lot of the roads & streets are "chip seal" in AZ - lots of rocks.

I will be eagerly awaiting your info. Thanks.

 

EFE, I lived in Scottsdale and Granite Dells (about 17 years in AZ all together) I hear you about the rocks. A lot of the roads & streets are "chip seal" in AZ - lots of rocks. I will be eagerly awaiting your info. Thanks.

That's funny! I grew up in LA and lived in San Diego for the last 29 years and finally got out of congested CA! You lived in Arizona and moved to California, I thought the only people that went that direction were the illegals, guess I was wrong? Are you documented and legal? :laughing: :laughing:

EFE Z06

 

That's funny! I grew up in LA and lived in San Diego for the last 29 years and finally got out of congested CA! You lived in Arizona and moved to California, I thought the only people that went that direction were the illegals, guess I was wrong? Are you documented and legal? :laughing: :laughing:

EFE Z06

Actually Ed, I think you're right about the illegals' migration to the west, I grew up in L.A. started to work with my dad in the family business, couldn't get along, moved to AZ in '83 moved back when my dad became ill in '99 to take care of him and the family business. I've been here ever since and miss AZ. Don't much care for the congestion in CA. But the last time I checked, I was legal:laughing:

 

Wonder if there are any short-throw shift kits out there
that might solve the problem...
Anyone read any reviews?

Earlier this week I emailed the good people over at MGW. They stated that they are awaiting licensing from GM to do a shifter and knobs/handles for the Corvette. They make great short throw shifters, adjustable handles and high quality shift knobs for 'other' cars.

I had their adjustable lever (for angle) and their T-handle in my 03 Cobra and those two items were a big help. The reviews on their shifter for the 6-speed Tremec in the Cobra were all over-the-top at the SVT forum and before going for the Z, I was actually considering replacing my Pro shifter with an MGW because of the customer response.

UPDATE!!!:excited: :excited: NEW NEWS!!!
While typing the info above I decided to telephone the very cool owner (George) of MGW Precision, Inc. in Augusta, GA regarding their producing a shifter/shift handle/knobs etc. for our cars. It turns out that he owns a C6Z06 and had the same problem with his shifter which he corrected with a "one-off" shifter knob that he fabricated

George advised me that the etiology of his issue with the noise was the same. He had no problem initially, then one cold morning he got in the car and heard the "chattering" when applying torque in second gear. His fabricated knob fits better at the top of the shifter handle and the inside is hard rubber. This one-off shift knob is heavier than the cheesy knob that comes on the C6Z06. Therefore, he isn't absolutely certain if the problem is being corrected by the added weight, the better fitment or the materials used. All we know is that he fixed his chatter issue!

He further advised that he tried stuffing putty into the original shift knob to kill the vibe/chatter. He said it helped a little until the putty dried out. So he suggested trying silicone RTV to see if that helps.

Obviously, this is NOT a major issue, we can breathe a sigh of relief and maybe come up with a fix or let Chevy know what they need to do to fix the issue.

I hope that MGW decides to build a shifter for the C6Z06 Tremec T-56 since their shifters are so popular he "cannot keep them in stock." As I previously stated he owns a Z which he "loves." So, hopefully out of his love for his own car, a new shifter will be forthcoming. He told me that GM has refused to grant them licensing to build any parts with Corvette badging (flags, and such). Who cares? I just love the feel of MGW Precision parts and hope they decide to produce anything for the C6Z06.

Due to the fact that they sell direct to the public with no middlemen involved, you really do get high quality, well made, CNC machined products from them that are well worth the price. I hope they produce something for us soon. "Let George do it..."

 

Update!

I met with the regional service rep for Corvettes today at my local dealer and gave him a ride so he could hear the tranny noise. He said this was much different than the previous problem they have been dealing with and kept care of.

He totally agreed this noise was not acceptable and he was going to call the engineers as soon as we got back to the dealership. He said they might not have an answer until next week, but the problem needed attention! I now wait to hear from him.

I also addressed the problem of the front tires throwing rocks at the rear brake vents and causing little dings all around them, he took several pictures and said this would be addressed also. I told him mud flaps are standard on the rear and I couldn't understand why they didn't design them for the front tires which throw all kinds of road debris at the sides of the car.

I told him it's a shame to buy a $70k car and within 2000 miles the paint is chipping around the rear vent on most of the Z06's, unless of course you live and drive where the streets are absolutely clean, Arizona streets are not! :thumbsup:

EFE Z06

So EFE, are there any more updates on the issues described above? Would apreciat any information.