Transmission surge when increasing speed around 65-70 mph.

holtenclave · May 30, 2011

Has anyone else experienced "surges" in the transmission when accelerating around 65-70 mph? My transmission jerks, often multiple times, depending on my foot pressure on the accelerator. I have had 4 reflashes since February, 2011 but still experience this phenomenon on a regular basis on the highway.

JK27 · May 30, 2011

Nope, what year do you have?

silvervettes · May 30, 2011

holtenclave said:
Has anyone else experienced "surges" in the transmission when accelerating around 65-70 mph? My transmission jerks, often multiple times, depending on my foot pressure on the accelerator. I have had 4 reflashes since February, 2011 but still experience this phenomenon on a regular basis on the highway.

I'm having a similar issue on the highway also. I don't have it narrowed down to any speed range. Mine is an 09 awd. I was going to have the dealership check it out.

sailfish · May 30, 2011

holtenclave said:
Has anyone else experienced "surges" in the transmission when accelerating around 65-70 mph? My transmission jerks, often multiple times, depending on my foot pressure on the accelerator. I have had 4 reflashes since February, 2011 but still experience this phenomenon on a regular basis on the highway.

So what year is your Enclave? I am not having that issue in my Enclave and did an interstate trip a couple weeks ago so if it was going to show up it would have at that time.

GoldEnclave · May 30, 2011

I am surprised that this has not been described on he forum prior to the 2 claims mentioned here. :-\

rbarrios · May 31, 2011

Well, I can just imagine that it maybe shifting out of 6 gear 'overdrive' or something...
Wed have to see a speed vs RPM plot graph to see whats going on...

(on mine in 6th gear- at cruising speed-- from 5th- to 6th it shifts--- rpms drop... but as it settles into 6th... eventually the rpms drop a bit further.... what to me feels like an overdrive in 6th....)

sailfish · May 31, 2011

You know I had some issues with the Outlook which I considered hesitation when stepping on the gas which was before I had the transmission re-flashed. After the re-flash had no issues with hesitation.

Buick Customer Service · May 31, 2011

Dear silvervettes,

I understand that your situation with your vehicle is very frustrating. Please, provide me with an update of the diagnosis information when you visit the dealership. This will allow me to know what steps that I will need to take if need be.

Sincerely,
Michelle, Buick Customer Service

bocoogto · May 31, 2011

When you accelerate when traveling 65-70, very little pedal pressure will result in a downshift and rpm's going from roughly 2000 to 3-4000 rpm. The 6-speed transmission has downshifted to allow quick acceleration if passing, etc. This is a normal condition with this easy-revving V6. With older 3 or 4 speed automatic transmissions, downshifting at this speed gives a much more abrupt jerk, but requires more pedal pressure by design. Or with a V8 that produces more torque at lower rpm's, this downshifting would not occur unless a lot of pedal pressure was applied.

I notice this whenever I switch from driving my '93 V8 Buick Roadmaster to the Enclave. The easy downshifting is a good compromise to allow rapid acceleration with a smaller engine. I'd guess the Lexus with an 8-speed automatic downshifts as easily, but smoother due to the availability of more gear ratios.

I don't believe there is anything wrong with your Enclave. In fact, I'd bet you moved from a V8-powered vehicle to the Enclave and experience the same thing that took me awhile to get accustomed to.

Buick Customer Service · May 31, 2011

holtenclave,

I have read about your what you are experiencing with your Enclave, it would be helpful to know the model year of your vehicle and what size engine you have in it.

I see that bocoogto has provided you with some very interesting information as well.

Michelle, Buick Customer Service

Plague · May 31, 2011

I had a similar problem with my 2009 Enclave. Turns out, one of the coil packs was faulty causing misfires. I thought it was a bad transmission shift as well, but I was wrong.

sciond · May 31, 2011

holtenclave said:
Has anyone else experienced "surges" in the transmission when accelerating around 65-70 mph? My transmission jerks, often multiple times, depending on my foot pressure on the accelerator. I have had 4 reflashes since February, 2011 but still experience this phenomenon on a regular basis on the highway.

yep does it other speeds too ..was told it is operating as designed

holtenclave · Jun 9, 2011

Sorry- don't check this as often as I should. Have been trying to get ahold of my local service rep to get the Enclave in the shop to no avail. Been waiting for three weeks to hear back from regional service rep at Buick Customer Care too.

I have an 09 CX FWD. I have the same issue when I give it steady pressure too. It also happens with cruise on. Happened 4 times w/i 5 seconds on recent trip.

Thanks.

bigbit · Jun 9, 2011

Plague said:
I had a similar problem with my 2009 Enclave. Turns out, one of the coil packs was faulty causing misfires. I thought it was a bad transmission shift as well, but I was wrong.

+1

new buick man · Jun 9, 2011

More like a sputtering(misfire?) in my case...bad coil pack cylinder #3.

Plague · Jun 9, 2011

holtenclave said:
Sorry- don't check this as often as I should. Have been trying to get ahold of my local service rep to get the Enclave in the shop to no avail. Been waiting for three weeks to hear back from regional service rep at Buick Customer Care too.

I have an 09 CX FWD. I have the same issue when I give it steady pressure too. It also happens with cruise on. Happened 4 times w/i 5 seconds on recent trip.

Thanks.

Ask them to check the coil packs. They will probably see misfires.

holtenclave · Jun 14, 2011

Plague said:
Ask them to check the coil packs. They will probably see misfires.

I asked my service manager about this today when I brought it in and he said it would show up when he had it hooked up to read the codes. Of course, I couldn't duplicate the surge on our short highway ridealong either!

silvervettes · Jul 1, 2011

Buick Customer Service said:
Dear silvervettes,

I understand that your situation with your vehicle is very frustrating. Please, provide me with an update of the diagnosis information when you visit the dealership. This will allow me to know what steps that I will need to take if need be.

Sincerely,
Michelle, Buick Customer Service

Pretty much what i thought I advised the dealer to check the coil paks and sure enough the one for the # six cylinder was bad. They replaced it and the spark plug for $300. I was hoping it would be covered under warrantly but it now has 54 k on it. I'm getting really dissapointed with all the problems this vehicle has had. All the cars I've owned combined in the last thrity years haven't been in the shop combined as much as this enclave in less than three years. I just recommended this vehicle to a friend I hope she only leased it, because I'm not getting a good feeling for the long haul. So far by 35 k water pump, steering rack, timing chains. Disconnected the heated washer fluid, heated seat needed a new element, navigation needed an upgrade to the programming. Did another recall on a valve for the brake system. Of course when the rack went bad it ruined the front tires prematurely. It seems like they really used some inferior quality parts on it. I just read the forum and i can predict what next will go wrong with it next. I hope these replacement parts last longer than the originals.

hirschaj · Jul 1, 2011

silvervettes said:
Pretty much what i thought I advised the dealer to check the coil paks and sure enough the one for the # six cylinder was bad. They replaced it and the spark plug for $300. I was hoping it would be covered under warrantly but it now has 54 k on it. I'm getting really dissapointed with all the problems this vehicle has had. All the cars I've owned combined in the last thrity years haven't been in the shop combined as much as this enclave in less than three years. I just recommended this vehicle to a friend I hope she only leased it, because I'm not getting a good feeling for the long haul. So far by 35 k water pump, steering rack, timing chains. Disconnected the heated washer fluid, heated seat needed a new element, navigation needed an upgrade to the programming. Did another recall on a valve for the brake system. Of course when the rack went bad it ruined the front tires prematurely. It seems like they really used some inferior quality parts on it. I just read the forum and i can predict what next will go wrong with it next. I hope these replacement parts last longer than the originals.

Isn't a coil pack part of the drivetrain? I would have thought it would be covered by the 100K mile drivetrain warranty.

GoldEnclave · Jul 1, 2011

hirschaj said:
Isn't a coil pack part of the drivetrain? I would have thought it would be covered by the 100K mile drivetrain warranty.

My thought, exactly. ???

silvervettes · Jul 10, 2011

GoldEnclave said:
My thought, exactly. ???

No and i was thinking when i picked it up that the rear switch on the tailgate will probably go next and when my wife picked me up today from a trip i tried to open the rear hatch and whar do you know? Yep, the switch is broken. If not covered under warranty I will order a new one on line and do it myself. What's next to break everyone? We should take bets. I think I'm gone with amercan cars I just bought my daughter a new Miata, made in hiroshimo. My WWII vet Dad is rolling in his grave. If all the same things are breaking on everyones cars there is an issue either with the parts design or quality.

GoldEnclave · Jul 11, 2011

silvervettes, I guess that the coil packs are considered part of the electrical system. I suppose that I already suspected that since I had to replace one in my 2003 Subaru Outback, and was told that it wasn't covered under the 3/36,000 B2B because the car already had about 50,000 miles on the odometer. I do not recall the length of the drivetrain warranty, but it was not considered part of the car's drivetrain.

hno:

goochman · Jul 11, 2011

silvervettes said:
No and i was thinking when i picked it up that the rear switch on the tailgate will probably go next and when my wife picked me up today from a trip i tried to open the rear hatch and whar do you know? Yep, the switch is broken. If not covered under warranty I will order a new one on line and do it myself. What's next to break everyone? We should take bets. I think I'm gone with amercan cars I just bought my daughter a new Miata, made in hiroshimo. My WWII vet Dad is rolling in his grave. If all the same things are breaking on everyones cars there is an issue either with the parts design or quality.

Guess I was lucky - my rear camera went out and it was an electrical short. A week later the rear hatch switch stopped working also and it was an electrical short also.

I asked the Service adviser if they are just treating the symptoms and not the problem - Im wondering if there isnt some way of moisture getting into the hatc causing these problems over time? He of course said 'No'

new buick man · Jul 11, 2011

These are why I traded my '09 w.49500mi. I had all the issues except timing chain(so far). When I cleaned out my glove box there were an extremely large amount of service receipts, for a 2.5 yr old car. Bought an '11 Ford Explorer Ltd...only 650 mi so far. It seems most issues are with the Ford Touch or Sync, the 2 hi tech devices.

GoldEnclave · Jul 11, 2011

new buick man said:
These are why I traded my '09 w.49500mi. I had all the issues except timing chain(so far). When I cleaned out my glove box there were an extremely large amount of service receipts, for a 2.5 yr old car. Bought an '11 Ford Explorer Ltd...only 650 mi so far. It seems most issues are with the Ford Touch or Sync, the 2 hi tech devices.

Keep us informed about your experience with your new Ford Explorer. Here's to continued good luck and enjoyment from it. :cheers:

silvervettes · Jul 12, 2011

goochman said:
Guess I was lucky - my rear camera went out and it was an electrical short. A week later the rear hatch switch stopped working also and it was an electrical short also.

I asked the Service adviser if they are just treating the symptoms and not the problem - Im wondering if there isnt some way of moisture getting into the hatc causing these problems over time? He of course said 'No'

One wire corroded off the back of the exterior switch. The new switch was only $23 and I repaired it in about 20 minutes. The switch clips in and i pulled enough slack to solder the new switch "comes with a wire tail" then taped the connection and popped it in. I'm sure i saved at least a Benny doing it myself and i know I didn't break anything/leave out/ leaveloose in the process.

Transmission surge when increasing speed around 65-70 mph.

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