Help...VE R8 A6 problem

[KingClifton]

On the way to work today I took a wrong turn and had to reverse back up a street. When I put the trans into R, I heard a chime, which I assumed was the parking sensors, but glanced at the centre screen and noticed "Contact Dealer" and "Stability Control Inactive". When I put it back in D, it was clearly in limp-home mode (stuck in 3rd) and the Check Engine light was on.

It's going into the dealer shortly, but anyone else have this? At the 15K service I told the dealer I was getting the flaring on gear changes but they couldn't reproduce it, so nothing was done.

Anyone else had a similar problem? Please tell me it's just an ECU reset and fluid check ...

[Big_Valven]

The thing (computer) has probably just tripped over it's own feet. That's my guess anyway. Did you try ignition off / start engine again? Don't know if it would help, but might clear it?

[KingClifton]

The thing (computer) has probably just tripped over it's own feet. That's my guess anyway. Did you try ignition off / start engine again? Don't know if it would help, but might clear it?

Yup, tried that - 3 times (once after letting it sit for 2 hours).

[VYR8HSV]

We also get the flare up on our R8 A6 as well.
When it went in for the 15,000 service they put the new
program in for the gearbox.
Personally i think it has made it worse.

Have to take it back when get time. But they have said that they are
unable to put the old program back in as they no longer have it :confused:

Pete

[EXCESSV]

u probably should take it anyway to get the dealer to check it but maybe just disconnect the battery to reset ecu, etc and try then

[BadMac]

I had the limp problem once, no amount of turning off worked/would have worked, the service people explained, the computer stores the code and needs to be plugged into the service computer to be reset.

On a related note, can somebody describe flairing to me. I suspect my A6 might be on its way out (29500km's). I get a whine in sixth between 100KPH and 110KPH, its very specific to the revs, if I put it in manual mode, its still there if I change down to 5th in manual mode, its goes away (keeping speed constant), If I slow below 100 its goes away, if I accelerate past 110 it goes away. I also have a grinding sound when its cold and once warm on hard acceration I get what feels kind of like slippage or something in second, (but it not the rears!) it kind of feels like its loosing traction, but its not. I have tried DSC on and OFF no difference, dry wet no difference. Also have had it where you are accelerating onto a motorway on ramp gently, then spot a gap and floor it, it dies for a few seconds (like old days with carbs with float set wrong), very disconcerting. It all seems to point to the gearbox. Its due for service this week. I need to be able to describe it to the service people (although I will take them for a spin and show them). Yes I have the update, but these problems surfaced afterwards, so it may have contributed or it could just be a gearbox problem. Sorry to hijack/share the thread, but your title was perfect to seek help with my issue as well.

[KingClifton]

On a related note, can somebody describe flairing to me.

No worries mate, glad to hear someone else has had the same problem - kinda reassuring. Flaring (my description at least) is where the revs rise briefly during an upshift. It's happened a few times, IIRC only on 4th to 5th upshift, and only on part-throttle (ie. gentle urban driving). Dealer couldn't replicate the fault and hadn't heard of it happening on any others.

[BadMac]

No worries mate, glad to hear someone else has had the same problem - kinda reassuring. Flaring (my description at least) is where the revs rise briefly during an upshift. It's happened a few times, IIRC only on 4th to 5th upshift, and only on part-throttle (ie. gentle urban driving). Dealer couldn't replicate the fault and hadn't heard of it happening on any others.


Thanks, its not flaring then, can't say ive noticed it flaring as you describe, but now that I know what to look for, no doubt I will find instance of it.

[Wonky]

I've noticed mine occasionally flaring for a while...... :(

[KingClifton]

Good news...it only needed a reset and minor gearbox software update.
There were 13 fault codes in the on-board diagnostics, 3 of which were gearbox-related. Kudos to Leigh at City Holden (Adelaide) for accomodating me at such short notice.

[SS Enforcer]

No worries mate, glad to hear someone else has had the same problem - kinda reassuring. Flaring (my description at least) is where the revs rise briefly during an upshift. It's happened a few times, IIRC only on 4th to 5th upshift, and only on part-throttle (ie. gentle urban driving). Dealer couldn't replicate the fault and hadn't heard of it happening on any others.

Mine flares when I start it and make a first pass through the gears . It does it mainly from 2nd to 3rd. I had dealer flash update into it and tbh no real difference.

Oztrack uploaded the new settings and compared them to the previous and TBH not much was changed in the shift settings.

The dealer not hearing of it happening is total bullshit !! Holden have been aware of this problem since August last year. I think you will find that Wheels had the problem and wrote about it in their big VE edition. Last christmas when I started to mention my gearbox to the service guy he just "is it flaring". They know about it!

If anyone has heard of anyone getting the problem rectified could they please post this up. I am suspecting it is a faulty controller in the box or the box itself so no amount of software flashing will fix this.

cheers

[SS Enforcer]

A bump for this thread as mine flared badly last night on the 2-3 shift anyone know of anyone who has had the problem fixed at all?

cheers

[Steakman]

All I know is there must be some teething problems with this A6 gearbox. My brother in law has a new SSV and the gearbox just won't hold gear or select a gear at times. The dealers given up on it and replacing the whole thing on warranty.

The problem is that its been 2 months and he's still waiting on the new gearbox to come in. Does that sound right for a local manufacturer? He's not happy to say the least as he's driving around in a car that sometimes takes off when he pulls into traffic and sometimes just sits there reving not going anywhere.

[cheech09]

Hi All,
I have the VE R8 A6 and I haven't noticed any flaring on mine but I do get the
the problem described below.


"Also have had it where you are accelerating onto a motorway on ramp gently, then spot a gap and floor it, it dies for a few seconds (like old days with carbs with float set wrong), very disconcerting. It all seems to point to the gearbox."

I have been told by HSV, not sure if it's true (sounds like Bull S*#*# to me) they seem to beleive that when the gear box senses that alot of torque is on the way it shuts down as a saftey precaution so that the gear box has a longer life because these cars have serious torque.

You be the judge.........

Regards
Soren

[Big_Valven]

Sounds like CRAP to me... what is the point of giving these cars engines that produce power and torque if there is a box right behind it doing everything in its power to restrict the car!?!?!

Sounds absurd is how it sounds.

[carneb]

Mine used to flare on the first 2-3rd change. I had the software updated by the dealer a few weeks ago and now it doesn't flare, but it does seem to pause - bad enough that I think I'm going to headbutt the windscreen.



Also have had it where you are accelerating onto a motorway on ramp gently, then spot a gap and floor it, it dies for a few seconds (like old days with carbs with float set wrong), very disconcerting. It all seems to point to the gearbox.

I've also had this happen a few times. The gearbox seems to be indescisive when kicking down. This tied to the torque management gives a BIG pause - it will kick down 1 gear, and retard timing for torque management while doing so, then it will pause and have a think about it, then change down another gear and again torque management kicks in. It's a very scary feeling when you have no drive and the reason you've kicked it down is because you want to accelerate quickly.

[EddieVE06]

Sounds pretty stupid if a gearbox pauses due to torque delivery being high and then it has to think of which gear to select. Alot of the things we do on the road are split second, you'd hate to be caught waiting for something to happen if ur caught in a dangerous situation

either cut the torque output or install a better box. Frankly if i put my foot down i expect a response quickly not have to wait for the car to work itself out and then take action.

[VEGTS]

My gts has done the flare 2-3 every first change after start up. The previous box or program did the big breath thing before it would respond ,as well as the flare. The box now works perfect other than that flare to which i now have changed my drive off tecnique so i rarely do it. Maybe i should leave it alone & put up with just 1 fault? The tec answer was the auto is supposed to bleed the valve body on the first up shift between 2-3 every time you start the car. A load of crap if you ask me but by the sounds of some of the other autos here i should leave it alone. The auto seems to be handeling the blower ok ....So far?

[SS Enforcer]

Well mine is getting stranger a few times now when changing at 1/2 throttle it has gone from 1st to 4th with only a single tap :confused: It's picked up 2and and 3rd along the way briefly . At first I thought it was me but now I know it's the box.

With the flaring issue if the box is supposed to bleed off everytime at first startup what then do you do at the drags ??? :confused: Or if you startup and pull out into traffic and need to get up to speed ??? I believe the flaring can't be good for the box at all.

cheers

[VX225]

Good news...it only needed a reset and minor gearbox software update.
There were 13 fault codes in the on-board diagnostics, 3 of which were gearbox-related. Kudos to Leigh at City Holden (Adelaide) for accomodating me at such short notice.

:eek: so what where the other 10 fault codes??

[VEGTS]

Well mine is getting stranger a few times now when changing at 1/2 throttle it has gone from 1st to 4th with only a single tap :confused: It's picked up 2and and 3rd along the way briefly . At first I thought it was me but now I know it's the box.

With the flaring issue if the box is supposed to bleed off everytime at first startup what then do you do at the drags ??? :confused: Or if you startup and pull out into traffic and need to get up to speed ??? I believe the flaring can't be good for the box at all.

cheers


After you get yourself off the dash,You hang your head in shame as everyone around you thinks you missed a gear! At the strip i went around the water & manually put it through 1st 2nd & 3rd really quick.I was told a fix is on its way but the other problems i could get sound like a nightmare. As i said before its natural for me now to change manually 1,2,3 before i even travel 10 m. Then it never does it.

[SS Enforcer]

After you get yourself off the dash,You hang your head in shame as everyone around you thinks you missed a gear! At the strip i went around the water & manually put it through 1st 2nd & 3rd really quick.I was told a fix is on its way but the other problems i could get sound like a nightmare. As i said before its natural for me now to change manually 1,2,3 before i even travel 10 m. Then it never does it.

Ill try that I wondered if clicking it through quickly would do it. What about manualy creeping forward in 3rd gear from the start. Might try that as well.

cheers

[VEGTS]

If its the same flare on the first 2-3 upshift under some peddal. Then ill bet a left one it will work. Ive been doing it for 40 000 klm. As said before i just start off differently now.

Man what are you doing at "Today, 04:01 AM ". ive only seen that time of the morning coming home>

[macca33]

Why oh why didn't they just put the BTR auto in these Holdens???

These sorts of faults are fairly crappy and the 'torque reduction' BS that was mentioned by the HSV rep is a joke. The torque coming through the driveline builds with engine revs and power, it doesn't come on at 550Nm (figure plucked out of my mind) in one instant. They are full of crap.

As mentioned, I would suspect that is an inherent design problem, not a software problem.

Cheers,

Macca

[SS Enforcer]

If its the same flare on the first 2-3 upshift under some peddal. Then ill bet a left one it will work. Ive been doing it for 40 000 klm. As said before i just start off differently now.

Man what are you doing at "Today, 04:01 AM ". ive only seen that time of the morning coming home>

Tried it today a few times ... no flare :confused:

I get home from work late but this week has been a bit later than usual.

cheers

[V-Car]

Why oh why didn't they just put the BTR auto in these Holdens???

These sorts of faults are fairly crappy and the 'torque reduction' BS that was mentioned by the HSV rep is a joke. The torque coming through the driveline builds with engine revs and power, it doesn't come on at 550Nm (figure plucked out of my mind) in one instant. They are full of crap.

As mentioned, I would suspect that is an inherent design problem, not a software problem.

Cheers,

Macca

Maybe the rumours last year that HSV were/wanted to use the ZF 6speed (ala Falcon) in their E-series may have been close to the mark.
Seems they might have known something about the 6L80E that some VE owners are now just finding out! ;)

[Danv8]

Maybe the rumours last year that HSV were/wanted to use the ZF 6speed (ala Falcon) in their E-series may have been close to the mark.
Seems they might have known something about the 6L80E that some VE owners are now just finding out! ;)

Kind of glad that I am getting a manual.

[Oztrack Tuning]

There are shift time settings in the tune and the problem might be due to these being set wrong by the factory. Its just not the type of thing that someone would want to experiment with. We wait for a solution to filter in from the cars in the USA that have the same box.

[ATOMIC MALOO R8]

There are shift time settings in the tune and the problem might be due to these being set wrong by the factory. Its just not the type of thing that someone would want to experiment with. We wait for a solution to filter in from the cars in the USA that have the same box.

I Emailed a few performance transmission guys in the states and they said no one was doing aney upgrades ,mods, etc for them yet ??
drove a SSV A6 ute while in bris and changeing up at WOT in manuel mode it had a big lag between gears

[Alex(AUS)]

There was supposed to be a big update coming for the guys in the States around this time ... did that eventuate? I am sure that once that is in place we will have the same. I must say that my box was never bad but after the software update it is much better ... I am sure that if the next update is just as significant it will be up there with the ZF ...

Alex

[SS Enforcer]

I think the software update was it mate. Steve from Oztrack had a look at the update and compared the new settings to the old ones and there really wasn't much changed. Basically just the revs at which the lower gears would downshift and some part throttle settings I think from memory.

I know I sounded like I was bagging out the box but really it works nicely 99% of the time. Sometimes it is easy to concentrate on a few bad points which can sour all the good points. If they can fix the flaring issue I will be rapt. :)

cheers

[Redhot_57]

Ive noticed similar issues with my bosses SS-V. Nothing huge, just the occasional little flare between changes, jerky while picking up a gear at low speed (like when you slow for a speed hump then ease the gas back on) and slow response when changing manually.

My other gripe, why oh why wont the box run a sporty overdrive lockout mode when you throw the lever across (aka ZF auto)?? The box is all too eager to shift up to 6th for my liking, then it holds it at lowish speeds and even down hills when you really want a little engine braking. Dont mean to offend Holden, but I guess you get what you pay for and Ford's ZF box is worlds apart from the 6L80. It detracts from an otherwise very impressive car.

Just my humble opinion.