2016 Silverado torque converter failure

Jeremy Young · March 13, 2020

Hello Gents,

I have the notorious torque converter shudder in my 2016 1500 LT with the 5.3 6 speed. I had the flush done and the new style fluid and additive put in from the dealership..... NO CHANGE. Took her over to AAMCO and they diagnosed it as a torque converter failure as did another Chevy dealership. My question is rather than paying the $4300 to the dealer for a full rebuild why not buy the $450 converter from the dealer and put it in myself. I don’t have $4300 laying around after buying a $27k truck 6 months ago..... for me the converter swap is easy work I just don’t know if there is programming or other issues I may run into? Thank you

Edited March 13, 2020 by Jeremy Young
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davester · March 13, 2020

what do they mean by "torque converter failure"? If it's guts have started coming apart, then likely bits of it are throughout the transmission as well...

mjm-1957 · March 13, 2020

The torque converter shudder is with the M5U 8L90E, 8 speed transmission, not the 6l80E. You don't do a transmission fluid exchange with the new HP fluid on the 6 speed. It uses DEX 6.The torque converter probably came apart sending metal debris threw the whole unit, ruining the pump and causing low line pressure in turn burning up the clutches and causing the shuddering your feeling.The converter alone would be a waste of time and money. That needs to come out and overhauled.

Lsgun1 · March 13, 2020

Post above me is correct. Your cheapest option is buy a transmission from a wrecked truck.

Jeremy Young · March 13, 2020

That’s what I thought also is that it’s only the eight speed but when I took it to multiple dealerships all three of them suggested the same solution to flush it multiple times and put in the fluid whatever it is that stops the shudder I’m not disagreeing that it is only the eight speed that does it this is just what the dealership did I think what it is is just downright torque converter failure it does the same thing as people are describing with their shudder it feels like I’m driving on the rumble strips and shifting around erratically as I’m cruising down the highway the RPMs fluctuate just like the shudder issue does and I have bump shift, I do agree it may be a waste of time to do just the torque converter when material from this one is almost guaranteed to be floating around in the fluid... I have searched around for a used one from the wrecking yards but cannot seem to find one mine has the toe button on my shifter the only one I found does not have the tow package. Plus if you put a used one of them isn’t there programming involved? Thank you guys

newdude · March 13, 2020

The 6 speed did have a single flush procedure with Dex 6. If they used HP fluid, thats no bueno.

2016-2018 these 6L80s seem to love torque converters. We've changed a few, some had failed bad to the point they took the transmission or parts of the transmission with it. It's not the same type of concern as the 8 speed. The 8 speed is a fluid issue, the 6 speed its crappy torque converters.

New or used, a trans has got to be programmed.

Edited March 13, 2020 by newdude

It's Tim · March 13, 2020

1 hour ago, Jeremy Young said:

I do agree it may be a waste of time to do just the torque converter when material from this one is almost guaranteed to be floating around in the fluid

Transmission, torque converter and throughly flush the cooling lines then have it programmed. Sorry, but the only real fix is to start over from scratch.

Z45 · March 13, 2020

I am curious' is this truck 100% stock or do you have oversize tires, suspension lift etc?

Jeremy Young · March 13, 2020

8 hours ago, elcamino said:

I am curious' is this truck 100% stock or do you have oversize tires, suspension lift etc?

This truck is 100% stock, nothing at all has been done to it. Truck was running and driving excellent and one day on my way home from fishing trip on the back highway I passed a vehicle and in order to pass them I throttled hard it shifted down as it should pass the vehicle after passing them I decelerated and it started to me it seems like what happened is that the high rpm obviously something inside the torque converter let loose

Edited March 14, 2020 by Jeremy Young

Jeremy Young · March 14, 2020

9 hours ago, newdude said:

The 6 speed did have a single flush procedure with Dex 6. If they used HP fluid, thats no bueno.

2016-2018 these 6L80s seem to love torque converters. We've changed a few, some had failed bad to the point they took the transmission or parts of the transmission with it. It's not the same type of concern as the 8 speed. The 8 speed is a fluid issue, the 6 speed its crappy torque converters.

New or used, a trans has got to be programmed.

Yeah unfortunately it seems like from what everyone is telling me at local shops along with transmission shops that is my torque converter. I wish I could just replace the torque converter they have one in stock at the local Chevy dealership only 450 bucks, compared to the $4300 rebuild. I had the transmission flushed again the other day and the fluid looked great I didn’t see and neither did the shop, any metallic or shavings. But I know that doesn’t mean anything

jmeeler19 · March 15, 2020

I just went through the same thing with my 16 6spd. What the guys above are telling you is correct. Torque converter fails sending metal throughout the trans. Got a reman installed by my local dealer. Call GM also. They helped foot some of the bill on mine. I was at 69k miles. On top of that on the way to take it in for the transmission issue I had an injector fail. Had to replace the injector, high pressure fuel pump, 1 valve, and a lifter.

Edited March 15, 2020 by jmeeler19

flyingfool · March 15, 2020

sounds like its not good to over rev the stock drivelines on our trucks, some of the OE parts are not up to snuff to handle high rpm horsepower.guess you got to go easy on em...

call the techs at Circle D transmission, they have rebuilt 6 speed trans for years ,they install the TSB updates and heavy duty upgrade parts for $3000, and its rated at 600 hp.. their Torque Converters are also designed to a higher quality than the GM factory unit,

https://www.circledspecialties.com

Edited March 15, 2020 by flyingfool

jlehrian · June 13, 2023

Hi, I have also had the same issue of torque converter failure with my 2016 5.3 6 speed transmission. It's currently at the dealership, and they want to replace the torque converter and transmission at a great cost. It sounds, from reading the comments on this page, that this is a known problem. I asked the service rep at the dealership if I replace this the torque converter and transmission will this happen again? He said that the coolant lines have been reconfigured so it shouldn't happen again, but I'm not too confident in that response. If anyone can help me with this decision to fix this or not and move on to a new truck, I sure would appreciate it.