CT4-V Frustration with build quality

[GoPlz]

My 6 month old, 6,500 mile CT4-V Blackwing is now in the shop for multiple issues and I'm frustrated and I guess here to vent.

First issue is the 2nd gear notchiness. Mine has been persistently difficult to shift into 2nd when cold, but also when hot. Particularly after a long highway run when shifting down through the gears it doesn't want to go into 2nd. Dealership was talking to corporate yesterday but it sounds like I'll be receiving a new transmission because they think the synchros are shot.

The other issue is the squeak/squelch the car makes on acceleration once it's warm. Similar issues reported by others that results in a new turbo. Listen to the video here: CT4-V Blackwing Noises

Oh, and my paint quality is garbage. I've never seen so much orange peel.

Otherwise, I love the car and have been thoroughly enjoying it, including 2 track days, but this is confirming all my fears in buying a GM product. I'm crossing my fingers this doesn't take too long and I get the car back in better shape.

 

[FLYARMY]

Orange peel is easily fixed. A detail shop or body shop will just wet sand and polish and it will look better than a good factory job.

 

[piranha971]

The dealership doesn't know what they are talking about. Every tremec TR6060 has that caracteristics. Don't let them take out the transmission and screw it up doing something they can't do anything about. Just change to a different oil. It helped mine quite a bit.

 

[GoPlz]

The dealership doesn't know what they are talking about. Every tremec TR6060 has that caracteristics. Don't let them take out the transmission and screw it up doing something they can't do anything about. Just change to a different oil. It helped mine quite a bit.

I wish it felt like oil would solve the problem. There are times when I absolutely cannot get the trans in 2nd. That's not an acceptable condition.

 

[rubberduck]

Oil definitely won’t help, try ATF.

 

[GoPlz]

Oil definitely won’t help, try ATF.

You are amazingly helpful. Quality contribution. High five buddy

 

[GoPlz]

Orange peel is easily fixed. A detail shop or body shop will just wet sand and polish and it will look better than a good factory job.

I shouldn't have to pay a second party to do the work that GM should have completed themselves on my $70k car. Our $30k Bronco Sport has perfect paint right from the factory. Not that it's higher quality paint, but at least it's laid down like Ford cares and has some minimal quality control in place.

 

[668LT4]

While it is frustrating, you need to get off of the "70k car". 20k 50k 120k... makes no difference. You bought a General Motors product. This is what you get. Cadillac Blackwing is a driving experience, not a work of art. Did you point out your poor paint to the dealer before you bought it?

As I have posted before, I owned a 2022 M4 Comp xDrive before my CT5-V Blackwing. Perfect paint, perfect leather, perfect panel alignment. It really felt like a quality product for the 94k or whatever it was. But it was so sterile to drive. No emotion, no soul. So it just depends on what you want. Cadillac Blackwing, particularly in manual version, gives the best driving experience one can have for the dollars spent. Most of us here bought the cars for that attribute, and accept the less important ones.

 

[rubberduck]

Cadillac Blackwing, particularly in manual version, gives the best driving experience one can have for the dollars spent. Most of us here bought the cars for that attribute, and accept the less important ones.

Yes it’s a brilliant car. But just as important to me, after owning German cars, it feels good to be in the driver’s seat of a car made in America and support American auto workers.

 

[Orange Whip]

The dealership doesn't know what they are talking about. Every tremec TR6060 has that caracteristics. Don't let them take out the transmission and screw it up doing something they can't do anything about. Just change to a different oil. It helped mine quite a bit.

What oil did you change to?

 

[piranha971]

What oil did you change to?

Amsoil atf. I also bled the clutch at the same time. Either of these or a combination of the two made a tremendous difference. No more finding you were not fully in second when releasing the clutch and hearing a horrible crunch as the shifter pops out of half engaged gear.

 

[BimmerFan]

If you do a search or just randomly read threads, you will see that many people have had substandard paint jobs.

The notchy transmission is normal, although mine is usually much better once warmed-up, even so sometimes it is quite difficult. It's the nature of the beast, I'm afraid, a quite sturdy and robust box to handle all of the torque.

 

[ericwilliamstevenson]

Yes it’s a brilliant car. But just as important to me, after owning German cars, it feels good to be in the driver’s seat of a car made in America and support American auto workers.

This has been my tendency as well. I would prefer to buy 'Murican.. Even considering an A10 as will be my daily and will likely keep a subaru for snow season.

 

[Orange Whip]

Amsoil atf. I also bled the clutch at the same time. Either of these or a combination of the two made a tremendous difference. No more finding you were not fully in second when releasing the clutch and hearing a horrible crunch as the shifter pops out of half engaged gear.

With the Amsoil: did you remove 8oz of fluid like GM recommends with their 10-4033 AC Delco oil? Or did you just use the full 4 qts?

 

[piranha971]

I did not drain the 8oz from the lower plug. Just the top plug.

 

[Melon]

Manual transmission fluid that can handle high temps, i.e. track duty, is notoriously notchy and difficult in colder weather. My car is difficult to get into second as well before it warms up.
Yours's doing it more frequently is an eyebrow raiser.

As far as some of the other issues, well, it's why you get BMW M3 performance, at 75% the price.
GM Quality!

So far I've had to do the following:
Set my rear bumper into the clips.
Fix my a-pillar trim
lubricate the clutch pivot pin (Was squeaking)
Adjust the exterior front door window trim (It was hitting the rear door when closing)

 

[GoPlz]

Little update for those who might wonder. Dealership has ordered a left side turbo and the synchros for 2nd gear. Parts are on backorder, with no ETA.

 

[5VBW Nick]

The guy at the factory that builds transmissions day after day didn't get it right, so let's have a young tech at the dealer give it a crack...

 

[piranha971]

Say what? They are going to open the tranny and replace synchros? That doesn't make any sense. This is not what the do. They replace, not rebuild.

 

[BimmerFan]

Say what? They are going to open the tranny and replace synchros? That doesn't make any sense. This is not what the do. They replace, not rebuild.

My first thought as well. Something is not right here.