I’ve got a 2010 Escalade I’m about to purchase but have a question. Previous owner LSA swapped it with a 2.5 pulley. Upon the test drive if you go wide open throttle from a stop or dig while in first it will not shift to 2nd unless you get off the gas. He stated that he just had a well known tuner retune the truck but that the tuner didn’t know what could be causing the issue. It’s basically like it falls on its face instead of shifting. Just hits the rev limiter then you have to back off to shift. Could this be in the tune? Previous owner stated it was fine until the pulley swap. Current owner has lived with it and just backs up to shift. I would love to pick the truck up but I would like an idea of what I’m dealing with before I make the buy. Has anyone dealt with this before?

 

Clutch packs are on there way out. Tuner can increase pressure but it will only band aide it.

 

I wouldn't trust it. If the tuner can't see what the problem is through logging the transmission then I wouldn't even want to touch it.

You could put in a new transmission and it could have the same problem sooner than later if the transmission calibration is garbage. Not being able to see the tune file on it doesn't help here. The 6L80e can handle a decent amount of power but this is also a 5,500+ vehicle with close to 500hp, so it's at it's limit already on a stock 6L80e.

 

I reached out to the tuner that did the updated tune (John weeks) but haven’t got a response. I know he’s a busy guy. Current owner was told that they had just put a jasper trans in but I haven’t checked to verify it and he has no paper work. If it’s the 1-2 clutch packs I don’t think I’ll mess with it. Not wanting to pick it up then throw in a rebuild. I was hoping it was just something in the tune. It shifts good but going wot it’s like hitting a brick wall almost when it doesn’t shift. It is a heavy truck and only 10k miles with the lsa on it but I’m sure those 10k were hard miles.

 

I know it sounds dumb but check the transmission fluid level.. I do a fair amount of tunes for local transmission guy and most of the times they are low on fluid if they won't do a 1-2 WOT up shift if the tune is good and the transmission is halfway healthy.

 

Thanks! I’ll give that a shot and see. After your comment I’ve looked into it more and it’s crazy how big of an issue the trans fluid can be even at normal levels. Most go a quart over normal to help with the shifting. I’m still waiting for him to verify with his tuner at what mph and rpm they are commanding the shift. Just to be safe.

 

If you can get a copy of the tune and a datalog and post it we might can help out more besides throwing darts at it with a blindfold on.

 

Might not even be the trans. There's a predictive rev limiter that often gets mistaken for transmission problems. Would need data to say for sure.

 

yep!
Thats what i was gonna get at.
I found that out on a 2010 camaro last year.

 

I had the the Start Up Modifiers>Cold Engine table limit my 1-2 shifts. It was set at 6,000 in the last colum and I was trying to make my truck shift at 6,200. It would up shift unless you let off like your talking about.

Did he get it retuned after he swapped the pulley??