Grace Macaluso, Windsor Star
Published: Monday, March 31, 2008
WINDSOR - The Ontario government is renewing calls for federal government assistance as it sets its sights on securing a new product for the GM Transmission plant in Windsor, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said Monday.
The plant's four-speed transmission is slated to be retired in 2010, said CAW plant chairman Ken Bruner. "The need for a new product is huge." (YESSSSS )
Although there have been meetings off and on to discuss a new product, the union hasn't had an official meeting for about three months, said Bruner, adding that the union is willing to negotiate a "competitive operating agreement" with GM. "Nothing will happen until we get through contract negotiations this summer."
The plant has produced four-speed transmissions for a number of vehicles, including the Chevy Malibu, Chevy Cobalt, Saturn Aura, Saturn Vue and HHR. "This plant has been a major breadwinner for GM," said Bruner.

Full story at:
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/ne...0a2c97&k=79883

 

Although the 4speeds were good trannys, this is great news. GM needs to catch up with the times. My wifes 03 MPV has a 5 speed auto in it. There are already 8 speed autos out there.

But I'll still believe it when it actually happens.

 

There are a couple of members here that work at that plant.

The other night I was watching How It's Made and they showed the assembly of the 4T45E transmission. At the end of the segment they showed an underneath shot of an HHR showing the tranny.

 

I'll take my 4T45E over any slushbox made by Aisin any day of the week...

 

Well I hope so since you purchased it. I'll gladly keep the Jatco 5 speed, I like the fact it has an easy to do drain setup and most importatnt of all, a dipstick to check the fluid...... Sorry, but 4speed slushboxes are like owing a PS1....... They had a good life, but it's time to move on.

 

Try working every day not knowing what you are going to do for work after July 2010.It`s even worse if you don`t have 28.1 years and under the age of 53.GM dosen`t pay a dime of your pension till you turn 65 hard to wait 20 years to collect on your pension if you are only 45.

The big 3 has devastated the Windsor area in the last few years.The old GM Trim plant shuts down this July half the tool and die shops are now closed.In are case being 5 minutes from Detroit the dollar at par and 100% of the transmissions being ship out of Canada has a big impact on the decision not to give us a new product.

We were always the best tranny plant GM had but that just don`t cut it anymore.

 

What I don't understand is why aren't the individuals that build the 4 speed being used to build the 6 speeds? Technology changes, every company knows that what they build today will be "yesterday news" at some point. Unfotunatly most of the US auto plants wanted to stay put. GM has been building 6speeds for the high end trucks, but nothing for the standard Silverado? Doesn't make sense to me. If I was a UAW worker, I would be wondering why all those union heads were not doing the same instead of how they were handling their "business" in the first place. But that is a different story.

 

The main reason why most cars are moving to 6 speed (or more) transmissions is for fuel economy. Engines are getting smaller for this same reason. Smaller engines must rev higher to achieve enough torque to move a 4200 lb (ave. GVW of the HHR LS 2.2) weight of a vehicle. Electronics in the VCM's will play a major role in the fuel economy of new products but at performance cost.
There are new GM 6 speed front wheel drives for cars being made. Currently one is being built for the V-6 Malibu LTZ in Toledo, OH., and another is soon to come on-line in St Catherines, ON. (near Niagara Falls). The Equinox/Torrent SUV assembled by CAMI in Ingersoll, ON uses a Chinese 4300 V-6 and an Aisan (Japan) 5 speed auto. I have had this vehicle for 2 yrs and have had no problems. Fuel economy with it is another issue, though.
Is there a V-6 and/or 6 speed HHR in the near future? Hard to say with gas being so high. Tooling and conversion costs for new products are nearly triple what they were when we started building the 4T45E in 1994.
Pontiac is "exploring" the idea of an additional body style for the G6. The idea being "El Camino/ Cabellero" (2008 NY auto show)