6T70 Banner Rebuild Kit 2013

Model year 2013 is the trickiest year to buy 6T70 rebuild parts for, and this kit is listed specifically for it. If a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, Malibu, Traverse or Impala, GMC Terrain or Acadia, or Buick LaCrosse or Enclave is slipping, shifting late and soft, or has lost reverse together with 3rd and 5th gear, this new banner rebuild kit supplies the soft parts for the overhaul. The photo shows the kit as it ships: a boxed gasket and seal set alongside a friction plate pack and a smaller component box.

How the banner kit works in a 6T70

Inside the 6T70, two planetary gearsets and five clutches produce six forward ratios. The clutch packs are the 1-2-3-4, the 2-6, the 3-5-Reverse, the 4-5-6 and the Low/Reverse. The TCM, which lives inside the transaxle, applies them by sending regulated oil to apply pistons through the valve body and sealing rings. A banner kit replaces the parts that wear in that path: the frictions that grip, plus the gaskets, lip seals, O-rings and sealing rings that hold pressure. That is the core of a standard rebuild, without paying for the extra hard parts a master kit adds.

Symptoms of a worn 2013 6T70

• Engine RPM flares on the 2-3 or 4-5 upshift as frictions lose grip.
• Delayed engagement after the vehicle sits, a classic sign of hardened piston seals.
• Dark fluid with a burnt smell.
• No reverse, 3rd or 5th, often logged as P0776, from a broken 3-5-Reverse wave plate. GM's bulletin explains the broken plate lets the piston over-stroke and lose apply pressure.
• A harsh 1-2 shift with no codes. On 2015-2017 Lambda models GM traced this to unlearned shift adapts, not worn parts, so rule it out first.

Check before you tear it down

Scan for codes and look at the fluid. A harsh shift with no codes and clean fluid may only need the drive learn GM describes for these units. Clutch material in the pan, slipping, or P0776 with no reverse mean the unit has to come apart. For an Equinox or Terrain, start with our Equinox shift problems guide, then read Equinox common problems to see which failures are mechanical.

Fitment: Gen 1 or Gen 2 in 2013

GM split the 6T70 in 2013. According to ATRA, only units with RPO M7W or M7U received the Gen 2 controls update that year. Every other 2013 6T70 stayed Gen 1 until 2014 production. That means two 2013 vehicles that look identical can need different parts. Before ordering, read the RPO code from the Service Parts Identification label, usually in the glovebox or console, or send us the year and VIN and we will confirm this kit matches your unit. If your vehicle turns out to be an earlier build, the 2009-2013 6T70 banner kit may be the better match. You can browse everything for this transmission on the 6T70 parts page.

Install notes

• Lift the converter out vertically to protect the turbine lip seal inside it.
• Inspect the 3-5-Reverse wave plate and the reaction carrier. Debris from a broken plate damages the planetary, and the reaction carrier, input ring gear and snap ring are serviced as separate pieces. Forgetting the ring gear causes no movement and P2723 after the job.
• Check the drums for spline wear. Our 6T70 clutch drum is listed if yours is damaged.
• Inspect the pump and its outlet seal; low idle line pressure points there. A replacement 6T70 pump is available.
• Fill with DEXRON-VI. The 2012 Acadia owner manual lists about 5.0 L for a drain-and-refill, but a rebuilt dry unit takes more, so set the level hot.
• Run the TCM clutch learn so fill times are relearned.

How do I know if my 2013 6T70 is Gen 1 or Gen 2?

Check the RPO codes on the Service Parts Identification label. ATRA lists M7W and M7U as the 6T70 codes that got the Gen 2 update in 2013; other 2013 units stayed Gen 1. Or send us your VIN.

Does the kit include steel plates?

A banner kit pairs the overhaul gaskets and seals with friction plates. Reuse steels only if they are flat and not heat-discolored, and measure each clutch pack clearance on assembly.

Should I replace the 3-5-Reverse wave plate?

Yes. It is the plate most likely to break in this family, so install an updated one whenever the unit is apart, and inspect the planetary for debris damage.

What fluid and how much?

DEXRON-VI only. A drain-and-refill is about 5.0 L, but a rebuilt unit needs more. Set the final level with the fluid hot.

My 2013 has a harsh 1-2 shift but no codes. Do I need this kit?

Maybe not. GM says unlearned shift adapts cause that on later units. Try the drive learn first; rebuild if it slips, has debris or lost gears.

• 6T70 Equinox Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• 6T70 Equinox Common Problems and Fixes
• 6T70 Impala Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• 6T70 Rebuild Cost and What Drives It