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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / February 2007

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Transmission Repair Cost

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Mitch_Boucher_PE - 22 Feb 2007 02:33 GMT
Hi:

Does anyone know the average cost, or a couple benchmarks on transmission
repairs?  Maybe even typical or known problems.  My 1999 GMC Jimmy 4X4,  just
got sick.

sudden, buzz/whirring noise.  Now there is no reverse.  In forward, it revs
to 3000 rpms for 1-2 shift, then 2-3rd takes a mile at 2200 rpms.  I get a
hesitation too when driving to the closest shop -- sort of like a belt
slipping (if there were one).

SOooo what am I looking at?  $1,500 for an average, or $2,500?
is there a "Main flux capacitor" that will cost $1000, but if the "duplex
omni whiz bang lever" is worn out then it will be another $800 - or what.
Maybe there is a "breather tube" or "filter" that can be changed for $49.95?

Any insights or light-hearted input would really help....

Thanks!

Mitch
HLS@nospam.nix - 22 Feb 2007 13:14 GMT
> SOooo what am I looking at?  $1,500 for an average, or $2,500?
> is there a "Main flux capacitor" that will cost $1000, but if the "duplex
> omni whiz bang lever" is worn out then it will be another $800 - or what.
> Maybe there is a "breather tube" or "filter" that can be changed for $49.95?

Depends on the transmission and where you are.
First, you need to find a transmission shop which is competent and honest.
Don't assume anything.

Some of the national franchise tranny repair companies have very spotty
reputations.  Dont assume that a dealership is competent or honest because
it is a dealership.

Once you find the right place, ask them for an estimate.

You are probably talking in the range of $1500-2000, but there could
be a lot of variation.
Dll - 22 Feb 2007 15:42 GMT
<HLS@nospam.nix> wrote in message

> First, you need to find a transmission shop which is competent and honest.
> Don't assume anything.

Good luck.  If you find one, let us all know.

I would not allow a "local" shop to rebuild my transmission.  Too many
parts, too many dimensions, too many thing to go wrong for me to trust a
general repair shop.  I've been burned several times for a lot of f'n money.
Most local shops are just going to put in new friction, maybe seals, and
they'll probably do it blindly w/o finding root cause.  Most are too
untrained and/or just too dumb to find root cause.  They are very unlikely
to address, much less measure, bearings and bushings.  A slightly bigger
shop and you'll end up with someone else's tranny.  Who knows wtf that owner
did to it.  My take is to get on the internet and find a dealer tranny.
These things are rebuilt by companies that do 100's of the same tranny, and
generally come with dealer R&R warranties.  For example, dodgeparts.com has
a 4 speed tranny for about $1600.  That's only a few dollars more than a
local shitty rebuild.  Put it in yourself, or find a shop to order and
install the same.  If it breaks, any Dodge dealer in the country will cover
the repair for 3yr/36k.

- Nate
Steve - 22 Feb 2007 17:23 GMT
> <HLS@nospam.nix> wrote in message
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Most local shops are just going to put in new friction, maybe seals, and
> they'll probably do it blindly w/o finding root cause.

I completely disagree, and I don't know where you get that kind of idea.
Competent local shops are the ONLY ones that really do it right. With
the mass rebuilders, you get someone ELSE'S problem that wasn't properly
diagnosed, a cheap friction-only rebuild, mix-and-match parts that might
not have even come from the same model year resulting in slight
differences, and abusive cleaning and disassembly/reassembly processes.
Been there, done that, never again.

I would NEVER allow an off-the-shelf piece of "remanufactured" junk to
be put in place of my transmission needing a rebuild unless I had done
something extreme like cracked the case. And even then, I'd look for a
replacement from the wrecking yard and then rebuild IT if necessary.
HLS@nospam.nix - 22 Feb 2007 17:51 GMT
> <HLS@nospam.nix> wrote in message
>
> > First, you need to find a transmission shop which is competent and honest.
> > Don't assume anything.
>
> Good luck.  If you find one, let us all know.

I have found them before, but they dont always stay competent and honest.
Eternal
vigilence is the price of success.

We have one guy here in this little town whom I would trust. He has been in
business
for years and has a good reputation for quality, BUT he is so overworked
that you'd
better not be in a big hurry.   He is obviously not associated with a
dealership.
scott21230@gmail.com - 23 Feb 2007 21:46 GMT
Just don't go to AAMCO!

Anyway, like someone abouve already said, they don't like to fix
transmissions.  Espically if it's got a lot of miles on it, it really
doesn't make sense to just fix the part the broke, since you will
probably be returning shortly when the next part breaks.

I've only ever had transmission problems once.  I took it to the
dealer (it was barely drivable) and got the car backa  week later
after they rebuilt the transmission for $1150 and it was as good as
new.  That was in 1992.  I expect that it would cost much more today.
Scott Dorsey - 22 Feb 2007 15:11 GMT
>Does anyone know the average cost, or a couple benchmarks on transmission
>repairs?  Maybe even typical or known problems.  My 1999 GMC Jimmy 4X4,  just
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>Any insights or light-hearted input would really help....

For the most part, people don't fix automatic transmissions.  The time to
get the thing out of the vehicle and open on the bench is substantial
enough that if something is wrong, they just replace it with a rebuilt
because the cost is no more than typical repairs.

I don't know what a rebuilt on the GMC would be, but between $1500 and
$2500 sounds about right.  Ask around for a local transmission shop with
a good reputation.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra.  C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Mitch_Boucher_PE - 24 Feb 2007 01:14 GMT
HI:  Mitch here:

per all your advice, I called mid sized shops, specializing in trannys
(trannies?), and arranged to have the first shop do a diagnostic first (Paid
$36). 1999 GMC Jimmy 4.3L, 4x4, mileage 112,000.

Sun Shell Drum cracked.  Some worn clutches.  Some worn friction steel.  

Shop #1:  Replace drum, fluids, new filter, seal. $1,100.  Total rebuild $1,
900

Shop #2:  Replace drum, new seal kit, clutches as needed, filter, fluids
$1000. They recommend some of the friction steel will likely need replacing.
no estimate. complete Rebuild $1,500

Shop #3:  Can replace drum, but recommend a complete rebuild at $2,400.

Shop #1: verify seal kit is complete.  not.  complete seal kit + Drum $1,300.
Recommended friction steel too for $1,400 total.

Shop #2: ask what it is to add friction steel.  notify them thier competitor
is at only $1,100 on the first go around, and can have it done in 1 week.  
Shop#2 requotes Replace drum, new seal kit-all clutches, filter, fluids, and
friction steel as needed. $1100.   SOLD.

Thanks all for your input.  Hope this info helps others too......

Mitch

>Hi:
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
>Mitch
HLS@nospam.nix - 25 Feb 2007 19:05 GMT
"Mitch_Boucher_PE via CarKB.com" <u31956@uwe> wrote in message
> Shop #2: ask what it is to add friction steel.  notify them thier competitor
> is at only $1,100 on the first go around, and can have it done in 1 week.
> Shop#2 requotes Replace drum, new seal kit-all clutches, filter, fluids, and
> friction steel as needed. $1100.   SOLD.

Uhhhhh...I hope you went on more than price.  There are some really BAD
shops out there.
scott21230@gmail.com - 26 Feb 2007 15:47 GMT
> Uhhhhh...I hope you went on more than price.  There are some really BAD
> shops out there.

Sounds like they did their shooping based totally on price.  For $400
more they could have gotten a complete rebuild, but they went with a
fix.  I think that's crazy for a transmission with over 100,000 miles
on it.
cuhulin@webtv.net - 27 Feb 2007 01:14 GMT
I took my 1978 Dodge van (automatic shift transmission) to a
Mr.Transmission shop between four to five years ago for repair.I don't
remember exactly how much it cost me,but they did a rebuild for about
$885.00.So far,no problems at all.That is the only vehicle (Dodge van) I
have ever had any transmission problems with.Other old vehicles with
manual shift transmissions and manual clutches I have owned before,when
it came time for clutch repair,I always bought the parts I needed
(either new or rebuilt clutch disk,throw out bearing and pressure plate)
and I did the work on them myself.
cuhulin
HLS@nospam.nix - 27 Feb 2007 14:12 GMT
> I took my 1978 Dodge van (automatic shift transmission) to a
> Mr.Transmission shop

Occasionally you can get an idea about a shop's reputation from the Better
Business Bureau,
www.ripoffreport.com, or similar.  Because one particular Mr. Transmission
may have done
good work for you, it doesnt mean that the franchise will be good
everywhere, or even that
if you went back to the same shop after a period of time that it would still
be good.

I had really good results from Just Transmissions in Houston a few years
ago.  Now they are
gone completely.  It was rumored that they cut low prices to be competitive,
then got caught
short when the inevitable comebacks occurred.

I called one shop, now using the name Just Transmissions, and asked the kid
who answered
if his prices included  upgrades (factory recommended improvements in parts
or techniques).

His was reply was " Man, we don' do no upgrades. We just fix the
transmission."

You have to keep your eyes really open.
cuhulin@webtv.net - 27 Feb 2007 20:11 GMT
Round Top,Texas.The biggest little city in Texas.
cuhulin

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