| Author | Message | ||
     Whisperstealth |
My transmission went out three weeks ago, leaving me at the mercy of others to get around. After a week of looking I finally found a repair shop I felt reasonably confident in, (After disqualifying three.), and got my Tahoe towed 45 miles to the place. Two weeks later it is still not done. I called last week, and was told the middle of this week. I called 30 minutes ago, and was told the middle of next week... I don't like getting the run-a-round. To say my gears are grinding is an understatement. I feel like a fool for not getting a written estimate of the time it would take, and now find myself in a bad position and a •••••• mood. Any advice from my fellow BadWebbers? | ||
| 86129squids |
Got AAA? Tow the dang thing off that •••••• shop to a good one, do due diligence to find a good repair shop. Even without driver assistance, it would be worth it to pay a tow service just to get things rolling. Good luck! | ||
| Hootowl |
Did you ask about the delay? Maybe they’re having issues with it? Parts? | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Squids, There are few Transmission Shops in rural Arkansas is the problem. I looked at three others before choosing this one, they all presented worse than the one I picked. The next closest shop I might have good luck with is 50 miles from where the truck currently is, and around 100 miles from my house. Hoot, I did ask about the delay. I had to ask twice as he claimed he couldn't hear me the first time. He only told me it wasn't fixed yet, but offered no reason why. Said it would be ready middle of next week and that was it. It would be fine if parts were the reason for the delay. If they were, I would think the owner of a repair shop would tell me so, after having had the vehicle for two weeks. I believe in good customer service, and part of that service includes keeping the customer informed; I feel he should be calling me, I shouldn't have to call him. I'm pretty much stuck. My insurance won't tow it more than 15ish miles, and my wallet won't let me pay for one. I am having to borrow money to get the truck fixed as it is. | ||
| Shoggin |
I had a sign on my desk I got from an old upholstery buddy of mine (God Bless...) when I opened my first shop location in the 90's. I made copies for every shop and for 25 years I used it almost every day. It said: "Cheap. Fast. Done right. Pick 2" Sorry WhisperStealth, believe me when I say I understand your frustration. Finding a mechanic you trust is an intimate relationship that involves trust on both sides and frankly most mechanics are met with skepticism. Admittedly deservedly sometimes  We dealt with people bringing in basket cases and you wouldn't believe the sob stories I heard. Once we got the reputation as "project finishers" the flood gates opened. I retired at 40 years old simply taking peoples parts and assembling them as I promised I would. Sounds simple, right?! His job is to be honest and fair. Your job is to trust and pay him. You guys do that, and the communication snafu will get worked out. (Message edited by shoggin on August 01, 2020) | ||
| Rick_a |
We had a 1980 Dodge D100 pickup. My wife at the time convinced a local shop to do her transmission over the next day. They did. It worked like new and everything. It was a $1000 job. Weeks without explanation would piss me off. | ||
| Ratbuell |
What is wrong with the trans? Did you ever get a diagnosis? I know we've been having a hell of a time getting parts (Chrysler dealership) - GM is WORSE, with plant shutdowns. We're even getting week-long delays from NAPA. If you have a decent repair shop nearby...it doesn't have to be a "transmission" shop. Depending on the year of the Tahoe, it is likely a variant of the TH350/700R4 family, which they made billions of, and just about any shop knows how to work on. But if parts aren't available... I also know we've been SLAMMED with business lately, in addition to not being able to get parts. He could be simply busy. | ||
| Thumper74 |
This is my specialty... What year is it? I'm in the same boat with my wife's '12 GMC Yukon. Just had the transmission replaced with a reman last may, it's out of warranty and shuddering like an MFer. It's like lockup shudder, but way, way worse. If it's a 6L80, my buddy owns a transmssion shop and swears by 2oz of LubeGuard Platinum to help with TC shudder and longevity. If it's a 6 speed or 8 speed and they offer extra warranty coverage for a small fee, usually a few hundred dollars, get it. Aftermarket transmission parts, like Dacco have lots of updates to parts to address flaws in factory designs. I'm a Supervisor at a warranty company and we are seeing similar issues to what Ratbuell is describing. Common parts are being disrupted by supply chain issues. GM actually has been okay with OEM parts for us, except reman transmissions, but I feel that is more of a byproduct of a high failure rate rather than Covid related issues. Lots of shortages for silly things like brake parts. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
As I said, I'm totally fine if it's a parts issue. And if it's because he's simply really busy, I'd understand that. It's the fact he is not being honest in his time frame, and not communicating properly that has me upset. You shouldn't say it will be a week / week and a half, when you really mean three of four. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
The Tahoe is a 2002 model. It's a 6L80 trans I believe. The problem is that 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears are out. It will shift into second, but at about 20mph it slips and the rpm's go way up. | ||
| Shoggin |
Seafoam.  | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Well, I got the Tahoe back Friday afternoon. Made it home fine. Went to drive to Walmart 30 minutes later, and it will no longer shift out of second gear... I called the shop and was told to bring it in the following Monday, as they were closed down this week for employee vacations. The shop owner said he thinks there is a solenoid that is not firing, and that is causing the problem. Could that be the case? I let the truck sit for a couple of days thinking heat in the transmission might be the problem. Just got back from a test drive. Still not shifting out of second. Anyone have any ideas? | ||
| Hootowl |
Might be that they didn’t adjust the cable correctly. Try moving the shift lever a bit toward neutral to see if it’ll settle into drive. Might have 2nd selected. | ||
| Ratbuell |
A solenoid could cause the issue. What did they do so far? | ||
| Whisperstealth |
I was told they overhauled the whole transmission including the Torque Converter. Maybe they didn't touch the solenoid, I don't know. The cost of the job was $1150 plus tax. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I know on Chryslers, the solenoids are part of the valve body...and the part alone would be in the $1100 range. My guess is, they did bands/clutches/steels, cleaned, adjusted line pressures, new gaskets and reassemble. Guess. | ||
| Hootowl |
That’s a good price for that much labor, if indeed they pulled the transmission and put a hard kit in it. I don’t know what ‘overhaul’ means as it relates to a torque converter. They’re not really repairable without specialized equipment that most shops do not have. They’re typically simply replaced if there is something wrong. | ||
| Crusty |
And people wonder why I prefer manual transmissions. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Joe, I sure hope it doesn't cost another $1000+! If it does, it does, but coming up with the money would be really tough. Hoot, I thought the $1150 was a fair price for the area. Labor is pretty reasonable in these parts. Two other quotes I got were about the same. I did get one quote for $2750, for a complete remanufactured transmission from Jaspers. I didn't go that route because it's more than I could afford. But I'm now wondering if it would have been better to wait, save up, and then have the Jaspers put in... | ||
| Hootowl |
If they put a hard kit in it, it’s essentially new. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
I am now being told the reason the new transmission didn't work, is because antifreeze from the radiator leaked into the transmission fluid tank and then got into the transmission. I checked the transmission fluid after I got home with it, and attempted to go to Walmart. The fluid was fine. I didn't check it after driving back to the repair shop in second gear, so it's possible the leak could have happened then, but I doubt it... I'm being screwed over. It's not a nice feeling... Squids was right, I shouldn't have let them touch the truck in the first place!!! | ||
| Hootowl |
the tranny cooler and engine cooler, though in the same package, do not share lines or reservoirs. I’d call foul. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Agreed. The trans fluid runs through one set of tubes in the radiator. Coolant runs through another set of tubes in the radiator. Mixing the two would require a double failure - a coolant tube AND a transmission tube would both have to fail, and (like a Buell crank seal failure) the coolant pressure would have to be higher than the trans fluid pressure in order for coolant to get into the trans. There would also be trans fluid in the coolant. Depending on the pressure differential, anywhere from a little, to the same amount as there is coolant in the trans. I'd ask them - WHAT transmission fluid did they put in the transmission? What fluid did the parts kit they installed, call for? Wrong fluid can easily cause this type of failure - again, like a Buell with the wrong primary fluid will roast the stator. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
I'm thinking the whole radiator story is B.S. I think he/they screwed up the transmission job, are having to redo it, and are trying to recoup the cost of doing so. I'm going to demand an itemized invoice before I hand him any more money. Once I have the invoice and my truck back I'm going to make sure a new radiator was actually installed. If not, I am going to go the legal route, file a fraud complaint and sue him. | ||
| Hootowl |
You should ask for your old parts. They are required, I believe, to give them to you. They belong to you, after all. Inspect the radiator. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
I think in Arkansas you have to ask for the parts up front, before they begin work. | ||
| Hootowl |
Sure, so they know not to scrap them. Makes sense. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Finally some good news! I got the Tahoe back last Friday, and have been driving around. So far, so good. Everything seems to be operating correctly. The radiator does appear to be new. The cost of the radiator replacement was $430, so all told I'm in $1700 on getting the truck back on the road. I'm praying the transmission continues to work, and no other issues pop up for a while! Thanks for all the comments and advice. I appreciate it. | ||
| Hootowl |
Good to hear. If it makes you feel any better, it cost me 3 thousand to get the transmission in my daughter’s car rebuilt. And they didn’t replace the radiator. |
