In need of advice.... Transmission woes

[housertl]

So, I had been having intermittent cases of the check transmission light come on, thought maybe it was a bad sensor since it never went into failover mode like the manual says it should. Took it to a transmission specialist to have it looked at, and they tell me it's bad. While they were looking, we also had them tell us everything that they would recommend done over the next 6 months or so, since we were looking at me needing to return it to daily driver status once I get back from deployment.

All told, it looks like fixing everything will run us about $6-7k. We also have a kid on the way and absolutely MUST replace our other car, as it only has 2 seats. We both work so, we can't just make do with one.

Given all that, I see three options: Fix it, try to sell it with full disclusure to someone who may have the time and aptitude to do the repairs themselves, or part it out.

It has an OME 913 (I think) lift, 285/75R16 General Grabber AT2s (with full size spare on OEM rim) with only about 5-10k or so miles on them (would have to check), a 2" trailer hitch on the back, roof rack with load warrior basket with extension, and Yakima spare tire mount in the basket. Rust on the undercarriage is significant, as the PO lived in Ohio, but the engine doesn't eat oil.

SO.... What would the recommendation be? If I tried to sell, what would be a fair price? I want to fix it, but I just don't know if it makes financial sense.

Thanks!

[Y33TREKker]

You might try taking it to a GM dealership for a second opinion. As far as I know, our transmissions are something of a common model used on many different vehicles.

The transmission "specialist" you went to may have seen your unique Vehicross and decided that the potential repair bill could possibly be just as unique.

[housertl]

Maybe, but the quote for just the trans seems right... About $2400+parts to rebuild, about $2900 to replace it with a used trans...

[Lizardmen3477]

To swap a trans should be only few hours of labor an fluid like 5/700$ tops ive had shops charge as little as 200 plus fluid. 3k is insane an ya can find used trans cheap
An 7k in repairs are needed??. Id never go back to this shop tbeyre trying to **** you. Ya can go buy 2 more vxs for that

[housertl]

To swap a trans should be only few hours of labor an fluid like 5/700$ tops ive had shops charge as little as 200 plus fluid. 3k is insane an ya can find used trans cheap
An 7k in repairs are needed??. Id never go back to this shop tbeyre trying to **** you. Ya can go buy 2 more vxs for that

I'm going to see if I can get an estimate over the phone from AAMCO for a rebuild/replace. One thing that gets my hackles up is that their parts cost quotes seem to be 200-300% of what I can get that part for at autozone. They want something like $400 for the cost of the rebuild kit alone, $240 for an EGR valve, etc. The tough piece is that I'm overseas, and my wife is having to deal with most of this herself.

[housertl]

Talked to another place... They said $2500 to replace it with a remanufactured trans, and they come with a 36 month/36,000 mile warranty. I'll pay a $500 stupid tax for the RDI, but it still comes out a couple hundred less, with 3 times the warranty.

[blacksambo]

Talked to another place... They said $2500 to replace it with a remanufactured trans, and they come with a 36 month/36,000 mile warranty. I'll pay a $500 stupid tax for the RDI, but it still comes out a couple hundred less, with 3 times the warranty.

Sound's much more reasonable to me and simple .

[Y33TREKker]

Maybe, but the quote for just the trans seems right... About $2400+parts to rebuild, about $2900 to replace it with a used trans...
My suggestion was based on the possibility that the transmission may just need some periodic maintenance (new fluid and filter, etc) and not be in need of replacement.

That you're accepting that it needs to be replaced based on the first piece of feedback you've received just seems premature considering the costs you're talking about.

[housertl]

Maybe, but the quote for just the trans seems right... About $2400+parts to rebuild, about $2900 to replace it with a used trans...
My suggestion was based on the possibility that the transmission may just need some periodic maintenance (new fluid and filter, etc) and not be in need of replacement.

That you're accepting that it needs to be replaced based on the first piece of feedback you've received just seems premature considering the costs you're talking about.

I hear you, but I don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I'm on the other side of the world right now. The new shop is going to run their diagnostic to ensure the transmission actually needs to be replaced. After they re-assemble and reinstall it. Apparently Remove, Dissassemble, and Inspect does not include reassembly and reinstallation if I decide not to do the work...

[Y33TREKker]

I hear you, but I don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I'm on the other side of the world right now. The new shop is going to run their diagnostic to ensure the transmission actually needs to be replaced. After they re-assemble and reinstall it. Apparently Remove, Dissassemble, and Inspect does not include reassembly and reinstallation if I decide not to do the work...
Understandable. Making a decision based on a long-distance diagnosis is never easy.

You'd have to ask of course, but the VX.info member Cobrajet appears to live about an hour away from your listed location (the Arlington area), and from what I remember, he's no stranger to doing some of his own vehicle repair work. If it were me in your situation, I'd try getting in contact with him (or any other VX members you can find in your area by searching the site member list) to see if you could find someone willing to make a trip sometime to change your trans fluid and filter to see if it makes a difference. If I lived closer I'd do it.

A couple of other things that could be checked are the wiring harness connections coming from the passenger side rear area of the transmission itself, and the transmission gear select switch on the drivers side of the trans. The connectors on the passenger side of the trans are well known to allow moisture inside and cause all sorts of erratic electrical inputs to the trans controller as well as transmission malfunctioning. And the transmission gear select switch has similarly been known to be a part that commonly fails/rusts, in it's case due to heat and moisture given it's proximity to the exhaust system.

I had water getting into the passenger side trans electrical connector once during a heavy rain and it had my transmission jumping gears and my TOD display looking like a pinball machine. It'd be a shame if it was something relatively simple (Vehicross-wise) like that and a trans rebuild/replacement didn't solve the issue. And to head off any problem with my gear select switch, I wrapped my exhaust in the area with high-temp exhaust wrap.

Then again, getting a second opinion ALWAYS comes to my mind when anyone starts talking about a high-dollar repair estimate, but maybe I've just seen too many of those investigative journalism shows featuring shady repair shops "creating" issues on vehicles just so they can charge their customers more.

To search the site member list:

- Select the "Forum" tab.
- Select the "Community" tab.
- Select "Member List" from the drop down menu.
- Select "Search Members" over on the right of the page.
- Select "Advanced Search".
- Then narrow the search by State, etc. (I found Cobrajet by searching in VA then clicking on the "Last visit" tab to further narrow the search to the more recent site visitors.)

[kach22i]

The connectors on the passenger side of the trans are well known to allow moisture inside and cause all sorts of erratic electrical inputs to the trans controller as well as transmission malfunctioning.
You guys really know these vehicles, very reassuring.