According to Aamco here in Atlanta, they say I need a new tranny on my 5 speed mazda B4000(137,000miles). I took the car in after having difficulty getting it in gear(mainly 1st and 2nd but really all of them). I thought it was the clutch but really ever since owning the car for over 12 years it has at times been difficult getting it into first and sometimes second; and getting exponentially worse over the last 15,000miles over 3 years( was really notchy and hard to get in gear and just knowing the a clutch was going to be needed in the future) The other day it just got really bad(could barely make it home) and the clutch fluid was low so filled it(mabye 1 ounce): then bled it next day and still the same. So I took it in.

Aamco would give me a new or reman one(cant remember what they said) with 3 year warrenty for $2,800. does that sound reasonable? Should I get a second opinion? This place does have a good reputation and the guy said he did not want to do the clutch and then it still not work right.....after his expierience of 30 years.

I did change the fluid with mercon 5 a few years back maybe at 120,000miles and it was still nice and red.

any opinons, suggestions would be great....

Mark

 

Aamco came up with manufacturer with a reman tranny installed for $2200 with a 18month 18,000mile warranty.

 

Seems high to me. But I do all my own work. Lol. When you bled it, are you sure you got all the air out of he slave cyl? there is a way to "reverse or backwards" bleed it. Basically air wants to rise, so why not let it go the way it wants? It works better than traditional bleeding. With bright fluid I just find hard to believe the trans is pooped out. It sounds like the clutch is not releasing far enough.

 

The aamco's up here are almost all shut down due to their poor service and outrageous prices. I took my Durango in years back to see what they would say. I had a bad governor, I already knew. They tried to say the entire trans was bad. I had clean fluid they showed me fluid they supposedly took out of my truck and it was nasty looking. But I had just done my reg trans flush not long before and I had checked the fluid before even going there, still bright.

Your truck up here would cost about 5-600 for a swap or a full rebuild for $1200.

 

More than likely you need a new master and slave cyl installed. But while its out to plut the slave in get the clutch assy R&R'd. I use autozone duralast in mine they are guaranteed for 'life' parts and have been durable. A complete clutch assembly was about $200, master about $35, Slave about $50 when I did mine last. A good shop can rebuild the trans if its needed for around $1000, avoid aamco if ya can. Go to a off road shop and ask who does good trans work as an independent shop they will know. Had aamco do a subaru trans that failed while taking the car to port of overseas shipment, they kept if for almost 2 months and kept giving a run around about it until the word lawyer came up, then it was up and out in a week!

A reman trans is also avail from autozone I think its around $1000 not sure been about a year since I looked. I would also ask about a good indy shop to do the work if you are not able to. Actually the clutch R&R is simple but is a PIA if you never done one before. Bleeding the master is the biggest PIA, bleed the slave on the bench!

 

You can get a real good clutch set for just over $100 on Ebay. High five on the independent shop. I always go to the little guys. They are always better than most big time places.

rockauto.com is always a good place to shop too!

 

That $2200 price does include all clutch parts and slave etc.

As I said earlier that this place has a great reputation(not all aamcos are the same-have about 20 here in Atlanta and some are good and some are bad). Have read 100 reviews. I don't think they are trying to hose me. If it was just the slave and master and maybe clutch they would have just fixed that.

I did track down a remaned unit from a reputable shop for $950 so I might do it myself. Have mostly worked on my two saabs and was looking to do the clutch my self but decided to take it in instead. I can save about $900 doing both tranny and clutch but was only going to save 500 or so with just the clutch.

I have viewed the various clutch replacement tutorials online and it seems like the toughest thing is lowering the tranny. I have all the equipment/tools otherwise. Might need a ratchet extension to reach the top bolts

thanks for the replies.

 

looked at rock auto and they have clutch kit for 135 or so and slave kit with bearing and maybe even master for $135. will look on ebay as well. not rushing this.