Transmissions
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 61
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Transmissions
The tranny in my 93 3.0 shorty has died. Well, actually it died over a month ago, but so many other things intervened in the mean time, this is the first chance I've had to post to the board.
Took van to Cottman transmission. They gave me a laundry list of parts that were bad (can't remember off hand what they were). Basically, I need a new ( or rebuilt) tranny. I've been quoted as low as $700 for a junkyard unit ( not easy to find BTW) up to $2000+ for a newly remanufactured tranny.
My question is:
1) Should I let a national chain ( Cottman, AAMCO,etc.) do the work so that it is covered by a warranty? Consider: I use the van for courier work, so I drive about 4k a month. A 12 mo/12k warranty won't do much, but would it be worth an extra $400 for the 24k warranty?
2) Let a local transmission shop replace or rebuild the tranny in the van now?
Any opinions and experiences will help. TIA
Took van to Cottman transmission. They gave me a laundry list of parts that were bad (can't remember off hand what they were). Basically, I need a new ( or rebuilt) tranny. I've been quoted as low as $700 for a junkyard unit ( not easy to find BTW) up to $2000+ for a newly remanufactured tranny.
My question is:
1) Should I let a national chain ( Cottman, AAMCO,etc.) do the work so that it is covered by a warranty? Consider: I use the van for courier work, so I drive about 4k a month. A 12 mo/12k warranty won't do much, but would it be worth an extra $400 for the 24k warranty?
2) Let a local transmission shop replace or rebuild the tranny in the van now?
Any opinions and experiences will help. TIA
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
[rant on] cottman did my rebuild last time...shifted very hard afterwards and eventually failed....after the warranty was up ...of course.[rant off] did the latest work myself, with the help of the folks here, and a tech manual for the A4LD. wasn't nearly as hard as it seemed before I tried it for myself.
P.S. as an aside the shop was in the process of being sold when I was trying to get something done about the hard shifting. so maybe they were just "short timing" my problem...putting me off until it was someone elses problem.
P.S. as an aside the shop was in the process of being sold when I was trying to get something done about the hard shifting. so maybe they were just "short timing" my problem...putting me off until it was someone elses problem.
Last edited by xuzme720; Aug 12, 2005 at 11:51 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 1
From: Mitchell, SD
I would look into just buying a rebuilt tranny from NAPA or some other place. Around here you can get an A4LD w/ TC for $700 cash and carry with 36mo/36kmi warranty. You are looking at a weekend to swap them out and it would be a lot cheaper than having a place rebuild it for you.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
or, if you don't have the room to do it yourself, you may want to get the trans yourself then pay a mechanic you trust to do the swap. cheaper than letting the shop take your money on not only the labor but the mark-up on the replacement. bottom line... the shop is there to make money, not to do you a favor. 
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
warranty is only as good as the shop or business offering it. check references, Better Business Bureau complaints, online user information groups, state attorney general's office of consumer affairs auto shop complaint div. State business and occupational licensing div.
NAPA and other large national chains use local rebuilders in some cases. The cheapest lowest bidder is not always the best in cases involving automatic transmissions that a boss is expecting on time deliverys and space shuttle missions.
Caveat emptor
NAPA and other large national chains use local rebuilders in some cases. The cheapest lowest bidder is not always the best in cases involving automatic transmissions that a boss is expecting on time deliverys and space shuttle missions.
Caveat emptor
Last edited by 96_4wdr; Aug 13, 2005 at 04:45 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 242
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From: Westerville, OH
A4LD transmissions are easy to rebuild. The parts are expensive, though. And shops don't like to build them because it's easy to screw it up.
I'm 28,000 into my rebuild and it's holding up but still leaking. I wish I had held out for a 5-speed Aerostar.
I'm 28,000 into my rebuild and it's holding up but still leaking. I wish I had held out for a 5-speed Aerostar.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,041
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From: Orland USA
occupant:
Where did you buy your parts? I rebuilt mine and thought the rebuild kits/parts were cheaply priced.
I bought mine kits/parts at www.bulkpart.com plus it only cost me $7.50 shipping from Texas to California.
Jay
Where did you buy your parts? I rebuilt mine and thought the rebuild kits/parts were cheaply priced.
I bought mine kits/parts at www.bulkpart.com plus it only cost me $7.50 shipping from Texas to California.
Jay
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
actually, that's where I went for the tech manual. they seem reasonable for the rest of the parts as well. they list a full rebuild kit for $90 whereas autozone has the same for $150. the autozone kit DOES have the bands where the bulkpart doesn't, but for the money I'd still go with bulkpart or a comparable site even if I had to buy the extra stuff. checked the pricing and I'd still come out ahead.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
focusyn>
if you are going to rebuild yourself, have auto tranny tank pressure cleaned at tranny shop, including torque converter, valve body and case with all old parts you are going to reuse.
Cleanliness is next to long life in an auto tranny rebuilt and how they function afterwards. one 100 micron dirt particle in the valve body of a rebuild will make driving miserable.
rebuild in dust free enviroment, on top of throwaway old white bed sheet-small parts get dropped, use plenty of high quality auto tranny assemby lube, clean hands often and follow manual step by step.
if you are going to rebuild yourself, have auto tranny tank pressure cleaned at tranny shop, including torque converter, valve body and case with all old parts you are going to reuse.
Cleanliness is next to long life in an auto tranny rebuilt and how they function afterwards. one 100 micron dirt particle in the valve body of a rebuild will make driving miserable.
rebuild in dust free enviroment, on top of throwaway old white bed sheet-small parts get dropped, use plenty of high quality auto tranny assemby lube, clean hands often and follow manual step by step.
Last edited by 96_4wdr; Aug 15, 2005 at 04:18 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,642
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From: Northern California
[QUOTE=occupant]A4LD transmissions are easy to rebuild. The parts are expensive, though. And shops don't like to build them because it's easy to screw it up.
I'm 28,000 into my rebuild and it's holding up but still leaking. I wish I had held out for a 5-speed Aerostar.[/QUOTE
-------------------------
What am I missing here? If you say a transmission shop doesn't like to rebuild them because they are easy to screw up. What makes you think us average "joes" can then rebuild them correctly, over a shop that has the proper tools, lifts, jacks, air tools etc. doing it 5 days a week for 8 hours a day? I'm not saying it can't be done, by a regular person. Only, your statement has me wondering what I am missing? I can see a person remving one trans, and replacing it with another. But taking out, and rebuilding the trans, is a different matter. Also, removing a transmission is a whole lot easier when standing up, with the Aerostar above you on a rack. Laying on your back, with the undercarriage of said Aerostar 5" from your face....well...you get my point!
I'm 28,000 into my rebuild and it's holding up but still leaking. I wish I had held out for a 5-speed Aerostar.[/QUOTE
-------------------------
What am I missing here? If you say a transmission shop doesn't like to rebuild them because they are easy to screw up. What makes you think us average "joes" can then rebuild them correctly, over a shop that has the proper tools, lifts, jacks, air tools etc. doing it 5 days a week for 8 hours a day? I'm not saying it can't be done, by a regular person. Only, your statement has me wondering what I am missing? I can see a person remving one trans, and replacing it with another. But taking out, and rebuilding the trans, is a different matter. Also, removing a transmission is a whole lot easier when standing up, with the Aerostar above you on a rack. Laying on your back, with the undercarriage of said Aerostar 5" from your face....well...you get my point!
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Hi Ed:
That the A4LD is somehow a difficult beast is a myth. I have gone through 3 A4LD rebuilds on 3 different cars, 1 Explorer and 2 Aerostars. No problem, no need for special tools, unless you disassemble the pump. In that case you would need a pump alignment tool, which you can get for about $80 online.
You are absolutely right about the removal part, however. I found that the most difficult task was to remove the darned thing from the van. If you have AWD, it's best to remove it and the Transfer Case together.
Regards
That the A4LD is somehow a difficult beast is a myth. I have gone through 3 A4LD rebuilds on 3 different cars, 1 Explorer and 2 Aerostars. No problem, no need for special tools, unless you disassemble the pump. In that case you would need a pump alignment tool, which you can get for about $80 online.
You are absolutely right about the removal part, however. I found that the most difficult task was to remove the darned thing from the van. If you have AWD, it's best to remove it and the Transfer Case together.
Regards
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi,Tx.
there is hope
you guys are giving me hope that I might one day conquer the mysterys of automatic trannys...
I have this mental picture of taking off a cover and having springs flying and little ***** bouncing across the floor to never be seen again.
AT's are F.M. to me. Thats Freakin' Magic(well, that's as close as I'm going to get to the way I heard it
)
I have this mental picture of taking off a cover and having springs flying and little ***** bouncing across the floor to never be seen again.
AT's are F.M. to me. Thats Freakin' Magic(well, that's as close as I'm going to get to the way I heard it
)
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Well, I had a local shop rebuild the tranny. I don't have the van back yet, but I am looking at $1800 (tax incl.). A little steeper then I thought, but not out of line, not from the other quotes I received. This seemed like a fair price to me. I might have been able to save money going the DIY route, but I just don't have the time or room to work on it myself. Besides, most places I called quoted me around $1300 just for the tranny, let alone the labor.
I'll keep you updated on how it goes.
I'll keep you updated on how it goes.