supercharged95
Registered User
Hey guys, I'm not an official member of the Iowa chapter yet, but hopefully as soon as I can get my bird running I will be. I'm currently looking at either having my trans rebuilt or just ordering a Reinhart Automotive trans(due to the fact mine sucks) and I thought I'd let you guys learn from my experience so you can either avoid mistakes I make or benefit from my advice I'll post updates on the status of my trans and keep you guys informed.
preface, what happened to my trans------->
i changed the filter/fluid due to the fact that my trans was slipping badly. when i dropped the pan there we some(2) rather large(1" long) chunks of metal in there as well as the fact there was a total of about 3 qts of trans fluid.we put a new filter in and also 5qts of fluid,then drove the car around town driving it easily. then filled it up with another qt and took it out on the highway. i drove it easy for a couple of miles, then started some midly-hard accelerating. the first time the car shifted fine, the second time it wouldn't shift into second. we let the car sit and tried at it again, but to no avail it would not shift into second.
Here is an update regarding my transmission woes:
Called close to 20 shops here in the Des Moines area. Most of them wanted too much($1500-1800 if I removed and installed trans) and some wouldn't even deal with unless I brought the whole car in. I have had some luck with two shops though.
The first shop, Aamco(515-280-6465) quoted me $825 for trans rebuild (if I brough the transmission in). That includes new tq converter,and all other miscellaneous items. If there is any geartrain damage the gentleman said that it would be an extra $340 tops. 90 day warranty out of the store with 12 month/12,000 mile warranty when I bring the bird in and show them I installed it.
The second shop, Cottman Transmission(515-331-2100) also has what appears to be a good deal. I bring the car in and they run a 21 point inspection(including scanning the computer and checking the mlps and trs). The inspection is FREE. From there they determine the problem and let me know what needs to be done and then they quote me a price. If I decide to have them work on my car they will let me check out the trans so they can show what parts broke and the parts they will be installing to rebuild the trans as well as the specific part to replace the broken part. They will then rebuild the trans and before putting trans back up in place they will warm up the system and flush the radiator to remove any metal particles that could damage anything in the near future. To remove, install and flush the system they charge $275 which seems like a pretty reasonable price. I didn't ask him about warranty but if I decide to let this shop work on my trans I will have a warranty before I leave.
sidenote----------->
When I get home (car is in nw Iowa at my parents' house) I'm going to check the filter to make sure it didn't just come unsealed and fall down into the pan.
Here's my gameplan:
Trailer my car down here to Des Moines and have the second shop look at my car. If he can rebuild it for under $1000 total I will have him do the work, but if not I am just going to go ahead with my original plan and order a trans from Reinhart Automotive.
I should have an update after this weekend to keep you guys abreast of the situation.
Thanks for reading,
Josh Torkelson
preface, what happened to my trans------->
i changed the filter/fluid due to the fact that my trans was slipping badly. when i dropped the pan there we some(2) rather large(1" long) chunks of metal in there as well as the fact there was a total of about 3 qts of trans fluid.we put a new filter in and also 5qts of fluid,then drove the car around town driving it easily. then filled it up with another qt and took it out on the highway. i drove it easy for a couple of miles, then started some midly-hard accelerating. the first time the car shifted fine, the second time it wouldn't shift into second. we let the car sit and tried at it again, but to no avail it would not shift into second.
Here is an update regarding my transmission woes:
Called close to 20 shops here in the Des Moines area. Most of them wanted too much($1500-1800 if I removed and installed trans) and some wouldn't even deal with unless I brought the whole car in. I have had some luck with two shops though.
The first shop, Aamco(515-280-6465) quoted me $825 for trans rebuild (if I brough the transmission in). That includes new tq converter,and all other miscellaneous items. If there is any geartrain damage the gentleman said that it would be an extra $340 tops. 90 day warranty out of the store with 12 month/12,000 mile warranty when I bring the bird in and show them I installed it.
The second shop, Cottman Transmission(515-331-2100) also has what appears to be a good deal. I bring the car in and they run a 21 point inspection(including scanning the computer and checking the mlps and trs). The inspection is FREE. From there they determine the problem and let me know what needs to be done and then they quote me a price. If I decide to have them work on my car they will let me check out the trans so they can show what parts broke and the parts they will be installing to rebuild the trans as well as the specific part to replace the broken part. They will then rebuild the trans and before putting trans back up in place they will warm up the system and flush the radiator to remove any metal particles that could damage anything in the near future. To remove, install and flush the system they charge $275 which seems like a pretty reasonable price. I didn't ask him about warranty but if I decide to let this shop work on my trans I will have a warranty before I leave.
sidenote----------->
When I get home (car is in nw Iowa at my parents' house) I'm going to check the filter to make sure it didn't just come unsealed and fall down into the pan.
Here's my gameplan:
Trailer my car down here to Des Moines and have the second shop look at my car. If he can rebuild it for under $1000 total I will have him do the work, but if not I am just going to go ahead with my original plan and order a trans from Reinhart Automotive.
I should have an update after this weekend to keep you guys abreast of the situation.
Thanks for reading,
Josh Torkelson