They're not going to do anything since you took it to a different shop.
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They're not going to do anything since you took it to a different shop.
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This is the correct answer. They were not given the opportunity to remedy the situation. They could have repaired it for a few hundred dollars and you want $1800. If they are responsible,and who knows at 320,000 miles, they are only responsible to make you whole (repair the transmission). They are not responsible to pay another shops overhead and profit (transmission shops have crazy markups. Let's say a customer said your guy damaged his sapling, that you could replace in an hour for $300. However, he hired another landscaper to replace the tree for $1800. How would you feel about paying that bill?

Was it the fault of the shop? Probably. Should they pay the other shop to do what they could do for way, way less money? No.
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From my experience with replacing or having dozens of transmissions rebuilt, I just feel every time I walk in a transmission shop, I'm getting ripped off.

Dozens of trucks and trannies. Symptom shows up and you google the problem....pages and pages of posts showing "it was a $30 part" "it was a sensor" "it was a shift solenoid" or something else relatively minor.

Yet in all these years and countless trucks, NOT ONE TIME, has a shop told me anything other than "needs a complete rebuild"

That just doesn't seem logical to me. You would think with dozens of transmissions over the years that at least ONE would have been something other than "toast"

And forget warranty. Any truck that has had a transmission go again under warranty, the diagnosis is always "some part not included in the original rebuild" and that part "cooked the trans" so now it needs a full rebuild again. At another $2000

I think it's the biggest con job out there. I wish I had time to learn how to do it. I've watched it done, it's not that complicated. And many times I've had trucks towed in for an appointment and had them back in half a day. So a $300 rebuild kit and a half day labor turns into $2400.

Before I moved, I had a guy who did them on the side. $200 plus parts if out of the truck, extra $100 to R and R. $600 for what I was paying shops $2000+ for and NEVER once did I have one fail after he did it.
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The problem with replacing parts on a high mileage trans is if it fails 3 mo tha later you're going to start pointing fingers at the repair shop.
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The problem is for 99.9% of the population, automatic transmissions are a mystery to them. A lot of people have general automotive knowledge and can have an idea if they go for brake pads and get told they need rotors calipers and the front end replaced, well that might not be accurate. They'll at least have a buddy that can look and say "no way". Transmissions however, they got ya by the balls. By thr time you find out its $2000, it's in parts on a bench and will cost half that to put it back together. Most are not getting a second opinion, so you just say "do it"
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The problem is for 99.9% of the population, automatic transmissions are a mystery to them.
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If you have ever had one apart you would know why.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-Chevro.../331351583006?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d2617e91e&vxp=mtr

There is other options if you don't want to rebuild your own.

 

The problem is for 99.9% of the population, automatic transmissions are a mystery to them. A lot of people have general automotive knowledge and can have an idea if they go for brake pads and get told they need rotors calipers and the front end replaced, well that might not be accurate. They'll at least have a buddy that can look and say "no way". Transmissions however, they got ya by the balls. By thr time you find out its $2000, it's in parts on a bench and will cost half that to put it back together. Most are not getting a second opinion, so you just say "do it"
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One thing I've learned is it varies by mechanic. I've told people to replace things that billy bob screamed no way to. Sometimes other mechanics see issues the first person missed as well.

If you bring in a truck for brakes with 150k miles on it with original calipers and hoses, of course I'll recommend replacement. But you're backyard mechanic probably wouldn't
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I don't dispute there are many with legitimate recommendations.
Such as "the manual recommends replacing your belts at xx miles. They look ok but Ford engineers recommend this. That's ok. "Your belts are shot" is not

Like how oil change places talk to my wife when she goes there. You would think her car was ready to fall apart any second.

When I take it, in a work uniform, and appear it's likely I have some vehicle knowledge, they walk into the waiting room with the "plugged air filter", ask who's car it is and when I say "mine" they say "just letting you know it will be about 5 more minutes, and turn around and reinstall my air filter. Meanwhile the young mother with 2 kids next to me is being told their car is going to stall suddenly at a busy intersection because it can't breathe.
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You wont get anything out of them. Suck it up. At 320k I would be squirting it with holy water everytime I walked upto it. The 4L60E is kinda weak, especially when towing/hauling in 4th (OD). Most states have a "like kind and quality" law for stuff like this. Means if a shop does damage to your vehicle, they are responsible to replace it with "like kind and quality" parts. Meaning the most they would owe is a 300k mile transmission from a bone yard for $250, not a fresh rebuild for 1800.

You got your use, and I dont see you having a case to go after them. I have intimate knowledge in autos from 2spd powerglides to 6spd ZF, allisons ans Voiths in heavy trucks, and I was ever called for expert testimony on this case, could in no way say over filling a tranny will cause it to fail. Bubble over and catch on fire? Sure. Kill fuel economy, yeah. But not fail like you describe. Youd have to know the insides and how it works, but you should just be happy you got 320k out of it.

 

You wont get anything out of them. Suck it up. At 320k I would be squirting it with holy water everytime I walked upto it. The 4L60E is kinda weak, especially when towing/hauling in 4th (OD). Most states have a "like kind and quality" law for stuff like this. Means if a shop does damage to your vehicle, they are responsible to replace it with "like kind and quality" parts. Meaning the most they would owe is a 300k mile transmission from a bone yard for $250, not a fresh rebuild for 1800.

You got your use, and I dont see you having a case to go after them. I have intimate knowledge in autos from 2spd powerglides to 6spd ZF, allisons ans Voiths in heavy trucks, and I was ever called for expert testimony on this case, could in no way say over filling a tranny will cause it to fail. Bubble over and catch on fire? Sure. Kill fuel economy, yeah. But not fail like you describe. Youd have to know the insides and how it works, but you should just be happy you got 320k out of it.

Where can I get #2 gear, sleeve, and brass ring for a 6 speed ZF?

 

Where can I get #2 gear, sleeve, and brass ring for a 6 speed ZF?

Sounds like you got a manual trans, I only deal in the autos, and my supplier only does HD autos. The dealer should be able to get them, though. But seeing the prices of some these parts, can't imagine it will cheap.

 

Sounds like you got a manual trans, I only deal in the autos, and my supplier only does HD autos. The dealer should be able to get them, though. But seeing the prices of some these parts, can't imagine it will cheap.

GM doesn't support these transmissions anymore, I can get the parts but I was hoping you had a better source.

 

GM doesn't support these transmissions anymore, I can get the parts but I was hoping you had a better source.

Wish I could help, but my distributor only does HD autos. No light duty stuff.

 

Can easily be found online...
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Wish I could help, but my distributor only does HD autos. No light duty stuff.

ZF gear boxes are heavy duty designed for racing.

 

ZF gear boxes are heavy duty designed for racing.

When I say HD, I don't mean a racing trans or a one ton tuck. In the transportation industry, that is light duty. Generally speaking, medium duty would be single and tandem axle trucks, HD would be triaxle or more straight trucks, tractors and off highway equipment. The world where 1000+ ft/lb under 1600 RPM is the norm, not the exception. In fact, I just finished building a 6spd ZF auto, it still on the stand and weighs in just under 1000 lbs, dry. Those are the trannys I build, and my distributor gets parts for. I put a call in yesterday to them just to makes sure, and they said. "No light duty stuff". Would Have to find a servicing dealeror get it online from a supplier.

 

Well the tranny is fixed. I just sucked it up and went ahead and fixed it. Had them to throw a rear main seal in for me while they were under there. Now the drips are gone and tranny is shifting smooth again. Price jumped from $1,700.00 to $2,500.00 so I took a trip up there to inspect it for myself. Metal was all through the tranny, torque converter had turned to a heavily burnt color, gear was sheared off, band was over-heated. Winded up costing me $2,500.00 with all new fresh internals, new torque converter, etc. I put new belts and pulleys on yesterday in the driveway, and I think I'm ready to run her to 500k now. When I do, I'll be taking a picture and putting it on a birthday cake and sending it to Chevorlet.

 

Well the tranny is fixed. I just sucked it up and went ahead and fixed it. Had them to throw a rear main seal in for me while they were under there. Now the drips are gone and tranny is shifting smooth again. Price jumped from $1,700.00 to $2,500.00 so I took a trip up there to inspect it for myself. Metal was all through the tranny, torque converter had turned to a heavily burnt color, gear was sheared off, band was over-heated. Winded up costing me $2,500.00 with all new fresh internals, new torque converter, etc. I put new belts and pulleys on yesterday in the driveway, and I think I'm ready to run her to 500k now. When I do, I'll be taking a picture and putting it on a birthday cake and sending it to Chevorlet.

Iwent and looked at a truck a while back. It was extremely clean, not a drop of oil underneath. It had 450,000 miles so I didn't buy it.

 

Iwent and looked at a truck a while back. It was extremely clean, not a drop of oil underneath. It had 450,000 miles so I didn't buy it.

I interviewed for a company back in the late 90s that was running old Mercedes Benz trucks, the oldest of which had 1.2 million miles on it. Would love to see if they're still kicking.

 

I don't trust any repair shops. I know there has to be some good reputable mechanic shops out there but I do 99% of my own stuff so I know its done right.

I have been under cars that had been to a mechanic just days before and seen where someone had poked a straightedge screw driver through the axle boots so it would sling the grease out and eventually start popping.

Last year my brother called me and the Toyota Rav4 his Wife drives was having Auto Transmission problems. Shop told her it needed a full rebuild and would cost X amount. I started researching online forums and found that the Rav4s had a known ECU problem that would cause the transmission to act up and not work properly.

I found a company that would do the repairs on the ECU and sent hers to them. They repaired it and I put it back in her car. Her transmission has been fine ever since.

I just don't have much faith in repair shops.

 

I don't trust any repair shops. I know there has to be some good reputable mechanic shops out there but I do 99% of my own stuff so I know its done right.

I have been under cars that had been to a mechanic just days before and seen where someone had poked a straightedge screw driver through the axle boots so it would sling the grease out and eventually start popping.

Last year my brother called me and the Toyota Rav4 his Wife drives was having Auto Transmission problems. Shop told her it needed a full rebuild and would cost X amount. I started researching online forums and found that the Rav4s had a known ECU problem that would cause the transmission to act up and not work properly.

I found a company that would do the repairs on the ECU and sent hers to them. They repaired it and I put it back in her car. Her transmission has been fine ever since.

I just don't have much faith in repair shops.

I'm with you on the repairs. I do a lot of my stuff. Even rebuilt engines, but when it comes to transmissions that's a big no-no for me. I can put one in, but I would have no clue on rebuilding one and getting inside one. When the shopped upped the price to $2500. I jumped in the truck and headed down the highway two hours to look at it. They weren't lying. The torque converter was completely burnt, color changed, he showed me the metal fragments in the tranny, etc.

 

I work for AAMCO Transmissions, we see this stuff all the time, its never a $30 part on a car with soo much miles and and slipping down the road, if the fluid is burnt, trans is burnt. every part works with each other, if one part has failed it is a domino effect in the trans... if I pull the trans and tear it apart after all that labor cost do u want to pay $30 for a lil part or refresh everything in the trans for a good quality rebuild? do you only sharpen half the mower blade while you got it off? No. after all the money spent on labor you don't want to just bandaid the unit. fix it right.
320k miles on a 4L60e is almost un heard of! you were on borrowed time with that thing buddy...
my shop would have never serviced a 4L60e with that many miles on it, too much liability.
just my professional and educated opinion.....

 

I work for AAMCO Transmissions, we see this stuff all the time, its never a $30 part on a car with soo much miles and and slipping down the road, if the fluid is burnt, trans is burnt. every part works with each other, if one part has failed it is a domino effect in the trans... if I pull the trans and tear it apart after all that labor cost do u want to pay $30 for a lil part or refresh everything in the trans for a good quality rebuild? do you only sharpen half the mower blade while you got it off? No. after all the money spent on labor you don't want to just bandaid the unit. fix it right.
320k miles on a 4L60e is almost un heard of! you were on borrowed time with that thing buddy...
my shop would have never serviced a 4L60e with that many miles on it, too much liability.
just my professional and educated opinion.....

I guess there's a little bit of everybody on this forum. :laugh: Pretty cool you actually "work" at the transmission shop! Thanks for sharing your view so I didn't feel as if I got hosed. Anyway it's all back together. Running smooth. Shifting smooth as butter. Transmission shop pretty much told me the same thing you did, my circumstance was un-heard of and they didn't want to service it. They told me either rebuild now and save a few bucks or run it until it's dead and pay more and they couldn't give me a time frame of out long it would last. $2,500. later, the 4l60 is up and on the road again. Engine is still stronger then ever. Now I might have been lucky being that this truck has pulled loads every single day of its life, even to fill up gas it pulled a load. :laugh: Now my question to you is, when towing everyday and being used as a commercial vehicle under heavier conditions then your daily driven truck, how often do you recommend changing the atf? Do you have anything good to say about Amsoil ATF?

 

I guess there's a little bit of everybody on this forum. :laugh: Pretty cool you actually "work" at the transmission shop! Thanks for sharing your view so I didn't feel as if I got hosed. Anyway it's all back together. Running smooth. Shifting smooth as butter. Transmission shop pretty much told me the same thing you did, my circumstance was un-heard of and they didn't want to service it. They told me either rebuild now and save a few bucks or run it until it's dead and pay more and they couldn't give me a time frame of out long it would last. $2,500. later, the 4l60 is up and on the road again. Engine is still stronger then ever. Now I might have been lucky being that this truck has pulled loads every single day of its life, even to fill up gas it pulled a load. :laugh: Now my question to you is, when towing everyday and being used as a commercial vehicle under heavier conditions then your daily driven truck, how often do you recommend changing the atf? Do you have anything good to say about Amsoil ATF?

yea, I had to chime in on this considering trans repair is my 9-5 and landscaping, I'm just a weekend warrior :laugh:

on a 4l60e I recommend changing all the fluid and filter change at least every 30k miles or a lil less depending on the condition of the fluid, if you pull the dip stick and the fluid looks discolored or smells a lil funny/burnt change it right away!

Amsoil is not bad, its just like any other aftermarket full synthetic, its expensive!!!
Dexron 6 is a full synthetic and cheaper, bout $5-6 a quart or even just the "Global ATF" you get at O'Reilly auto for about the same price, its good stuff, and would be a good alternative to the standard Dexron 3 that's already in there....
one other thing, Get the biggest external cooler you can get/fit in the front of the radiator!!! that will be the best bang for your buck on that truck!!

4L60E was not the best trans GM made but all I drive is GM and all my trucks have the 4L60E, Personally, I really like them, good trannys, easy to diagnose and inexpensive to fix

Hope this helps!!