Dead Auto Transmission...Options?

[bnhynum]

Well I finally have to deal with the Transmission. Today I lost 3rd, so I drove home in 2nd. Has been getting steadily worse over the last month and I have decided I cannot pinch this penny any more.



What I would like to know is any first hand experience with the several options I have seen for fixing/replacing this thing. I remember the days as a teenager driving a beat up truck with a manual transmission. If it blew up, yank it, get another from the junk yard and slap it in. Good for another couple years. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to repeat that with this car.



Options so far have been:

• Genuine GM replacement at dealer.
• Chain transmission shop like Cottman.
• Buy a rebuilt unit and pay a shop to swap it.
• Buy a rebuilt unit and swap it myself. (sans lift)

Notes: I am pretty handy with a wrench but still just a typical garage mechanic. Price is not as big an issue now that it is dead in the water. At this point I just want it done right.



Any feedback or additional options would be appreciated. I plan to move on this quick since the car is my daily driver.



Thanks





P.S. The Dynaspark Optispark replacement is impressive.

 

[Vettelt193]

Well I finally have to deal with the Transmission. Today I lost 3rd, so I drove home in 2nd. Has been getting steadily worse over the last month and I have decided I cannot pinch this penny any more.



What I would like to know is any first hand experience with the several options I have seen for fixing/replacing this thing. I remember the days as a teenager driving a beat up truck with a manual transmission. If it blew up, yank it, get another from the junk yard and slap it in. Good for another couple years. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to repeat that with this car.



Options so far have been:

• Genuine GM replacement at dealer.
• Chain transmission shop like Cottman.
• Buy a rebuilt unit and pay a shop to swap it.
• Buy a rebuilt unit and swap it myself. (sans lift)

Notes: I am pretty handy with a wrench but still just a typical garage mechanic. Price is not as big an issue now that it is dead in the water. At this point I just want it done right.



Any feedback or additional options would be appreciated. I plan to move on this quick since the car is my daily driver.



Thanks





P.S. The Dynaspark Optispark replacement is impressive.

If you want it perfect, put a new one in.

Rebuilt automatics never seem to be the same as new... even with the most careful rebuilds, something always is a little bit off. It could be as simple as one shift being a bit harder than the rest, but I have never driven in a car with a rebuilt auto that is the exact same as it was before.

If you are ok with a bit of a difference, go ahead and rebuild. I personally think the national chains stink, as I have had better service at local places. I had a '93 lincoln that I had rebuilt at AAMCO, and just over a year later (think just out of warrantee) it blew again, and the next local tranny shop pointed out all the cheap parts they used. the price certainly wasn't cheap!

One other thing to do is to put a mild shift kit in it at the same time as rebuild. then it won't shift the same on purpose. dont get to radical with the shift kit though, if you get one that shifts too hard, you will have a tough time in corners on wet days.

Any option you pick GOOD LUCK!

 

[Jeb]

Check around your area for an independent shop that does transmission work. Most places that do general mechanical work "shop out" their transmission work because it's so specialized and by talking to several different "all purpose" repair shops, you might be able to determine who, in your area, is generally felt to be the best.

I would avoid the chains like the plague.