Transmission Gone Bye Bye

[rocket man]

Hey Thanks Wisdom...your got me onto that site.

BTW this trans actually runs better than the old one. The old one used to down shift a tad early with a noticable "clunk" on the propeller shafts, when you come up to a stop light...this one is as slick as cat's snot on an ice flow

So as they say, "I'm back in the saddle again"
and lovin it!!

John

[LittleBeast]

You are making me wish I had done the same. Especially since the VX has been in the shop for over 2 weeks now, because they failed to fix the trans leak from the coolant lines that I pointed out and had them"fix" the day I originally picked it up.

[rocket man]

Hello Littlebeast,

I followed your emails in February...and I'm sorry you are having to deal with such crap...especially from an Aamco repaired transmission.

In my day, my shop in Huntington Park, Ca, repaired about 1200 transmissions per year. Which translated into about 6000 rebuilts over the 5 year period I was in the biz and that's NOT counting "comebacks".

Albiet... 30 years ago...these lil creatures havn't changed too much....Yep...a lot more electronics...computer stuff and all that...yet when all is said and done they all operate under the basic principals of the transmission of the 50's and 60's.

As I said in an earlier post...NO MATTER WHO DOES IT!! Most "YOYO's" are leakers...You can call it a screw up in the rebuild process but is a plain fact of this biz.....Unfortunately, the oil in a transmission not only lubricates its interior moving components, but is also is the driving force that makes the car MOVE, both hydraulically (front pump and valve body) as well as dynamically(torque convertor) and finally it "cools" the transmission.

If you run it low on fluid to the point that you experience slipping, or wierd gear changes or behavior...you need to get it to a shop ASAP...Isuzu, in there infinite wisdom decided to omit the dipstick, so unless you stay on top of what's leaking on you garage floor, you might be in for a big surprise...

ATF is colored with a red additive that is designed to discolor, (I think around 400 degrees) At that point it will begin to turn amber, then brown, then coffee brown and then start to stink. Each of these phases tells a transmission mechanic what going on in your transmission.
I'am a big humongous believer in synthetic oil. It is designed to not, "shear" at 400+ high temperatures, course the costs are much higher. Synthetic oil I think has been around since WW2 in the superchargers of airplanes...there has to be a reason for this... right???

3 quarts low is pretty critical in a 10-12 quart system like the VX and there may have already been some damage done that has not manifested itself with an outright symtom...But, in any case, you have a warranty and Aamco will stand behind it. If they "jack" you around just call Customer Service in Williamsport Pa. Document everything...write a log ....also complain to the Better Business Bureau (they hate that!!!, because they have to write a letter back to the BBB) Also its a violation of there franchise agreement to not respond to a written complaint..

Remember these guys are private businessmen, they are not an employee of a company owned National chain...and because of that there are some "sleeze bags" that will screw you in a heart-beat...but for the most part they are good guys...combacks are just part of the biz...

As for my way being better than yours??? I don't think one is right or wrong... To me it was a matter of prospective and economics...Whats our car worth running in perfect condition??? $7-10K???...now add the fact that my car has 160,000 miles on the drivetrain....is it worth a $3000 transmission? For me...no... just Prospective and economics

Keep me posted....email me if you feel your not being treated fairly..

John

[LittleBeast]

Hello Littlebeast,

I followed your emails in February...and I'm sorry you are having to deal with such crap...especially from an Aamco repaired transmission.

As for my way being better than yours??? I don't think one is right or wrong... To me it was a matter of prospective and economics...Whats our car worth running in perfect condition??? $7-10K???...now add the fact that my car has 160,000 miles on the drivetrain....is it worth a $3000 transmission? For me...no... just Prospective and economics

Keep me posted....email me if you feel your not being treated fairly..

John

I really appreciate your input and I will definitely keep you updated, thanks.

[rocket man]

Absolutley no problem