In need of advice.... Transmission woes

[Y33TREKker]

You might try taking it to a GM dealership for a second opinion. As far as I know, our transmissions are something of a common model used on many different vehicles.

The transmission "specialist" you went to may have seen your unique Vehicross and decided that the potential repair bill could possibly be just as unique.

[housertl]

Maybe, but the quote for just the trans seems right... About $2400+parts to rebuild, about $2900 to replace it with a used trans...

[Y33TREKker]

Maybe, but the quote for just the trans seems right... About $2400+parts to rebuild, about $2900 to replace it with a used trans...

My suggestion was based on the possibility that the transmission may just need some periodic maintenance (new fluid and filter, etc) and not be in need of replacement.

That you're accepting that it needs to be replaced based on the first piece of feedback you've received just seems premature considering the costs you're talking about.

[housertl]

Maybe, but the quote for just the trans seems right... About $2400+parts to rebuild, about $2900 to replace it with a used trans...

My suggestion was based on the possibility that the transmission may just need some periodic maintenance (new fluid and filter, etc) and not be in need of replacement.

That you're accepting that it needs to be replaced based on the first piece of feedback you've received just seems premature considering the costs you're talking about.

I hear you, but I don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I'm on the other side of the world right now. The new shop is going to run their diagnostic to ensure the transmission actually needs to be replaced. After they re-assemble and reinstall it. Apparently Remove, Dissassemble, and Inspect does not include reassembly and reinstallation if I decide not to do the work...

[Y33TREKker]

I hear you, but I don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I'm on the other side of the world right now. The new shop is going to run their diagnostic to ensure the transmission actually needs to be replaced. After they re-assemble and reinstall it. Apparently Remove, Dissassemble, and Inspect does not include reassembly and reinstallation if I decide not to do the work...

Understandable. Making a decision based on a long-distance diagnosis is never easy.

You'd have to ask of course, but the VX.info member Cobrajet appears to live about an hour away from your listed location (the Arlington area), and from what I remember, he's no stranger to doing some of his own vehicle repair work. If it were me in your situation, I'd try getting in contact with him (or any other VX members you can find in your area by searching the site member list) to see if you could find someone willing to make a trip sometime to change your trans fluid and filter to see if it makes a difference. If I lived closer I'd do it.

A couple of other things that could be checked are the wiring harness connections coming from the passenger side rear area of the transmission itself, and the transmission gear select switch on the drivers side of the trans. The connectors on the passenger side of the trans are well known to allow moisture inside and cause all sorts of erratic electrical inputs to the trans controller as well as transmission malfunctioning. And the transmission gear select switch has similarly been known to be a part that commonly fails/rusts, in it's case due to heat and moisture given it's proximity to the exhaust system.

I had water getting into the passenger side trans electrical connector once during a heavy rain and it had my transmission jumping gears and my TOD display looking like a pinball machine. It'd be a shame if it was something relatively simple (Vehicross-wise) like that and a trans rebuild/replacement didn't solve the issue. And to head off any problem with my gear select switch, I wrapped my exhaust in the area with high-temp exhaust wrap.

Then again, getting a second opinion ALWAYS comes to my mind when anyone starts talking about a high-dollar repair estimate, but maybe I've just seen too many of those investigative journalism shows featuring shady repair shops "creating" issues on vehicles just so they can charge their customers more.

To search the site member list:

- Select the "Forum" tab.
- Select the "Community" tab.
- Select "Member List" from the drop down menu.
- Select "Search Members" over on the right of the page.
- Select "Advanced Search".
- Then narrow the search by State, etc. (I found Cobrajet by searching in VA then clicking on the "Last visit" tab to further narrow the search to the more recent site visitors.)

[kach22i]

The connectors on the passenger side of the trans are well known to allow moisture inside and cause all sorts of erratic electrical inputs to the trans controller as well as transmission malfunctioning.

You guys really know these vehicles, very reassuring.