AAMCO taking me for a ride?

[rh71]

First, sorry for the long post, but I need the details in here.

95 Rodeo, 110k miles, with an intermittent Check Transmission Light. I don't believe I've ever flushed the tranny fluid (maybe once?) and I know that's bad (original owner).

After driving the vehicle 3 times with intermittent check transmission light (where it would go into a limp mode after), I finally decided to bring it into a local mechanic. After a week, he installed an external cooler and flushed the transmission, but the problem persisted. I paid him $250 for his efforts and had to bring it to a specialist.

AAMCO had the next shot with the above details given to them. They call the next day and say they see the check transmission light and that there's nothing further they can see without taking apart the transmission and going from there. $1000 minimum to do it even if I didn't want it fixed after the problem is diagnosed.

I said go ahead with the $1k job to diagnose the problem further. They come back to me and say there's an overheat issue and that the recently-new tranny fluid is already varnished. Electrical components inside all need replacement because they're basically fried from the heat. Estimate $3600 total (includes the $1k).

After deciding not to do the repairs (I would still owe them $1k), I was hounded by the manager to do it because the car is in otherwise good condition. I still say no, just put it back together and I'll pay the $1k. A day later, I receive a call from the regional manager asking why I won't do it. I told them price is an issue. He would call back the store and see if they'll do it for less. AAMCO owner calls me and says they can't go lower, I say ok, put it back together for $1k and we'll part ways. A day after that, it's apparently still not being put back together because the store manager calls and hounds me about not doing the job once more. I finally decide after much talk that I'll have a good car to use or sell as I wish as opposed to wasting $1k on a car leaving in the same broken condition. I told her to do the job for $3400 cash.

2 days later, I get a call that the car is done, tranny rebuilt, electronic components replaced, and I pick it up after forking over $3400 cash. 20 minutes of local road driving later, the check transmission light comes on, just as before. Same symptoms with limp mode. As it's a Friday night, I call the manager to express my displeasure and she tells me to leave it in the lot. Next morning Saturday I show up, they're doing a test run and they see the check transmission light again. 2 days after that (today), they say a "turbine speed sensor" (determines slippage) was replaced and it's supposedly ok again - they're keeping it for another few days to test. Free fix too, I wonder why...

Are you kidding me? That speed sensor is on the exterior of the tranny. It also sounds like the exact reason a check tranny light would come on. Why was this not diagnosed the first time? Even if I had fried all the electronics, wouldn't the speed sensor issue be seen the 1st time they tried to diagnose as well? As it is an external part, the tranny wouldn't have needed to be taken apart ($1k) and this $200 part could've potentially saved me from having the tranny rebuilt in the first place. They are explaining now that they only found this speed sensor issue because of a check engine light (which I know was not what the Saturday morning test showed - it was the same Check Transmission light).

They may have made the wrong diagnosis the 1st time. And it seems they're trying to cover their tracks. Am I in the wrong to assume things here? If you were them, what could've been done differently? How would you feel if you were me?

And lastly, do shops ever give a refund for wrong diagnosis even if the job (tranny rebuild) has already been done? I mean, the same damn light with the same symptoms occured after a full rebuild. Their defense is that the 2nd-visit light could be any number of reasons, including a separate issue. I can't argue that and that's where my frustration lies. I've asked for documentation of codes they pulled (1st and 2nd fixes) but they can make any of that up at this point.

[FL 3.2L]

Sorry. I would feel taken advantage of. It's hard to know who to trust when it comes to auto repair. Once again, AAMCO seems to stand for "all automatics must come out."

[rod2004]

That sounds really bad.

They might not even look at it or took it apart.

Too many crooks in the world

[Ramblin Fever]

Man oh man....I SO wished you were able to find this site/forum sooner...yes, you were taken advantage of.

This is the EXACT same scenerio I got on my Rodeo years ago when it only had 60k or so, I took it to AAMCO to find out why it was harsh shifting in 2nd-3rd gear....turned out to be the range mode sensor.

Thank goodness my Dad just happened to call, as I was about to let them do the $1k dollar *open the tranny to find out what the issue is* crap. This was months before I found this forum several years back.

I never let them get further then the test drive, but they were so mad and upset, they called for several days after I had already had the truck fixed and back on the road shifting just fine with the same tranny they said (during test drive) was toast.

These tranny's are VERY sensitive to voltage issues, yes, you were taken....sorry, as they rebuilt a tranny that didn't need it, and HOPEFULLY they rebuilt it correctly, as most of these GM 4L30-E tranny's do not perform as well once they're rebuilt.

[rh71]

Well the thing is if they wanted to defraud me to begin with, they would've fixed it right the first time but not tell me it was JUST the speed sensor (external) and replace that PLUS the transmission. So it was more a case of misdiagnosis I'm claiming.

And the question about that remains - do they (any mechanic) ever give you money back for work done that did nothing to fix a problem?

Is it really true that I have a limited amount of time with this new tranny even after the actual fix now? If so, I gotta start looking to sell this thing. I was hoping for at least a few more years assuming nothing else major fails. I've seen many 200k Rodeos I thought. And how much did not flushing the ATF ever have to do with this whole ordeal?

[Ramblin Fever]

The not changing ATF fluid had nothing to do with the speed sensor, speed sensor is external.

However, NOT changing the ATF fluid at least every 30-40k usually dictates a short life...these trannies thrive on very frequent ATF fluid changes. With that said, I do NOT recommend flushes on these trannies, rather partial fluid swaps every 15-20k miles.

Didn't your rebuild come with *any* kind of warranty?? I'm not suggesting it's going to *definitely* croak, just saying hopefully they did it correctly and thoroughly. If something should happen, fall back on the warranty, they should have provided one, otherwise as long as it's paid for and running good, finding another tranny would probably be cheaper then buying another SUV, unless you're gonna pay cash for another vehicle. If it was my truck, I'd keep it, especially if the truck is in excellent shape and running great.

My auto tranny, same model as yours, IS original nearing 185k miles at this time, I've changed my ATF every 15k miles with partial fluid swaps and I've changed my filter every 30-40k miles....this truck has pulled some very heavy loads as well in it's 11yrs. Mine has never been opened or rebuilt, however, and as far as I can tell should exceed 200k easily...it shifts and runs better then my Tacoma half it's age.

In your case, I'd be calling the Better Business Bureau and see about what's possible, as well as talking to a few lawyers just to see what they have to say.

8yrs ago we put in a rebuilt engine into a Toyota truck, the engine and the shop that performed the service really srewed that truck up...after weeks of talking with the Better Business Bureau, the company decided they'd prefer to do right rather then have a bad reference on their supposed good name. But it does take time.

Keep us posted.

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by rh71

Well the thing is if they wanted to defraud me to begin with, they would've fixed it right the first time?

Also, sorry, but you obviously don't understand what AAMCO attempts to do to thousands of owners. They have defrauded many Isuzu owners, taking out very good trannies. Trust me you're not the first owner they've defrauded....many owners had nothing but dying alternators causing their issues, and yet, AAMCO said they had a toasted tranny.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Also, sorry, but you obviously don't understand what AAMCO attempts to do to thousands of owners. They have defrauded many Isuzu owners, taking out very good trannies.

I'm not saying they don't do that.

I'm saying in my case they took out my tranny and it still didn't fix the problem. They would've been better off doing the tranny AND fixing the [much cheaper, real problem] sensor (but not tell me) so that I would go on believing the new tranny fixed the problem (an actual fraud against me). Right now, they just look incompetent... as they didn't even do the sensor originally (the problem), but will now, for free.

Are you saying they go to these lengths as well?

Although with all this said, the sensor isn't proven to be the problem just yet - they are still holding it a few more days for more testing so they don't look even more incompetent. I'm half-heartedly expecting them to say I need more fixes that will cost more though after reading through AAMCO stories. Before I read any of these, I actually expected independent shops to be more fraudulent.

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by rh71

Are you saying they go to these lengths as well?

What I'm saying is AAMCO follows the philosophy - All Automatics Must Come Out, irregardless if an employee there might think *wait a minute - something's not pointing to the tranny itself*

My feeling is they didn't even care to look for other possibilities, they're in the business of seeing how much they can charge.

Beyond that I can't tell you what they're true intents really are, only that I've heard thousands of horror stories in my years of being on Isuzu and Toyota boards, it's not just an Isuzu thing.

Are they truly testing your truck, or is it just sitting on the lot?

Keep us posted for sure....I feel bad that another Isuzuan has been robbed for an otherwise still in decent shape tranny.

I for one would be VERY upset if they had taken apart my transmission, unless they provide you with paperwork of the exact components they replaced inside that tranny, and handed you the old parts.

With all this said, how old is your alternator and battery?? These trannies will do very funky things if they're getting low volts.

[rh71]

I do have a list of everything they replaced and their prices. For sure I could ask to see if the electronic components were fried (they said they were very brittle) like they claimed, but then couldn't they be expecting this and have older parts from another vehicle? Just like when I had to get an accessory belt changed out at the local garage, they could've just pulled any old belt and said that was the one that was coming apart.

I could ask to see them, but then I still wouldn't know... unless I brought them home and studied them? I'm not trying to be argumentative... I'm trying to better prepare myself because this will definitely not be the last time I have to judge mechanics.

[Ramblin Fever]

Are you talking the electronic compenants inside the tranny being fried?? If so, this is very possible for a tranny that has not seen atf fluid change intervals, as the atf fluid in these tranny's is far past shot even at 50k miles.

I know you're not trying to be argumenative, and you're not, you're simply upset, as I would be.

It's very hard this day and age to trust any mechanic.

[Rmasters3]

I'd say talk to a couple garages you trust and see who they recommend for transmission work. Bite the bullet, pay of AAMCO and have it towed or otherwise get it to the other guy. Transmission shops are notorious for the "incremental screw" where they need a grand to diagonse, more to fix, your stuck because it's out of the truck and in pieces.

[Ramblin Fever]

Rmasters3....tranny rebuilt has already taken place and is back in the truck.

[pharm_rodeo]

Aamco had no incentive to diagnose the problem properly. They usually start with a costly rebuild and THEN move towards the cheaper fixes. All the other national tranny shops would have done the same thing. They diagnose a problem by test driving it. That's it!

Would it be nice if they dropped the pan first to get an idea of the condition of the fluid and the metal particles present at the bottom? Sure. Would it be nice if they checked the fluid level properly first? Sure. But they won't. They have no reason to.

A lot of people here have had their tranny rebuilt only to have the original problem return. I had my tranny rebuilt in 06 but my a small independent shop with a 3yr/36,000 warranty. It cost me $1900. I plan to drive my truck into the ground so it was worth to me.

This particular Aamco just ripped you off. It wasn't a misdiagnosis. Check your local BBB and see if others have complained.