Transmission repair options, what do you guys think?

Hotshot8792 · #1 05-03-2008, 12:13 PM

So I know that my transmission oil pump is screwed and possibly my torque converter. My transmission is currently at our local mitsu dealership, and they can't do anything with it because they can't even get the torque converter off. Currenty tranny has 63K miles on it, original transmission in the car.

So here are my options:

1. Find a good used tranny for around $500, but it'll be like a factory and could have 60K + miles on it.

2. Buy a mitsu remanned tranny for about $1800.

3. Ship the tranny to IPT and see if they can repair it, could cost several hundred dollars, plus shipping costs.

4. Have IPT do a performance rebuild for about $2400.

I have the money for any of the options, but I'm always very particular about how I spend my money. I like have a big cushion in my savings account, and this would eat at it some.

I'm thinking about just paying the money for a performance rebuild. The guys at IPT says there are cars making 1000 hp and their performance internals are holding up great, so it seems like this tranny could last me a long time if I let them do it.

I want opinions, what would you do in this situation?

new2mitsu · #2 05-03-2008, 12:36 PM

given your mods, I would probably get the performance rebuild if you can afford it...

Linebckr49 · #3 05-03-2008, 11:49 PM

before dropping a lot of money, i would get a second opinion from another shop. basically, i don't trust dealerships. i have more faith in a specialty shop recommended by a trusted mechanic. in your instance i would take the car to a transmission shop where they have experience working on transmission from every car make and model.

WHY can the dealership not remove the torque converter? did they suggest any possible ideas? it sounds like to me that they are refusing to touch it and making you buy a new unit.

just my 2 cents.

Hotshot8792 · #4 05-04-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linebckr49

before dropping a lot of money, i would get a second opinion from another shop. basically, i don't trust dealerships. i have more faith in a specialty shop recommended by a trusted mechanic. in your instance i would take the car to a transmission shop where they have experience working on transmission from every car make and model.

WHY can the dealership not remove the torque converter? did they suggest any possible ideas? it sounds like to me that they are refusing to touch it and making you buy a new unit.

just my 2 cents.

well, i know the guys at the mitsu dealership, and my uncle is the manager there so he'd make sure i'd get taken care of. Our dealership really doesn't rip you off as far as work quality goes, they only do so on their labor rate, which is standard. The torque converter is stuck on the spline, and they may not have the proper tools to take off a stuck converter because they usually send their tranny's off for repair if its not minor. I really don't trust any of the other tranny shops around here with a mitsu application. There are a lot of good shops around here, but they are more into american and muscle cars than they are imports. I think i've pretty much made up my mind to send it to IPT and let them look at it. The question will be whether i tell them to try to repair it, or just have them do a performance rebuild.

Polygon · #5 05-04-2008, 02:11 PM

You also might want to talk to Jack's Transmissions as they kind of specialize on our transmissions. Have you talked to Kormex as well?

Jack's Transmissions

Kormex

Hotshot8792 · #6 05-04-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polygon

You also might want to talk to Jack's Transmissions as they kind of specialize on our transmissions. Have you talked to Kormex as well?

Jack's Transmissions

Kormex

never heard of jack's. I looked at their website and they only do manual tranny's, so they've been eliminated from list of places. Anyways, I just sent Chris Hill from 3SX a PM over on 3SI asking his opinion, because i just remembered that when T4 was ATX, they had their tranny built by IPT, so I can get his opinion on IPT.

Polygon · #7 05-04-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotshot8792

never heard of jack's. I looked at their website and they only do manual tranny's, so they've been eliminated from list of places. Anyways, I just sent Chris Hill from 3SX a PM over on 3SI asking his opinion, because i just remembered that when T4 was ATX, they had their tranny built by IPT, so I can get his opinion on IPT.

Gahhh, not reading FTL.

Yeah, don't pay attention to my post then. Both of them only do manuals.

AutostradaVR4 · #8 05-05-2008, 07:43 AM

wow...1000hp through an ATX? that's impressive. If you go with the performance rebuild, at least you wont have to worry about the tranny even again, lol. $2400 is a substantial chunk of change though...that's a tough call.

After thinking on it for another minute or so...I think I would get the performance rebuild, but ONLY if it comes with a warranty of some sort and ONLY if you plan on keeping the car forever.

Hotshot8792 · #9 05-05-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlinkRA182

wow...1000hp through an ATX? that's impressive. If you go with the performance rebuild, at least you wont have to worry about the tranny even again, lol. $2400 is a substantial chunk of change though...that's a tough call.

After thinking on it for another minute or so...I think I would get the performance rebuild, but ONLY if it comes with a warranty of some sort and ONLY if you plan on keeping the car forever.

I plan on keeping the car for a long time. Oh, and for that kind of money, it better come with a warranty. IPO responded and told me that the tranny from IPT didn't last as long as they wanted to. He said that Brett then rebuilt their ATX in house and it lasted longer. Chris said he is going to talk to Brett to see what kind of performance upgrades they can do if I wanted to go through them. I'm going to contact them this afternoon and decide whether I'm going to send my tranny to 3SX or IPT.

AutostradaVR4 · #10 05-05-2008, 02:21 PM

well good luck with whatever you go with, and definitely keep us updated. I'm sure you cant wait to get that beast back on the road. Its been down almost as long as ive owned my 3/s, lol

Hotshot8792 · #11 05-05-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlinkRA182

well good luck with whatever you go with, and definitely keep us updated. I'm sure you cant wait to get that beast back on the road. Its been down almost as long as ive owned my 3/s, lol

yea, its been down for a while, mostly because i don't get much time to work on it as busy as I stay. Anyways, the tranny will be going to 3SX. Chris was telling me over the phone that the mitsu clutch packs were stronger than the ones IPT offers. On top of that, they may be able to repair it without having to do any kind of rebuild.

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