Is there any way to tell if a transmission was replaced or rebuilt?

anyone?

Are you asking if it has ever been touched, they told you it was rebuilt and you don't thik it is, what? Or do you think we have nothing better to do.

Actually I think that's a good question. I've got a rebuilt engine in my truck and it was rebuilt by a certified rebuilder so they put a metal stamp on the block as well as on the fan shroud so that the subsequent owners would know.

Now I am questioning my tranny. I want to know if it was rebuilt. I know 3 other X owners that have factory trannies and they still have metal tags hanging off thier trannies so they are still original equipment. Mine doesnt. I'm wondering if my tranny was rebuilt, or if that tag just got ripped off, or what telltale sign there are that it might be new/rebuilt.

I've replaced the filter, shift link seal and flushed hte fluid so I basically only know the exterior workings of the tranny. As a newbie to this area I would have no idea what signatures techs leave when the rebuild or install a rebuilt tranny.

Did I make any sense?

The best way to tell if the tranny is rebuilt, is to see if it has a painted Torque Converter. Commonly a "Blue" torque converter is an indication of a "Remanufactured special" lol. Otherwise, there is no external way to tell if it has been rebuilt. ..... Unless of course, someone has stamped it...... but I have never heard of this stamping procedure before.....

Hope this helps,
Al

and there is a piece of plastic in the pan, you are the first one there. Mine was rebuilt and it still has the aluminum tag on the bolt. At 200k it still has the factory unpainted torque converter that has the date 91 on it. I can tell mine was rebuilt because they broke part of the case at one of the top mounting holes. My clutches and bands are near perfect, so these tend to break and not wear out. At least on an A4LD it is the reverse servo seals that die of age first.

I had an A4LD rebuilt several years ago, by a reputable shop in my city. After getting it back, I was amazed to find that the transmission had been painted. And get this: the tranny had been signed by the technician that did the work!

This showed me that they really did care about their work. The tranny went another 70K miles, and was working good when I sold the vehicle....

Thanks, I was just wondering as I have a 97 sport and it has 122K miles right now and I don't know if the tranny was ever rebuilt. The tranny seems to run ok, but when I come to a complete stop, I feel another small jerk, like something was still moving underneath. Anyone experience this before?

Pagz, that's an easy fix. Your driveshaft slip joint needs to be lubricated. Underneath your truck on the rear drive shaft you'll see a rubber boot covering the slip joint. Remove it (make sure you have two replacement hose clamps of similar size) and with the rear end jacked up on the suspension so that you have full droop, clean all the old grease off and put new stuff on. It works better it you do it at the same time you replace the u-joints so that you have the driveshaft off and can put some on the inside of it as well.

Originally posted by Opera House
and there is a piece of plastic in the pan, you are the first one there.. . .

That isn't a guaranteed way to tell if the transmission is original or not. I ordered my '97 Explorer new. I am the only one to have ever dropped the transmission pan and neither time was there the plastic plug from the dipstick tube. Mine probably got chewed up sometime during the first 50K miles. I know my transmission is original.