Help me find out if the mechanic is screwing me!!!

[yardsapart]

Heres the story-

I have a 94 Ford Ranger 4x4 v6. I just had a local mechanic overhaul the transmission and rebuild it. After 2 weeks of BS, I finally get it back.

As soon as I start driving it, I notice something bad. Every time I start driving, there is a very harsh shift from 1st into 2nd. It really slams VERY hard, and is VERY uncomfortable. The first thought that I have is that this is not supposed to be happening.

So I immediately take it back and ask them how they could give it back to me like this. Obviously they had not taken it for a test drive afterwards... or they just thought I was another dumb person who wouldn't say anything.

So here is their explanation:
Apparently they send out their trannys to a local guy who does them for them. The mechanics called him, and the tranny guy said that he put a "larger servo in, which causes a harsher shift". Also, he told the mechanic to "turn down the vaccuum modulator, because that fine tunes shift pressures". Well he did turn it down, and it really didn't do anything.

They said, that it is fine as is, but if I really can't stand it in a couple weeks, to bring it back and they will put the smaller "servo" back in.

So this is where all of you come in. Obviously I have no idea what a servo is nor if that is my problem. SO- is that really the problem? If not, what is it? What would YOU do in my position?

I was just planning on going back in a week or so to have them put the smaller one in and see if it actually works. I just don't have the time to wait another 2 weeks.. I have a business to run and I need my truck to do so.

Thanks in advance everyone, and I am sorry for the long read. I appreciate in advance any advice that you can give

Kyle B.

 

[BrooklynBay]

He could have put larger servos on both the intermediate, and overdrive. The servo piston engages the band (in this case this is your intermediate band). They are difficult to replace while the transmission is in the vehicle.

 

[yardsapart]

So do you think it would be worth bringing it back in to get fixed again? Or is it honestly alright as it is now?

 

[bisjoe]

As I understand it people that race will install shift kits to achieve what you have. The harder shifts reduce wear and improve fuel economy. The smoother shifts comes at a price, though is more common for comfort. The trans is actually spending some time in both gears while shifting, which smooths it out. That causes more wear and heat. In your case with the harsher shift it's going directly from 1-2 without that shared time so is more like the feel of a manual trans shift. If you find it annoying or uncomfortable you should take it back and have it changed. You would expect a rebuild to be to factory specs unless you requested otherwise.

 

[yardsapart]

exactly what I said to them... if they did something not in the "norm" why in the hell wouldn't they have gotten my consent before making such a drastic change?

Well anyway, I feel better knowing that it actually is SEMI benefitial to me, and it wasn't a load of BS.

Another thing.. I own a landscaping company, which means i tow a lot. I would assume from your info that the new servo they put in would be more benefitial under heavy load, right?

Thanks :roll:

 

[jimbo74]

it could be that or they are BSing you..... harsh shifting, ca easily be attributed to low fluid level.... if they didnt test drive it, they probably didn't check the fluid level, as it is to be done running @ operating [warm] temperature with the tranny in park

 

[glfredrick]

I was not aware that there were a selection of servos for the A4LD... :thumbdwn:

 

[yardsapart]

The first thing I did when I got it was to check the fluid, and it was fine. Any way to verify if there are different servos for my truck?

 

[jimbo74]

did you check the fluid running and hot or cold? there is a drastic difference.... when i recently changed my SSC in the tranny, i was about a qt low... it was not happy and bucked like hell

 

[yardsapart]

Yeah. I checked it after it had warmed up, while it was still idling, in park.

 

[glfredrick]

The first thing I did when I got it was to check the fluid, and it was fine. Any way to verify if there are different servos for my truck?

It appears that there are indeed larger servos available for the A4LD. I found some listed here:

http://www.transmissioncenter.org/a4ld.htm

They must be fairly new... Last time I checked there were none.

 

[BrooklynBay]

The ZC servo has been around for quite some time.

 

[yardsapart]

Thanks for the research Much appreciated.

So if I were you guys, would you take it back, or keep it? I can get used to the feeling of the hard shifts, but out of instinct, when I feel that jolt, I feel like something is wrong. But as long as it is in fact a better thing to have, I'm fine with that.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Take it back to have them check it over just in case it's not a servo problem.