LIVID and then some.....

[squiggypiggy]

Well, my 2000 Ex transmission did that typical thing that they all seem to do when the tranny is going bad, back in December. Lost all gears, high RPMs and it would literally only move an inch or two. No flashing O/D light, but after reading various posts, it was decided that it was probably time for a new tranny. It took me a couple of months to get it to the shop due to funding, but I finally got it there after it sat in the driveway for about 2 months. The shop had my Ex for approx 5 weeks, but I FINALLY got it back at the beginning of April. About 4 weeks later, it felt like it wasn't shifting right, so I took it in to get it looked at, and was told it was completely fine, nothing was wrong with it. The very NEXT day, on my way to work, I had no reverse. By the time Igot it to the office, the transmission fluid had a heavy drip coming from underneath and I had nothing left when it came to the gears and it was towed back to their shop. Still under warranty. I had to pay for a rental for 3 weeks while they put a new tranny into it. This is now almost June. Between the their 1st and 2nd transmission, I put new wheels and tires on it. Went from 15" to 20", which really look great, and when I took it in to get it checked, I was told that the over sized tires were making the transmission act goofy because of the computer system not being adjusted to accomodate the larger tires. Sounds like horse hockey to me, but I'm not great at this sort of thing...please enlighten me if it's true.
Well about 3 weeks ago, the tranny is acting up yet again. I took it to a sister shop where the changed out a solenoid, but said that wasn't the problem and was told I had to take it back to the shop that did the original work and have them look at it. While enroute to the other shop (20 miles from the sister shop), it won't shift to 3rd? I was only going 40 MPH AND the O/D light is now blinking, which it has never done throughout all of this. Once I'm within about 5 miles of the shop, it doesn't want to shift into 2nd? and I'm stuck at 25-30 MPH still with the O/D light blinking. I called to let them know what was going on and that I was bringing right to them. They had it for just over a week, said they tore apart the tranny and found nothing wrong with it. It shifted find and no O/D light. Again, it must be the over sized tires, is what I was told! I go to pick it up tonight, renturn the rental and on the way home, that stupid O/D light is blinking again!!! So typical too, since I have to drive 45 miles into work at 3:00 in the morning tomorrow!
I would truly LOVE to hear what your thoughts are about this crazy transmission and what suggestions you have at this point. Right now, I'm wanting to just pour some fuel over the whole thing and let her burn! Totally frustrated and angry!
Thanks in advance.

 

[boominXplorer]

Your getting the run around........ With a shop like this you have to stomp your feet till they get it right. It also does not matter the tire size you install just as long as all the tires are the same size if its 4x4. A blinking o/d light is an error inside the transmission.

 

[koda2000]

Your getting the run around........ With a shop like this you have to stomp your feet till they get it right. It also does not matter the tire size you install just as long as all the tires are the same size if its 4x4. A blinking o/d light is an error inside the transmission.

as long as all the tires/wheels are the same size it doesn't make any difference to the transmission. only the speedo, brakes and gear ratio will be effected to a degree.

 

[drdoom]

Find out what the trouble codes are, no point in getting too worked up til you have the data.

 

[boominXplorer]

The next time you take it back use a paint marker and mark some bolts before you take it back. I have seen shady transmission shops park a vehicle for a week and say they are doing all this work when its really just sitting out back trying to get closer to your warranty end point.

Back when I was 16 and just learning about cars I paid for a full rebuild on my 95 xlt transmission (same trans as yours). Now I was 16 so I beat the crap out of it and somehow managed to loose o/d on a downshift about 5 months after the rebuild. From what I know now a band broke and you must completely redo the transmission to get to that band. I took the truck back numerous times and got told different things every time and it was good to go. One time they said I needed to replace my MAF sensor to get the transmission to work correctly while I never had a code or check engine light for it. I never had O/D work ever again. After about 5 times dropping the truck off and leaving it for weeks at a time and irritated about running in 3rd gear everywhere I ended up dumping the truck for my Mountaineer. This run around is from a well known shop that is all across the country and starts with a C and ends with a N. Sometimes you have to be that pain in the butt customer for them to treat you right and I was to forgiving at the time.

 

[SoNic67]

as long as all the tires/wheels are the same size it doesn't make any difference to the transmission. only the speedo, brakes and gear ratio will be effected to a degree.

But if you get into a legal dispute with the shop, based on non-OE size you probably will loose...
You know, a shop lawyer will point to the added stress due to increased torque needed, not being DOT approved, blablabla...
The burden of proof will be on you to show that is not true, since you modified the OE parameters of the car. Sure, you can bring a court approved specialist to testify for you, but that would cost in the end same as a new transmission.