Trans is at the rebuilders

[alohamonte]

About 2 weeks ago I put the X into reverse -- pop, no reverse. Still went into park and drive without a problem.

Brought it to a shop... week and a half later they tell me it needs a new trans fluid pump, valve body, and drum. Now they want to drain and inspect the torque coverterer. Do these converters go bad? What would the symptoms be?

Does this sound right to you? These items would cause the trans to loose reverse? I could use some perspective.

Note: 140,000 on the original trans, 4spd Auto.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check the low/reverse servo & band. If the band has spring action, the 2 O rings around the servo look OK, and the tip of the servo has no chips, then check the reverse modulation valve in the valve body. If these things check out, then check the shift rail, and the shift fork in the transfer case. A pressure test on the transmission would be a good idea too.

 

[alohamonte]

they didnt say anything about the band or servo, so the problem likely lies with the reverse modulation valve in the valve body. i'm assuming however, i wish they were more clear with me.

is there a reverse gear in the drum?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The only thing similar to that would be the rear one way sprag. The planetaries, and the front pump are the only physical gears. The clutch packs, and the bands engaging, and disengaging change gear ratios.

 

[alohamonte]

damage (to my wallet) has been done.

got the truck back after 13 days at the trans shop.

They did a soft rebuild (seals/gaskets) and replaced the pump, valve body, drum, and torque converter. new fluid and filter.

Total was a few pennies under $1900.

I feel like they took me for a ride, not because of the price, but because of their poor communication about the problem and solution. To them, telling me it was "fixed" was enough, whereas I wanted to know exactly where my $1900 was going. Poor customer service with an auto shop is hardly news though.

Trans seems fine. However, they returned the thing to me with one of the front sway bar mounts disconnected, the power steering res empty, and the radiator cap cracked.

 

[alohamonte]

Clunking persists, so I took a second look this morning, and the upper ball joint passenger side, same side as the disconnected sway bar endlink, has a missing boot. not torn, but completely gone without a trace. I'm furious. I just had the front end rebuilt last October.

I assume they disconnect the sway bar in order to take the pressure off the torison bars to get the trans out... sound right.