Those mail order rebuilt transmissions are painted. They come from back east where the case housings get damaged from road salt. Painted transmissions look cheesy and I wouldn't want one.
Automatic transmission replacement costs
- Thread starter nomochevys
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Those mail order rebuilt transmissions are painted. They come from back east where the case housings get damaged from road salt. Painted transmissions look cheesy and I wouldn't want one.
They come from all over the country not just back east.
Those mail order rebuilt transmissions are painted. They come from back east where the case housings get damaged from road salt. Painted transmissions look cheesy and I wouldn't want one.
They come from all over the country not just back east.
When the AODE trans pooped out on my old '93 Grand Marquis I bought one from a rebuilder on ebay and installed it myself... Cost??? Less than $750 including fluid...
Of course if you're not capable of doing same, it's going to cost dearly...
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Those mail order rebuilt transmissions are painted. They come from back east where the case housings get damaged from road salt. Painted transmissions look cheesy and I wouldn't want one.
Really??? Darned if I want to set in the driveway looking at the vehicle vs actually driving it... Each his own...
Mine wasn't painted but if it had been purple with yellow & green poke a dots I wouldn't have cared...
BTW the trans was fine and still shufting flawless when my buddy sold it last summer...
Of course if you're not capable of doing same, it's going to cost dearly...
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Those mail order rebuilt transmissions are painted. They come from back east where the case housings get damaged from road salt. Painted transmissions look cheesy and I wouldn't want one.
Really??? Darned if I want to set in the driveway looking at the vehicle vs actually driving it... Each his own...
Mine wasn't painted but if it had been purple with yellow & green poke a dots I wouldn't have cared...
BTW the trans was fine and still shufting flawless when my buddy sold it last summer...
Last edited:
I'm surprised to read of an OEM rebuild that cost more than $2000.
The only time I have read of a rebuilt auto costing more unless:
1. Was specific to a European auto maker
2. Is a DCT
The only time I have read of a rebuilt auto costing more unless:
1. Was specific to a European auto maker
2. Is a DCT
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I'm surprised to read of an OEM rebuild that cost more than $2000.
The only time I have read of a rebuilt auto costing more unless:
1. Was specific to a European auto maker
2. Is a DCT
A lot of the Ford ones do. The Torqshift and ZF 6 speed autos are expensive. The FNR5 and AWF21's can be expensive as well.
I'm surprised to read of an OEM rebuild that cost more than $2000.
The only time I have read of a rebuilt auto costing more unless:
1. Was specific to a European auto maker
2. Is a DCT
A lot of the Ford ones do. The Torqshift and ZF 6 speed autos are expensive. The FNR5 and AWF21's can be expensive as well.
My fiancee's father just had the transmission rebuilt in his 05 Pathfinder. This model was notorious for failing transmission coolers, which let antifreeze mix with the transmission fluid and wreck the transmission. His cooler failed around 180k miles. Prior to that, he never changed the transmission fluid. He paid about $4500 to have the trans rebuilt and have the radiator replaced.
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Don't let it shift at wide open throttle, ever..
If you really have to get going, back off on the throttle some before it shifts.
Exactly the strategy followed by almost every DBW car with a slushbox today.
Yet my Impala SS ran almost every Friday night at the strip for years and its 4L60E held up well beyond a hundred thousand miles.
I can assure you I rarely let up on that car!
When a built up stroker was installed I had a well known builder go through it and all it cost was 900 bucks IIRC and that was including a higher stall converter and tons of upgrades. But we did the R and R in house...
Don't let it shift at wide open throttle, ever..
If you really have to get going, back off on the throttle some before it shifts.
Exactly the strategy followed by almost every DBW car with a slushbox today.
Yet my Impala SS ran almost every Friday night at the strip for years and its 4L60E held up well beyond a hundred thousand miles.
I can assure you I rarely let up on that car!
When a built up stroker was installed I had a well known builder go through it and all it cost was 900 bucks IIRC and that was including a higher stall converter and tons of upgrades. But we did the R and R in house...
I remember when I was working at a Honda dealer some of the customers who didn't take an extended warranty crying over the $5,500 the shop wanted to replace their Odyssey transmissions.
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Exactly the strategy followed by almost every DBW car with a slushbox today.
I think more recent ones without DBW will also pull timing during the shift as well. Either way I wouldn't worry about it at all. Change your fluid every 30k and drive 'em!
Exactly the strategy followed by almost every DBW car with a slushbox today.
I think more recent ones without DBW will also pull timing during the shift as well. Either way I wouldn't worry about it at all. Change your fluid every 30k and drive 'em!
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Most of the time there are no quick fixes, and the trans has to be removed from the car. If you're going to pay for all that labor, might as well go all the way.
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Most of the time there are no quick fixes, and the trans has to be removed from the car. If you're going to pay for all that labor, might as well go all the way.
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Most of the time there are no quick fixes, and the trans has to be removed from the car. If you're going to pay for all that labor, might as well go all the way.
If you believe the lies told to you by the transmission shop, then yes. Otherwise I have documented my two transmission repairs here:
TSB upgrade:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/atratb039-02-01-1991-a-t-g4a-el-4eat-low-pump-pressure.61690/
Solenoid replacement:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/
I am reasonably sure that most people here could do both of those repairs.
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Most of the time there are no quick fixes, and the trans has to be removed from the car. If you're going to pay for all that labor, might as well go all the way.
If you believe the lies told to you by the transmission shop, then yes. Otherwise I have documented my two transmission repairs here:
TSB upgrade:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/atratb039-02-01-1991-a-t-g4a-el-4eat-low-pump-pressure.61690/
Solenoid replacement:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/
I am reasonably sure that most people here could do both of those repairs.
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Most of the time there are no quick fixes, and the trans has to be removed from the car. If you're going to pay for all that labor, might as well go all the way.
If you believe the lies told to you by the transmission shop, then yes. Otherwise I have documented my two transmission repairs here:
TSB upgrade:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/atratb039-02-01-1991-a-t-g4a-el-4eat-low-pump-pressure.61690/
Solenoid replacement:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/
I am reasonably sure that most people here could do both of those repairs.
Eh. Sometimes autos need work because of something like pump pressure or a shift solenoid, but the majority of auto failures are the bands or clutches slipping or breaking. By the time you get that far, all the other bands and clutches are going to be seriously worn as well. While it is possible to adjust a loose band or replace a broken one, by the time you have it out and that far apart it's best to rework the entire thing so you move the next overhaul 60K+ down the road rather than just patching it together for another 10K.
I think OP should really explore alternative shops, though. $4400 for an R&R seems high. My supplier catalogs show remans in the $1200 range with a core exchange, which should put the total overhaul under $2500 (for the RAV4)
The 4L60E (aka the 700R4+E) he has is not the worlds most durable auto but it is dirt cheap and readily available in junkyards. Upgrading to the 5-gear set to make it into a 4L65 is a solid choice.
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
My 1995 Ford Escort still has it's original automatic transmission in it at 218K miles (I bought the car new). IMO, people seem to opt for a rebuild when all it needs is a fix. Automatic transmission are supposed to last a long time like mine has so far.
Most of the time there are no quick fixes, and the trans has to be removed from the car. If you're going to pay for all that labor, might as well go all the way.
If you believe the lies told to you by the transmission shop, then yes. Otherwise I have documented my two transmission repairs here:
TSB upgrade:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/atratb039-02-01-1991-a-t-g4a-el-4eat-low-pump-pressure.61690/
Solenoid replacement:
http://www.feoa.net/threads/how-to-replace-1-2-shift-solenoid-on-atx-1991.82837/
I am reasonably sure that most people here could do both of those repairs.
Eh. Sometimes autos need work because of something like pump pressure or a shift solenoid, but the majority of auto failures are the bands or clutches slipping or breaking. By the time you get that far, all the other bands and clutches are going to be seriously worn as well. While it is possible to adjust a loose band or replace a broken one, by the time you have it out and that far apart it's best to rework the entire thing so you move the next overhaul 60K+ down the road rather than just patching it together for another 10K.
I think OP should really explore alternative shops, though. $4400 for an R&R seems high. My supplier catalogs show remans in the $1200 range with a core exchange, which should put the total overhaul under $2500 (for the RAV4)
The 4L60E (aka the 700R4+E) he has is not the worlds most durable auto but it is dirt cheap and readily available in junkyards. Upgrading to the 5-gear set to make it into a 4L65 is a solid choice.
Originally Posted By: supton
Takes less knowledge to rebuild than to diagnose. Plus after so many miles just what condition are all the wear items anyhow?
Sometimes I wonder how much "fun" it would be to buy a usable core and rebuild it in my (?) spare time.
It's mostly a lot of tedious alignment of all the wear stuff. Not as fun as rebuilding a dog box or something. Too much time checking preloads with feeler gages. IMHO.
Takes less knowledge to rebuild than to diagnose. Plus after so many miles just what condition are all the wear items anyhow?
Sometimes I wonder how much "fun" it would be to buy a usable core and rebuild it in my (?) spare time.
It's mostly a lot of tedious alignment of all the wear stuff. Not as fun as rebuilding a dog box or something. Too much time checking preloads with feeler gages. IMHO.
Originally Posted By: metalboy
Originally Posted By: supton
Takes less knowledge to rebuild than to diagnose. Plus after so many miles just what condition are all the wear items anyhow?
Sometimes I wonder how much "fun" it would be to buy a usable core and rebuild it in my (?) spare time.
It's mostly a lot of tedious alignment of all the wear stuff. Not as fun as rebuilding a dog box or something. Too much time checking preloads with feeler gages. IMHO.
Good to know.
Originally Posted By: supton
Takes less knowledge to rebuild than to diagnose. Plus after so many miles just what condition are all the wear items anyhow?
Sometimes I wonder how much "fun" it would be to buy a usable core and rebuild it in my (?) spare time.
It's mostly a lot of tedious alignment of all the wear stuff. Not as fun as rebuilding a dog box or something. Too much time checking preloads with feeler gages. IMHO.
Good to know.
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: metalboy
Originally Posted By: supton
Takes less knowledge to rebuild than to diagnose. Plus after so many miles just what condition are all the wear items anyhow?
Sometimes I wonder how much "fun" it would be to buy a usable core and rebuild it in my (?) spare time.
It's mostly a lot of tedious alignment of all the wear stuff. Not as fun as rebuilding a dog box or something. Too much time checking preloads with feeler gages. IMHO.
Good to know.
I've only ever done a few, so don't take that as gospel. C4s, the same C6 about four times, a couple of 700R4s. Did those generally because I'm too cheap and ornery to pay somebody else to do them. Used to be, anyway. If my [censored] E4OD went out again I'd probably get somebody else to do it just because I'm sick of the sight of the thing.
I'd love to tear down one of the newer dual-clutch semiautomated manuals though. Those are fascinating. I keep an eye out for them in my travels, but I haven't had an opportunity to pull one out of something wrecked.
Originally Posted By: metalboy
Originally Posted By: supton
Takes less knowledge to rebuild than to diagnose. Plus after so many miles just what condition are all the wear items anyhow?
Sometimes I wonder how much "fun" it would be to buy a usable core and rebuild it in my (?) spare time.
It's mostly a lot of tedious alignment of all the wear stuff. Not as fun as rebuilding a dog box or something. Too much time checking preloads with feeler gages. IMHO.
Good to know.
I've only ever done a few, so don't take that as gospel. C4s, the same C6 about four times, a couple of 700R4s. Did those generally because I'm too cheap and ornery to pay somebody else to do them. Used to be, anyway. If my [censored] E4OD went out again I'd probably get somebody else to do it just because I'm sick of the sight of the thing.
I'd love to tear down one of the newer dual-clutch semiautomated manuals though. Those are fascinating. I keep an eye out for them in my travels, but I haven't had an opportunity to pull one out of something wrecked.
- Status
