Date:         Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:11:56 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes Trans
              Malfunction, 88 Auto
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

I've seen cheaper prices a couple of times but they would have involved
shipping for you. Outside of that, if you take him at his word that he did
everything he said, it would be a decent price- most auto tranny rebuild
quotes I've gotten/heard were in excess of 2K.

The stator pump is internal to the torque converter. I got my rebuilt TC for
$125, IIRC, and I've seen them for a low as $90. I have no idea what a new
one would run.

I seriously doubt he replaced all of the 'internal parts'; the oil pump
alone runs close to $500. He may have meant that he replaced all the
internal parts that normally get replaced as there are various pieces/hard
parts in there that usually get reused if there's no apparent damage to
them. If he told you he replaced the internal parts *and* cleaned the
internal parts- you see the disconnect there, so I would assume he replaced
the 'perishables' and cleaned the hard parts.

It seems to me that if the other internals were that bad you might have
noticed it in the performance of the unit, however having said that, my
tranny failed suddenly (one moment to the next) after only exhibiting one
intermittent symptom.

Basically if you can believe him, you probably did alright pricewise for
your average shop- the quality of the work and parts would remain to be
seen, I guess. I do think it was unprofessional of him not to give you a
full breakdown when you asked for it.

You may not have been ripped off, but your Uncle definitely was- that's what
the cash discount was all about- not that there's anything unusual about
that.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "robertmstewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 9:33 PM
Subject: Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes Trans
Malfunction, 88 Auto


> Okay,
>
> Here's what happened...
>
> I took the advice I received and got a referral to a someone who is a
> transmission specialist in Oceanside ny, onetime transmission, the owner
> Tom
> Burke did the work.
>
> He looked at the Van and determined that there was a problem with a
> "stater
> pump" ?  He told me the pump was malfunctioning and needed replacement,
> additionally he told me before he removed the transmission he ran the van
> and noticed that when he gave the van gas it was fine, but the second he
> took his foot off the gas the tranny started squirting fluid out of the
> ATF
> dip stick, he stated it was like a fountain. He told me the vents were
> fine.
>
> So he pulled the tranny out and told me the clutch and the components
> internally were all burnt out and deteriorating and that he felt it needed
> a
> complete rebuild.
>
> So he told me he basically replaced all the internal parts of the tranny,
> cleaned the internal parts, and external parts, even painting the exterior
> with a rustoleum paint. ( this was unnecessary but it did not bother me.)
> he
> told me if the tranny leaks it will very visible and detectable as it will
> be easy to see over the gray paint.
>
> He also had to replace the tranny mount as it was rusted and the rubber on
> it was gone.
>
> Additionally he told me that taking off the Transmission from the
> differential unit was hard because this van was living in Rochester NY and
> the rust had made all the bolts very hard to remove, they needed to use
> torches to get the bolts to loosen!
>
> So the whole rebuild with all the parts and labor was $1795, he offered me
> to pay $1600 if I paid in cash though. He told me he gave me a great deal
> as
> my mechanic told him to treat me right...
>
> So was I screwed?
>
> I felt like the guy took me.. I tried to get a complete parts breakdown
> from
> him and he told me it was a complete rebuild, everything was replaced.
> Which
> did not sit well with me but I felt I had no choice. He towed the van to
> his
> place and having it towed to another place for a second opinion just
> seemed
> like to much work since I was told he was the best in town...
>
> Rob
> --
> Rob
> NYC/Long Beach, NY
> 88 Wolfsburg, Silver
> http://web.mac.com/rmstewart
> AIM: rmstewart@mac.com
>
>
>
> on 7/21/06 9:02 PM, Dennis Haynes at dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET wrote:
>
>> I've seen so much crud on top of these trannies, the vent can not be
>> seen.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of robertmstewart
>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 5:18 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes Trans
>> Malfunction, 88 Auto
>>
>> He said and I quote" those things never get clogged" when I told him to
>> check the vent.
>>
>> My opinion of him went down after that remark but the local mechanic in
>> town
>> says he's good and he owns two other shops as well so I guess I will
>> have to
>> see what he finds out on Tuesday of next week.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Rob
>> NYC/Long Beach, NY
>> 88 Wolfsburg, Silver
>> http://web.mac.com/rmstewart
>> AIM: rmstewart@mac.com
>>
>>
>>
>> on 7/21/06 4:53 PM, dooley at pdooley@GTE.NET wrote:
>>
>>> Did the mechanic check the vent?
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>>> robertmstewart
>>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 4:35 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes Trans
>>> Malfunction, 88 Auto
>>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> I just had a transmission specialist pickup the van, he put it on the
>> lift
>>> filled it with tranny fluid, ran the engine and the minute he took his
>> foot
>>> of the gas the ATF all burped out!
>>>
>>> He was a little surprised because he tried to hold the ATF dip stick
>> down to
>>> feel the pressure and he said there was a lot of pressure pushing it
>> out, it
>>> came out like a small fountain!
>>>
>>> He said that he suspects and internal clog or leak, he is going to
>> pull the
>>> tranny to see what's going on.
>>>
>>> He told me the there is no fee upfront for the pull but after the
>> parts are
>>> installed for the repair there will be a $350 dollar fee.
>>>
>>> Is that a good price to pull the tranny?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rob
>>> NYC/Long Beach, NY
>>> 88 Wolfsburg, Silver
>>> http://web.mac.com/rmstewart
>>> AIM: rmstewart@mac.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> on 7/21/06 10:24 AM, Larry Alofs at lalofs@RCN.COM wrote:
>>>
>>>> Yep, the valve body.  I learned about that when I rebuilt the AT in
>> my
>>>> '84.  Sort of a hydraulic analog computer.
>>>>   It can be removed with the trans in the van.  Disassembly and
>> cleaning
>>>> requires considerable care and organization.
>>>>
>>>> Larry A.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> John Lauterbach wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Larry, I think there is some sort of part in the AT where the fluid
>> goes
>>>>> through a series of narrow passages almost like a maze.  Apparently,
>>>>> if the
>>>>> passages are dirty, strange things happen.
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Larry Alofs" <lalofs@RCN.COM>
>>>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 9:11 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes
>> Trans
>>>>> Malfunction, 88 Auto
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Did they tell you what the problem had been and how they fixed it?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Larry A.
>>>>>>
>>>>>