Had tranny fluid changed and interesting conversation

Geo-TH,In · May 31, 2013

Had tranny fluid changed today and had an interesting conversation with owner. He was telling me which transmissions have issues. Never thought of going to a transmission shop to find out what cars to stay away from. I Think he said the worst may have been VW, not 100% sure. For a total rebuild, parts alone are close to $4K. After all the work is done, you have to take the car to a dealer and have the computer re-programmed. Costs approach $8K. He also said something about Ford's 6 speed, two different models. Some are good and some are not. There is a long back order list to get parts for the bad ones. He was going on and on about which ones had problems and what years. Who would have thought that a man who has been in the business for over 45 years would be better than consumer reports? Not sure I would own the car I have had I talked to him first.
George

Welding man · May 31, 2013

That is one reason I only own straight drives. I hate automatics my wife hates them worse. When all the manufacturers quit making straight drives,I hope I'll be too old to drive.

RMinVa · May 31, 2013

My tractor dealer also runs an auto transmission shop. I always ask if I'm looking to buy a car or truck. You are correct on the VW and the same transmission is used in some Nissans and maybe a couple of others. It's the 6 speed auto. I test drove a VW diesel then called him. He said RUN. He at that time had a Nissan on the lot. The folks that owned it after finding out the bill would be $8,000 and up to 3 weeks waiting for parts just drove off and left the car. Stopped payments too. It was repoed off his lot.

Another thing my dealer told me was to use synthetic atf. Been running synthetic since 1989 and change it about every 80,000 miles after the first 25,000 change. He uses 3 different kinds of synthetic atf depending on what problems different brands have. He knows transmissions. Been rebuilding them since the late 70's. He learned how at a car dealership and then built his own shop. He's well know and can be trusted.

samn40 · May 31, 2013

We just had a 'Which' magazine report on our cars....one of the small Chevys came out as most unreliable, but the 'V'dub is up there among the poor ones. Skoda fared out best, but then they are owned by VW and are really the 'old' VW technology...We had no problem knowing that Skodas were good, as all the private taxis and police cars and rapid response ambulances are Skoda!
Google 'Which magazine' report.
Sam

RandyB(MI) · May 31, 2013

I'm probably going to regret this but my '06 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel has 184000 right now and never a trans problem. Show me anything else that can say that. You will be lucky to get that out of your diesel 3/4 t pickups or any of the old so called bullet proof turbo 350 or 400,s and even the C6 for that matter. Most "experts" fail to compare in context when giving coffee table advice. Oh I forgot to say , it IS a 6 spd auto and the only thing I have ever heard bad about them was the dual-mass flywheel problem , not the trans itself. If you listen to enough of them you will never buy ANY car or truck! There are some who will tear up a Peterbilt in 75000 mi.

john in la · May 31, 2013

I was VERY hesitant when we bought the last new car (Toyota) for my wife.
We bought standard trans for years because of problems with automatics in the past but she did not want a standard this time.
Then I find out that on this automatic you never change the fluid. Only time the fluid is changed is if it is ever rebuilt.
I was ready to walk away but she wanted it and sometimes you have to do what you are told.

Over 200,000 miles and still going strong on the factory installed oil.

Nancy Howell · May 31, 2013

97 Ford, F350, 7.3 diesel, 4sp auto, 199,000+ miles. Truck had 97,000 when I bought it. Had the fluid and filters in the tranny changed and have had fluid and filters changed every 25,000 miles since. No tranny issues.

evilboweivel · May 31, 2013

2000 GMC 1 ton van 250,000+
original motor uses no oil at 5k changes
original auto trans doesn't get fluid changed nor need any added

Dean · May 31, 2013

Consumer Reports is just about the last source that I look to for automotive information.

Dean

Royse · May 31, 2013

(quoted from post at 23:24:15 05/31/13) Consumer Reports is just about the last source that I look to for automotive information.

Dean

Hate to say it, but me too.
Seems like they used to do a fair comparison, but no more.
I'd take George's tranny guy's word over CR any day.

oldtanker · May 31, 2013

98 Chevy Suburban, new tranny at 258,000 miles. We pull trailers and implements with it.

Rick

redtom · Jun 1, 2013

In about 2000 I asked my local tranny guy the same thing. He said "oh the Jeep grand cherokee is the worst, fails all the time". at the time we were driving an 06 Gr cherokee (the best car I ever owned). It never failed the tranny, nor do I know Of a rash of failures. So, take what you're told with a grain of salt.

Bob · Jun 1, 2013

Wife has one of those. Tranny is German made Mercedes, and I have heard just the opposite about it. Switches in shift console in the American vehicles CAN be problematic, though, apparently when used in German vehicles they use better (sealed reed) switches.

Sounds pretty much like the same old same old Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge or red tractor vs. green tractor juvenile stuff!

RMinVa · Jun 1, 2013

Glad you've had no problems with yours. There's always the exception to most everything. I'll always ask before I buy to find out what repair cost will be. At $8000 for repair for a car transmission is far more than I'm willing to take a chance on. It's like shooting dice. Now if that price were $2500 or less I'd have most likely bought the car. Once I found out the cost and lead time that was enough for me.

Bret4207 · Jun 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 18:38:55 05/31/13) I'm probably going to regret this but my '06 VW Jetta Turbo Diesel has 184000 right now and never a trans problem. Show me anything else that can say that. You will be lucky to get that out of your diesel 3/4 t pickups or any of the old so called bullet proof turbo 350 or 400,s and even the C6 for that matter. Most "experts" fail to compare in context when giving coffee table advice. Oh I forgot to say , it IS a 6 spd auto and the only thing I have ever heard bad about them was the dual-mass flywheel problem , not the trans itself. If you listen to enough of them you will never buy ANY car or truck! There are some who will tear up a Peterbilt in 75000 mi.

My Burb has 187K and no tranny issues. My work Ford E350 had over 220K and no issues. My 68 Malibu had 250K on the Powerglide and no issues.

There are lots of vehicles out there with high miles and no issues.

HenryO · Jun 1, 2013

Ford 350 had problems all the time. torque converter at 38000 first transmission at 88,000, second transmission at 89000(Ford dealer put n wrong transmission) third transmission 89400, (another ford dealer installation that didn't install new oil cooler and the lines were completely plugged so no circulation) fourth by aq Ford dealer lasted until 140000 when I finally instlled a Jasper Rebuilt and still running over 250000. Also Jeep grand cherokee (98) at 96000 but had it rebuilt with many new ports. Sold it at 145000

Texasmark1 · Jun 1, 2013

You can bet it's synthetic. Vehicle mfgrs have finally pulled their head...... and started using it in the engines, trannies, and diffs. All the boo birds can just keep up their booing, but it is the best thing for machinery in my opinion. How is it, do you suppose, that all of a sudden truck drive trains are warrantied for 100,000 miles.............duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

As I recollect my '05 and'07 Dodge 1500 p/u trucks didn't show a tranny fluid change in the manual (normal duty) out to 100k miles, no change for diff. My current Chevy 1500 doesn't show one at all for either.

I know that the Mopar +4 is pure syn as is the new GM 6.

Great because I used to absolutely ABHOR changing tranny fluid and besides the mess, getting the seal right when returning the pan. I finally realized you put adhesive on one side only and that allows for the thing to move about as the thin pan changes dimensions. Never had a good seal with a dry gasket.

Mark

Geo-TH,In · Jun 1, 2013

This post wasn't a red vs green thing. A ford vs chevy vs dodge vs honda vs toyota. My tranny guy pointed out that certain models and certain years, all makes, had tranny issues. Some even had class action. Some are $8,000 to fix tranny when the car isn't worth $12,000.

I know for a fact, early 90's dodge had trannys that went out in 50K. Factory re-man in 90K. Had 2 dodges, both BPIA.

He showed me a part that can fail in my buick, early as 70k.

Said my GMC truck doesn't have issues.

Some Ford 6 speeds are good and some fail. Ford must have used two different models.

Point is talk to someone who is in the repair business, before buying a car or truck. I know I will.
George

sotxbill · Jun 1, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:15:52 05/31/13) Had tranny fluid changed today and had an interesting conversation with owner. He was telling me which transmissions have issues. Never thought of going to a transmission shop to find out what cars to stay away from. I Think he said the worst may have been VW, not 100% sure. For a total rebuild, parts alone are close to $4K. After all the work is done, you have to take the car to a dealer and have the computer re-programmed. Costs approach $8K. He also said something about Ford's 6 speed, two different models. Some are good and some are not. There is a long back order list to get parts for the bad ones. He was going on and on about which ones had problems and what years. Who would have thought that a man who has been in the business for over 45 years would be better than consumer reports? Not sure I would own the car I have had I talked to him first.
George

I would take that response as they are expensive to repair, not that they fail often. Lexus and BMW have a much higher failure rate. And the new dsg high efficientcy trannys need special tools and special training.

The new dsg are dual trannys with odd gears on top and even gears on bottom and are manual transmissions that are shifted by a computer and act like an automatic. This is why now they are very very very economical. They also now shift faster than a manual and will out run them every time side by side.

Brian Jasper co Ia · Jun 1, 2013

My 98 Silverado has 210K on it with no trans problems...

Heath72 · Jun 1, 2013

I'm right there with you Brian. My '98 Silverado has 205,000 with original tranny and engine. Runs and drives great, uses no oil to speak of and still looks good too. I tow a 31' travel trailer with it, and occasionally an antique tractor. Best truck I've ever owned.

wilson ind · Jun 1, 2013

WHATS A DSG??

DENNIS MIN · Jun 1, 2013

Me and the missus agree,

I hate heavy auto-transmission costs..rather replace a clutch every other engine...

D.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 1, 2013

Bill, I googled DSG, I too had no idea that it's a Direct Shift Gear box. Sounds like it's the bad boy my Tranny guy told be about.

George
Direct Shift Gear Box

RandyB(MI) · Jun 1, 2013

I agree and my point is , some will not get 100,000out of anything and that is where the stories originate. By the way, I'm on my 2nd 1999 Sub. !996-'99 Sub/truck are some of the best ever made. They definately look better than the newer stuff. And no tranny problems.

Had tranny fluid changed and interesting conversation

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