ATS transmission Woes

[BillZ]

Here's my experiences with ATS and their torque converter and transmissions:



I have had two complete ATS transmission failures in the last 12 months!!! Here's a recap:



Feb 2004: Paid $6,000 for ATS torque converter and transmission.

March 2004: In shop to repair vacume lines installed incorrectly by ATS in Denver.

July 2004: Torque converter completely failed - ATS repaired (2 weeks down)

Aug 2004: Back to shop to install $5 part to prevent line pressure over-load faults. 120 miles driving to install a $5 part that ATS should have installed originally.

Jan 2005: Valve stuck open - low line pressure - transmission wasted! Sat in Yuma for 3 weeks while ATS decided it was their problem. And then they asked me to help pay!!



We're on our 3rd ATS transmission - let's hope we're lucky this time.



We tow a 5th wheel trailer (12,000 pounds), drive a 1996 Dodge Cummins.



The thing that really got to me was that never once did ATS say "gosh we're sorry you're having problems with our product" almost every time they implied that it must have been something we did - and everytime it was their product that failed.



I'm not impressed with ATS nor their products. Their customer service is probably the worst I've ever experienced.



Bill Zawlocki

Gig Harbor, WA

 

[tractorface]

Bad deal

Sorry to hear about your problems. Hope your luck changes. When the truck is running right how does the transmission feel? 6K seems high

 

[BillZ]

Status Right Now & if I had it to do over.

I will have to admit that this 3rd transmission seems good. It's a whole lot better than their 1st and slightly better than their 2nd transmission. So, in the final analysis, ATS did get us going again and we have not paid for either transmission #2 nor transmission #3.



I hope their customer service improves and I really hate to say bad things about ATS - they seem like such nice people.



If I had it to do over, here's what I would NOT do again:



1. With the stock transmission, towing 12,000 pounds the transmission would overheat because it often would not stay in lockup.

2. I fixed that problem with the TST #6 plate - overheating the transmission problem went away completely.

3. After 108K miles, the stock transmission went (torque converter slipping) - I tried to do my research and picked ATS.



IF I had known all of this at the start I would NOT have up'ed the power on the engine - I should have sold the truck and gotten one that was built to pull 12,000 pounds.



Like the truck, love the Cummins, hate the automatic transmission.



Bill Zawlocki

 

[BillZ]

$6K for ATS solution.

$6K seemed high to me too. But ATS said I needed the billeted input shaft and the Commander Box (I don't have an exhaust brake). It just kept adding up. SO, I thought these guys are experts and I need to trust them. I didn't want to have ATS come back to me later and say, 'we told you to install this and look what happened'. Actually, it was $5,997 - so I just rounded it to $6K.



If this transmission goes again, I'm going to either sell or look to install a manual transmission. I've lost complete confidence in the transmission.



Anyone got any leads on what it might cost to convert from an automatic to a manual transmission?



Bill

 

[BillZ]

How the ATS transmission feels.

This 3rd ATS transmission feels good. Lockup is solid, we pull hills no problem. The shifting is harsh, and when it goes into lockup, I try to warn my wife ahead of time because it jerks the whole truck. No overheating problems.



I'm hoping this one is a "Keeper" - cross your fingers. I'm sure ATS is tired of hearing from me



Bill

 

[tractorface]

Get it right

Wow, lockup shakes the whole truck?! No wonder you needed Billet stuff, guess some folks like the "firm" shift feel. I think the aftermarket transmissions we have access to make the trucks drive sweet. Much better than other stock transmissions. Have you tried calling them to see if they can get you a new valve body with easier shifts. After 6K you should be happy with your transmission. I am no expert but I am certain they can soften the shift for you.

Good Luck.

 

[gpeddicord]

My ATS snapped the input shaft. When I called they acted like it was no big deal. Keep in mind the truck was only 235 hp/630tq dyno'd at the local cummins shop. This was a few years ago when they were just coming out with the billet shaft. I counted my losses and put in a 6 speed. I have no faith in their customer service at all either.

 

[Don-T]

Mine shifts very firm too, including the torque converter lock-up. I am used to that and have learned to work with it. I am glad I have the stage five with the billet input shaft because of that. If I had second gear I would be happy.



If I were going to do it all over I would have a manual transmission. I thought about putting a manual transmission in my truck, but I was told I would have to change computers and a lot of the wireing too. My next truck will be a manual transmission though.

 

[BillZ]

Manual Transmission

I will have to admit that ATS has replaced their product and I've had almost no out-of-pocket expenses. So, in fairness to them they do stand behind their product - sometimes you need to give them a big shove but eventually they step up.



And, I agree, after having automatic transmission problems - I too am thinking manual.



Bill

 

[Joel Richards]

Jan 2005: Valve stuck open - low line pressure - transmission wasted! Sat in Yuma for 3 weeks while ATS decided it was their problem. And then they asked me to help pay!!



We're on our 3rd ATS transmission - let's hope we're lucky this time.



We tow a 5th wheel trailer (12,000 pounds), drive a 1996 Dodge Cummins.



The thing that really got to me was that never once did ATS say "gosh we're sorry you're having problems with our product" almost every time they implied that it must have been something we did - and everytime it was their product that failed.

Bill.....



Did you forget that Chuck in Seattle rebuilt your second transmission, not ATS? Because I felt that YOU were not at fault, and Chuck would not stand behind his work, I replaced your transmission at no charge to you whatsoever.



I appologized for the problem and inconvenience every time I spoke to you or your wife, and shipped your transmission in front of 7 others that were scheduled to leave before yours... all in hopes that you would make it back for the wedding (which I truely hope you did). We realize that there was a huge inconvenience to you, and did everything in our power to make sure that you got back on the road ASAP.

I'm not impressed with ATS nor their products. Their customer service is probably the worst I've ever experienced.



Bill Zawlocki

Gig Harbor, WA

I think that you are being quite unfair, but you are absolutely entitled to your opinion. If replacing your transmission at absolutely no cost to you, putting your needs in front of others, and getting you back home in time for a once-in-a-lifetime event means to you "Their customer service is probably the worst I've ever experienced", I would like to know what more we could have done to have exceptional customer service?



-joel

 

[BillZ]

Reply to Joel

Joel,



I don't blame you for being defensive - it's natural after someone like me reports less than satisfactory results from your company.



And I'm glad you took the time to input your perspective. It doesn't change the events in my view but I'm hoping you can see how this all unfolded from where I sit.



And like I did say, you folks at ATS have replaced our transmissions with little out of pocket expense to me - it took longer than I believe it should have but you did replace them. So, ATS has stood behind their product and their warranty.



We're now on year 2/3 of the warranty where the customer pays for labor and shipping. Gosh I hope this one holds together.



Bill Zawlocki

 

[Joel Richards]

Joel,



I don't blame you for being defensive - it's natural after someone like me reports less than satisfactory results from your company.



And I'm glad you took the time to input your perspective. It doesn't change the events in my view but I'm hoping you can see how this all unfolded from where I sit.



And like I did say, you folks at ATS have replaced our transmissions with little out of pocket expense to me - it took longer than I believe it should have but you did replace them. So, ATS has stood behind their product and their warranty.



We're now on year 2/3 of the warranty where the customer pays for labor and shipping. Gosh I hope this one holds together.



Bill Zawlocki

I do appreciate you taking the time to respond. I understand your frustration and concerns regarding your current transmission, and have full confidence that there will be no further issues. On that note, if there is anything else that you need, now or in the future, please don't hesitate to give me a call.



Thanks again,

-joel

 

[patcarman]

i may be in the wrong here but im going to give my two sence worth any way,eapecially since im getting ready to do my transmission. i think when it comes to spending 6 thousand dollars people expect to have zero problems,and i have heard alot of good stuff about ats,the only problem is all you hear here is the bad usally,i am curious though y 3 trannys... .....

 

[BillZ]

ATS Followup

Joel,



You're right, I am disappointed. Because in many ways I feel like I failed. I tried to do my homework on after-market transmissions and ATS has a good reputation and I believe in ATS' approach to fixing the stock transmission. And after all my homework - I still ran into more problems than I care to remember. I hate to admit that perhaps I errored - how can that be??



I also am cautiously confident that this will be the end of our transmission problems.



We did make it home for the wedding - long long days of driving. I even had to violate my first rule of camping - never make camp after dark



And believe me, we did not spare the transmission - we gave it a work-out and it did a great job. We went up hills that would have killed us before.



Let's all hope our problems are behind us.



Bill

 

[jcarey]

year 2/3 of the warranty where the customer pays for labor and shipping



Didn't see THAT mentioned on their web site concerning warranty.



WOW, good luck, Bill! Hope all goes well for you (and your trans).



Jim

 

[K-80]

I have a new trans , this thread makes me a little nervous.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

I have a brand new ATS transmission and I'm not worried at all. Every vendor has failures. How they handle them is what matters. It sounds to me like they made it right.



FWIW,

Mark

 

[Turbo Thom]

Holy cow... ... ... . ATS paid for the install each time. Damn Bill. Sit on it. I burned up a 5 speed 3 times in 8000 miles and the install was on me each time. Now I do my own. Maybe yu should too.



. . Preston. .

 

[CATCRACKER]

people make mistakes and nothing is forever i dont care if you paid 10K. for example people pay 50K for a ford 6L with a diesel that is supposed to be a 250K with very little maintenace or probs wow do they have it wrong.



you paid 6K got 3 transmission's 2 being for free and now you rip on ATS i say they did what they needed to do. just b/c it took longer than you would have liked to get it replaced the fact is they did replace it.



for every negative there is many positives ATS helped me out even though they did not have to. I bet with this post when your 3 years is up they will hold to you to the letter no more help for you... . sometimes you got to think before you post. Now if ATS did not warranty your transmission thats when you get on here and report your situation. ATS talked you into billet shaft right well be gald they did b/c i blew my oem shaft with no trailer on the back at 380hp. DTT, Goerend, Suncoast would have taken just as long and may or may not have sent you a new transmission we will never know. Count yourself lucky and i hope ATS holds you to your 3 year deal with no extra help.

 

[tractorface]

Disagree

We all need to know these things. The bottom line is you don't see anyone posting upset over a DTT, Suncoast, or Goerend Brother's transmissions. In fact I posted just the opposite. I had problems with my Goerend Brother's transmission install, Dave quickly offered to pay for everything and worked extra time to get me new parts over Christmas weekend. Turned out His transmission was FINE, the problem was wth my Flexplate. It was warped just slightly. I posted on how great the customer service was.



Guys who are trying to make up thier mind want to know these things, The fellow that posted his problem has every right, in fact it is greatly appreciated.



Oh yeah, Dave never complained or even asked for freight back. FWIW Suncoast and The Diesel Connection bothe played roles in fixing my problem. It was done quickly and I never felt like I was taken advantage of.