Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) ATS Transmissions (Denver CO)

[SilverSage]

I have a 96 12 valve 4X4 Ram. 4 years ago I had ATS in Denver install their $4000. 00 rebuilt transmission. Three years and three months after installation the transmission went bad so I paid for another one, now nine months later this one has gone out. ATS has had the truck three times (the first time they charged me $237. 00 to replace the speed sensor but that was not the problem, guess they just wanted more money from me), and they still can not get the transmission to work. ATS now has over $7000. 00 of mine and still I have no working transmission. Who else has had similar problems? Has anyone had one of their trannys that does work?

 

[Bhale]

I've had mine for about 1. 5 years and no trouble at all. What problems are you experiencing? How much power are you throwing at it? How often does the fluid get changed? Do you do a lot of heavy towing or fast starts?



Brian

 

[AWray]

I have had mine installed for about 20 months and 30k miles without any problems. At least half of the time and miles have been with the mods listed in my signature and I'm satisfied to date. And I hope it stays that way.

 

[HAnderson]

I have had maine two years. Putting 400 hp. to and not a lick of a problem. Howard

 

[moolie]

mine is good also

i've got top of the line level 5 billet shafts all the way through also got the flex plate and I have had 0 problems hell they even sent a tow truck to the local dtt installer since that was where my truck was when the stock flexplate went out. They did charge me for that tow since it was a stock flexplate that busted. They have been more then fair in my transmission issues. They spent 2 days adjusting the valve body to get my 3-4 shift right and they didn't charge me anything. Sorry to hear your problems I'm surprised it went this way for you. i'm presently putting right at 600 to the ground with 0 problems.

 

[SilverSage]

I've had mine for about 1. 5 years and no trouble at all. What problems are you experiencing? How much power are you throwing at it? How often does the fluid get changed? Do you do a lot of heavy towing or fast starts?



Brian

Fluid is changed 12 months (usually less than 8K) ATS does the work. I had them install a deep pan so it holds much more fluid than stock. I tow a 4500# travel trailer less than 1. 5K a year. My MPG went down 25% with the ATS transmission. As for fast starts, it now takes 2 seconds for the truck to "get going". Before the ATS I could push you back in the seat!. There is a light near my house that turns red before I can clear the intersection (6 second light). Put a different way, people behind me get mad because I hold them up. I wish I had never put the ATS transmission my truck.

 

[moolie]

sorry to hear that isn't there anything they can do for you to help this issue.

 

[Missouri Mule]

What's the warranty period on ATS transmissions?

 

[BILLUA]

There has been a multitude of complaints on ATS customer service on this board as of late... I will be upgrading to a full DTT setup next month...



Best, Bill

 

[moolie]

warranty

the warranty i received was 3 years and 100,000 and i wasn't sure after hearing some rumors from other folks but when i had the fexplate and shafts done i asked and they reaffirmed it.





I do believe that there are more negative comments on the board from ats then you'll see from dtt, but i also know that they install a lot more units. I asked them in may and I was told 150 in a month just in denver. That's a lot, they always seem to take care of their product when their is a problem that's what's good. I've seen threads where they have replaced the unit until it was right. That's a key issue, i'll compare their service with dtt anyday. I've never had anything that wasn't right installed by ats but if i did i'm confident they'd address it.



As for the other folks, well let's just say the twins are in the same state as when they were installed. So without starting a war you can see that both companies have their good stories as well as the bad stories.

 

[fox]

If you do a search to see what members prefer, this is what you find. Trans and torque converter sells.

At the Diesel nats Sat, at IRP, I was wearing my shirt of choice, and was stopped by three different people and asked a few questions. All three has similar issues like you.

 

[BigPapa]

I can't see ATS installing 7 transmissions a day, everyday (excluding Saturday and Sunday, of course).



Scott

 

[JPittinger]

I can't see ATS installing 7 transmissions a day, everyday (excluding Saturday and Sunday, of course).

Have you seen their new building??? Its just about the size of your average Wal-Mart. They are typically too busy to help you if your not there to spend a few thousand $.

JJ

 

[MikeS1]

the warranty i received was 3 years and 100,000 and i wasn't sure after hearing some rumors from other folks but when i had the fexplate and shafts done i asked and they reaffirmed it.





I do believe that there are more negative comments on the board from ats then you'll see from dtt, but i also know that they install a lot more units. I asked them in may and I was told 150 in a month just in denver. That's a lot, they always seem to take care of their product when their is a problem that's what's good. I've seen threads where they have replaced the unit until it was right. That's a key issue, i'll compare their service with dtt anyday. I've never had anything that wasn't right installed by ats but if i did i'm confident they'd address it.



As for the other folks, well let's just say the twins are in the same state as when they were installed. So without starting a war you can see that both companies have their good stories as well as the bad stories.

Come on moolie I did numourous searches and talked to allot of people that run ATS tranneys before making my decision, and almost all of them had some major problems with their product and customer service/support. I know of the problems you are having with DTT but you have to admit that there is no better diesel mechanic in the state of CO that really personally cares about your truck than the local DTT dealer Bob, and not to mention the only mechanic I will let touch my truck:-{} . Mike

 

[moolie]

well i guess when you look at the issues at hand i can say i've had 0 problems with this transmission from ats. I repeat I have had 0 issues and they worked on the valve body for 2 days with no charge to get the 3-4 shift where it needed to be. I'm not saying Bob is not a good mechanic at all. what' i said was that I would gladly compare the customer service from dtt to ats anyday. Bob has helped me in the past with certain things but these were not in any way related to any form of a dtt product up until these twin turbo's which were a dtt product in the beginning. Now this is the only dtt item i have purchased from dtt, and there is clearly some issues and it's over 2 months and they weren't addressed, and that's fine the moment of truth is approaching as far as that's concerned. So in my instance you can see clearly why i would compare the service and come to the conclusion that i have. I'm sure there are many that are exactly the opposite but mine isn't. So that's all i can fairly make a statement about is my experiences. I have had 0 problems mike i mean you've been right there as we have added power and you have seen the results. You know when i have a truck problem, i'm not shy i share it.

 

[ASBlack]

Sorry to hear that you have had those problems.



We drive our Fords all the way to Arkansas from COLORADO to have our trannys done up. Does that tell you anything?



And, we would take our trucks to Bob at DTT if BTS wasn't able to get to us. No problem at all.

 

[TLayton]

I see that Shay has her "ATS" search button ready at all times.



Anyway, concerning the problems with Brian's truck. I can't answer for the previous trans but for this transmission, we have been trying to help Brian. One thing that was not posted was that we cannot duplicate his concern, he couldn't even duplicate it when a test drive was taken with him. This most recent time we looked at it, the front band is slighly burnt and we are going to replace it. Since I CANNOT seem to duplicate his concern it is hard for us to fix.



Just wanted everybody to know that there are two sides to every story.



Tadd

 

[moolie]

That explains things a bit better. Hey Tadd did you find anything more on that 3-4 shift, i know you said that it wasn't exactly how you expected it to be.

 

[RAndrae]

ats no way

I researched and decided on ATS b-4 I bought I recommended ATS to two friends a, 96 and 97. They both bought ATS and had them installed at different locations. Neither were bombed heavy. Both had Major failures and problems. Bothe got the run around from ATS. No way in HELLL would I go with ATS... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[ASBlack]

I see that Shay has her "ATS" search button ready at all times.



Anyway, concerning the problems with Brian's truck. I can't answer for the previous trans but for this transmission, we have been trying to help Brian. One thing that was not posted was that we cannot duplicate his concern, he couldn't even duplicate it when a test drive was taken with him. This most recent time we looked at it, the front band is slighly burnt and we are going to replace it. Since I CANNOT seem to duplicate his concern it is hard for us to fix.



Just wanted everybody to know that there are two sides to every story.



Tadd

Nope Tadd. Just happened across it and answered truthfully. :{



Hopefully you guys can help this guy out. 7 grand is a lot of money to spend in 3 1/2 years on a transmission. I feel bad for him, I'm sure you do too.