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

[SilverSage]

What's the warranty period on ATS transmissions?

If you purchase a complete rebuild at a bouy $4000 the warranty is 3 years or 100k miles but you must change fluid and filter every year or 10K. If you dont have ATS change fluid the willo say it was doen incorrectly (always trying to say it not their fault to charge you fro any work done) With a standard pan teh fulidchange is $150 but I have teh deep pan so Iexpect about $225 or so. I drive the truck much less than 10K a year.

 

[SilverSage]

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

My front band was never replaced (that I was told about or shown on a bill), the speed sensor was replaced ($237. 00) but was not the problem. On the 2nt try the throttle body was modified but that was not the problem so now its back for a 3rd try. So far in the 3rd try the transmission has been R7Rd 2 times and is still in the shop.

 

[moolie]

well that's a heck of a bad streak there. I'm glad i haven't had to go through something like that with them. I see why you would be upset for sure but that story isn't anything compared to the dtt twin story i could tell you but i'll refrain from it for now. Sounds like your transmission has some adjustments and really it's not major components that's one good way to look at it. It still sucks to have to nickel and dime and spend money 2 and 3 times to get it right but i've never had this issue with them. Why are they making you pay for everything .

 

[Bart]

I have to step up to the plate in defense of ATS. Two or Three years ago and 54,000 miles ago I had their setup installed. It drives just as tough as the truck! One thing I will say and that is "Since I got the truck back I've driven it with the command control screwed all the way down!. The rheostat turned all the way in . In this mode the torque converter locks up at 18 mph. . Once the converter locks up there is NO more heat generated and my trans has alwasys stayed between 165 and 180 degrees. I shift it up the gears and back down just like a manual trans without a clutch. In traffic I move the shifter into neutral to help keep temp down also. I changed the oil religiously at 12K while under warranty and now that it's out I moved it to 15K, why, because I change the engine oil and filter at 5K so every three oil changes I change the trans oil too. The oil comes out of it just as clean as it went in. I tow a steel car trailer with a '66 Bronco on it while the truck is packing an 11' cab over camper. Dress out over 16,000 pounds. If I can get the truck over 18 mph then there is NO heating in that trans.

Okay with all this said "I" think that if you want a real truck (namely a Dodge Cummins) and want to use it like a truck you better drive it like a truck. If you want to sit back and let the automatic do all the work you're going to burn it up. With a transmission gauge installed I used to "FRY" my oil just driving up to friends house up a moderately steep paved road that was about a mile lone and straight. With the speed limit at 35 mph I never got to the 45 mph that is required to lock up the oem torque converter. Now "with my controller turned all the way to lock up at 18 I go up that same paved road at 20/25 pulling camper, trailer, and Bronco and the gauge never comes of the 165-180 (depending on the time of year). Drive it like a stick and it'll become the energizer bunny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ronco]

Since I do not have a dog in this hunt, I can give a neutral suggestion. Both the vendor and the customer need to communicate with each other directly and not "sling mud" on the board. If the customer has something to say, say it to the vendor! If the vendor has something to say, speak to your customer! I can't believe anyone can solve a problem in the manner we have seen so far.



Ronco

 

[moolie]

that's true last time i was at ats i spoke with someone about "slinging mud". They stated that people tend to go onto this forum and talk trash at times and drag them through the mud before they were even aware of the problem. I think that it's only fair you speak with the people who did the work first and then if no issue can be resolved to your satisfaction then you post what you believe to be true.



Presently I have a twin turbo issue with dtt. I spoken to all parties involved several times and only after 5 weeks with no resolution did I post any negative feedback.



If someone blasts a company on the board and then goes to them with the problem of course they aren't going to address it the way it should be addressed. I'm not saying that's what has happened in this case with Silver Sage at all. What I am saying is that this kind of thing does happen and it hurts the installlers since they don't have any opportunity to make it right before the negative comments are in place on the board.



I post my results from every interaction i've ever had on this board. Several great encounters with ats, laser bob, htturbo, even the auto body shop in fort collins. I think if a person gets good service they should get a plug you know.



I also post the negatives right along with it. Which luckily haven't happened nearly as often as the positive.



I'm surprised when i read or hear about folks getting less then excellent service at ats. I've always gotten excellent service there and I can't picture them not taking care of an issue.



I know that nobody can be 100% as far as satisfying everyone but I'm the biggest pain in the *** with my truck by far. I went as far as to tape record a conversation with the local dodge dealer and then play the tape for their general manager here in northern colorado. So I expect a lot and ats has always gone above and beyond what i have expected them to do as far as working on my truck is concerned.

 

[SilverSage]

Since I do not have a dog in this hunt, I can give a neutral suggestion. Both the vendor and the customer need to communicate with each other directly and not "sling mud" on the board. If the customer has something to say, say it to the vendor! If the vendor has something to say, speak to your customer! I can't believe anyone can solve a problem in the manner we have seen so far.



Ronco

Just gave facts (not Mud) to see who else was in teh same boat. I have talked to Clint and other people there MANY times. I got my truck back today (took over 2 weeks) and they put in a new transmission (3rd one). So lets see if 3rd time is a charm!

 

[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?

GOOD NEWS Update!! I got my truck back today. They found that a check valve lubing the output shaft was faulty and the un-lubricated shaft was trying to seize. Metal shavings from the housing were contaminating the fluid. And the transmission was also overheating because of the faulty check valve (overheating was one of my complaints). This if the 3rd transmission and I hearsay that 3rd time is a charm. I hope to post some good news in a few months!

 

[JO'Leary]

Great news

I have been doing trany's for years. Here is my theory.

No matter who you are or how good you are if you do enough of them one is going to bite you in the *****.



Joe

 

[EBottema]

There was a guy with a 24v truck that had similar issues with poor ATS customer service. When my father's transmission goes south (stock and 210k miles), i will not be spending all this money with ATS or DTT but going with a great local shop called Valco in Little Rock Ca. They are the makers of the Mojave Green Torque Converters.

 

[Rammin On]

I have dealt with ATS for many years now on both personal vehicles and customer vehicles. Read back a few years to present and you can find alot great comments on their customer support. I sing high praise of the way they deal with any issue I might have ... . not to mention the speed, accuracy and courteous response for more than satisfactory resolutions, basically they bend over backwards for their customers. Can you ask for more?

 

[OTRPU]

Well I just zapped a half hour of typing a reply. . . there is a God and you all should give thanks. Long story shorter. . . everybody several states, several ATS dealers, several Dodge Dealers, and a few ATS ex dealers later, thought many of my problems were caused by the ATS controller box not unlocking and downshifting, my primary problem turned out to be No Communication between the Cummins Computer and the transmission Computer, discovered by Kelly @ Gen3 Motorsports, Golden, CO. Second BIG issue, wrong MAP Sensor installed, I think, in Denver, CO. Only good thing they did was add the right connector for the wrong sensor and not cut off the original connector. All Kelly had to do was install the correct MAP Sensor and Engine to transmission issues have dissappeared. ATS has their transmission back for refresh after approx 120k, and will do it for parts cost, sans labor. Don't think it gets any better than this and for a grand for the TC, OD, Clutches, seals, and since it's out I hope they throw in new solinoids. I'll have a rebuild for when my BD dies. When I work um all day everyday there's no doubt in my mind any automatic will need repair eventually. Though I've not been elated with all of Clint's decisions, I believe he's been fair with me more times than not. Alotta experts have missed alotta very basic problems. You gotta kiss a lotta frogs to find a prince.



Cheers,

Steve J

 

[oilrunner]

Since I do not have a dog in this hunt, I can give a neutral suggestion. Both the vendor and the customer need to communicate with each other directly and not "sling mud" on the board. If the customer has something to say, say it to the vendor! If the vendor has something to say, speak to your customer! I can't believe anyone can solve a problem in the manner we have seen so far.





Ronco,



From what I have read, ATS customers do have someting to say!

However, ATS doesn't seem to be listening.

Its unfortunate that some of their customers have to use this forum to get their vendors attention! It is pretty evident that the majority of folks posting have talked with their vendor and are left standing with that freshly F****D look still on their faces. If you were in their shoes and had shelled out some serious $$$$ in a transmission, you wouldn't settle for anything less than the transmission working as expected.

If you don't agree with this then you are lying to yourself and everyone around you.



I am sure you have heard the old saying "the truth will set you free".



Yes, ATS makes some fine products, I currently have an ATS intake & exhaust manifold on my rig and love it.

But, my luck isn't such that I would feel comfortable running one of their trannies... ... .



JMO :-{}

 

[Bart]

I'd like to weigh in on this in defense of ATS. 4 or 5 years ago I had an ATS installed in my '98 12v'r. The mileage at install was 96,000, I now have over 166K and the trans has worked without a hitch. Every oil change has been as clean as it went in. I couldn't ask for a finer trans and just for information mine is not a street cruiser. I returnly tow 19K pounds. Enough said.

 

[gitchesum]

It appears to me both parties have given thier side of the story. THey need to get together and work this out. NOthing is going to get solved this way.





Closed.