Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ATS warranty issues

[cfoz]

My truck has been in the shop for over a week now. Started making weird noises like a bad u joint. Authorized ats transmission "guy" says to bring it in. Calls next day and tells me he has to ship it back to Utah, and that I get the privledge to pay for it [both ways]. Fast forward to today. Found out they won't pay for repairs. Going to cost me another $2400. 00 plus the $1200. 00 for removal, shipping and re-installation. Now the best part. Trans is only two years old with 16000 miles on it. It is my daily driver and my pride and joy. It hasn't been abused other than smoking the ocassional import. I run the Edge Juice w/attitude on the drive setting religiously. Bought the trans with the plans of adding twins in the future when we bought a toy hauler. Stock trans made it 149,000 miles and the ATS made it 16,000 with a billet flexplate,input shaft, deep pan and co-pilot. So I guess a $7,000 trans from "The world's finest and most innovative diesel truck performance products" doesn't really stand behind their product. Worst part is i'm out of a truck and don't have the money to realistically pay for the shipping alone.

 

[AClayton]

Are those all the mods you've done to the truck and do you have the Co-Pilot installed?Looking at your sig,I can't see any better than maybe a 100hp over stock to the wheels. ATS stated when they did the VB and TQ upgrade to mine,it would withstand 450hp as a daily driver. So far it has... . but lately it has been acting up and I'm starting to question the viability of their trannies. I've never been dynoed but by reading other sigs,I have been able to determine around the 450 mark. My truck has never been to the track,has rarely pulled over 10K trailer but pulls a 6K trailer daily. I called ATS and they blame it on the age of the transmission that they installed their parts into. I want to take their word and by NO means bashing them... . BUT,you're not the only person that has complained of an ATS warranty issue!!



How heavy is the Toyhauler??



Alan

 

[JLandry]

Found out they won't pay for repairs. Going to cost me another $2400. 00 plus the $1200. 00 for removal, shipping and re-installation.

Was the transmission still under warranty?



If so, what specific reasons did ATS give for not honoring the warranty?



Curious minds want to know.



Best of luck,



John L.

 

[HBarlow]

ATS is a TDR advertiser and many members favor their products so I won't say much on this public forum.

I had a friend and fellow RV transporter who had one of their full built units in his 2005 Dodge. I can only report what he told me but apparently the transmission was never right and after trying several times ATS cut him loose and refused further assistance. He had so many problems within a year of the rebuild when the transmission was in warranty that he went broke. His engine was OEM stock.

 

[CKelley1]

ats is a bad apple, the only thing i would do is to do over using bd they have the best and pay the shipping under warranty

 

[Bob4x4]

I have been using and recommending DTT for MANY years and have never gotten that type of treatment. It seems that at times when a vendor grows too fast they change and may not always be the best answer.

It always pays to do your homework before a major purchase. The dealer you use can also be a huge factor. At DTT the dealer that builds or installs the trans performs various pressure test and records them as well as adjusting shift points to what DTT demands before the trans is ever released to the customer. This ensures the highest quality job possible and makes troubleshooting down the road at any trans shop possible while out travelling.

 

[HBarlow]

I had a full billet performance rebuild on my '06 Ram using all DTT parts done by James Northrum, a very experienced, skilled, and honest Texas builder. James gave me a written, specific warranty, and stood by his word.

I put 100k miles on mine in a year after James built it towing daily and pulling some very heavy fivers commercially. The only minor problem I experienced was the torque converter to flexplate bolts loosened up a few thousand miles after he did the job and rattled when unloaded. I called him and he told me to bring it back to him as soon as I could get there.

James cleared his work schedule, loaned me his personal truck to drive (with my dog) and he pulled the transmission, torque converter, and flex plate, replaced the DTT billet flex plate with another new one, replaced all the bolts, and gave it back to me at the end of the day. I never had another problem.

I confidently recommend James and if anyone wants additional info pm me.

 

[Grumpy John 4x4]

Ats

thats why I went to Suncoast! ATS are a bunch of flakes!

 

[cfoz]

Alan I don't have a toy hauler yet. I bought the transmission because we plan to purchase one in the future. And the rest of you are right. I should of REALLY did my research when looking for an upgraded trans. But got caught up in the flashy ads and marketing promises of magazine and website claims. Plus the local shop guys here have done all my upgrades and recommended ATS because they are a certified dealer. They say their hands are tied. Origionally they said it was the overdrive clutch pack that was bad. No problem they said, about a 5 day turn around. I could deal with that although I was still blindsided by paying the shipping costs but I need my truck back. So they call me this morning saying that when ATS got the trans that the output shaft bearing race was BROKE along with a CRACKED case in the same area. Seems to me the local guy would have noticed that, but assured me that I was in the ATS system and my warranty was still good. It was to be a no questions asked turnaround. So why does it show up at ATS with a bunch of damage the local shop didn't see. Shipping maybe? All I know is by the time I'm done the trans, it will have cost me over 10 grand. They know they got me where it hurts and if I was abusing the thing I could accept the fact that this happens. But looking back I'm not sure if it was ever right to begin with. Nevertheless with my mods and driving style this should never of happened. So I will continue to look for a way to pay for this tradgedy, And to all of you tdr friends thanks for your support. This isn't how I wanted my first couple of posts to start.

 

[DCreed]

I had my trans custom built with DTT,Sonnax,Protorque and other parts and I was very straight forward with the builder and told him "I drive it like I stole it!" and he knows all the mods it has and drove with me in it. That said, I took it to a drag race recently a couple hours away and broke the CASE! I called him the next day when I noticed the carnage and he said "ok, I'll take care of it. " less than 6hrs later I was driving it again. no charge for parts, labor, or towing! He replaced the broken case and some burnt clutches and a iffy bearing saying "ok, give it all you got, she can take it!"
Find a good local shop and use a good company and you'll be happy. I went through 4 transmissions and 2 shops before I found this guy. At your power level, I think you're getting the short end of the stick, dont take it lying down. I would be FURIOUS after paying 7k and getting only 16000 miles out of a transmission!
If I had to do it again I would find a DTT dealer, and be done with it. Listen to guys like Harvey and BOB and myself, who have been there.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

My truck has been in the shop for over a week now. Started making weird noises like a bad u joint. Authorized ats transmission "guy" says to bring it in. Calls next day and tells me he has to ship it back to Utah, and that I get the privledge to pay for it [both ways]. Fast forward to today. Found out they won't pay for repairs. Going to cost me another $2400. 00 plus the $1200. 00 for removal, shipping and re-installation. Now the best part. Trans is only two years old with 16000 miles on it. It is my daily driver and my pride and joy. It hasn't been abused other than smoking the ocassional import. I run the Edge Juice w/attitude on the drive setting religiously. Bought the trans with the plans of adding twins in the future when we bought a toy hauler. Stock trans made it 149,000 miles and the ATS made it 16,000 with a billet flexplate,input shaft, deep pan and co-pilot. So I guess a $7,000 trans from "The world's finest and most innovative diesel truck performance products" doesn't really stand behind their product. Worst part is i'm out of a truck and don't have the money to realistically pay for the shipping alone.

I guess it would pay to be clear at time of purchase (or get it in writing) who covers shipping in the event of a failure within the warranty period. In the business I work in when something has a problem the customer pays the tab to send the item in, but the company foots the bill to ship the item back. In a way it's like a deductible.

Since they denied your warranty I would ask them to put it in writing, provide a clear description and have photos or documentation to back it up. If you can't come to a settlement/agreement maybe take it to small claims court (if you live a considerable distance it could maybe be done by phone or web conferencing).

Vaughn

 

[AABEN]

What about about that 100hp over?

 

[HBarlow]

cfoz,

Your transmisson dealer/builder is not your friend either. I am not privileged to know the warranty return agreement details between the transmission parts suppliers like ATS in your case and your builder but assume some responsibility lies with the builder in their agreement.

Your builder earned a large fee for building and installing the transmission. If he won't help you on this he is part of the problem.

You've been hit pretty hard financially with this so are probably struggling right now but when you are ready to have another transmission built you might try contacting Bill or Stefan Kondolay @ DTT in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. They are not too far from you and may even have an authorized dealer/installer in OR or WA.

 

[DCreed]

What about about that 100hp over?

He got a $7000. trans with billet shafts, flex, & converter, I doubt that was for stock power only.

If your installer recommends ATS and is a dealer for them and is passing the buck to you, take it to court, and find a new guy as he is part of your problem.

 

[MShaheen]

this is why i wont touch a POS ATS transmission... . and so what if they advertise on this site. If anything if they advertise here, they should have a product that polishes my balls when i drive it. Go to cumminsforum.com and post your problem. Eric@ats will see it and probably get you squared away. That is the only way now adays to get this POS company to do anything... . make them look bad on the internet... but they do a good job themselves.

 

[cfoz]

Tossing around the idea of contacting ATS and having them ship it to DTT. If i'm going to pay I might as well pay someone who is highly recommended. Personally i have nothing to lose going that rout except more shipping expenses. But first i must sleep on it... . Graveyard sucks.

 

[AClayton]

I agree with Masheen... . contact Eric @ATS. Good guy and seems very knowledgeable. That is who I deal with there. I don't have a leg to stand on in my case... . you do!You purchased their complete transmission that is supposed to withstand anything a VP equipped truck can dish out... . my 5-Star is rated at 2000ft. lbs!!



I purchased their parts and installed them in a 100K transmission that was good at the time,BUT..... put 30K miles since. ATS states these mods will withstand 450 rear wheel hp. I don't know what my truck will dyno,guessing it will be close to that. The 1st 10K was strictly the Smarty though... . maybe 250 rear-wheel at the time



Anyway,you purchased a transmission that should be capable of handling a modded truck with no problems. It didn't..... and you should be compensated for it.



Alan