Rebuilt transmission - nothing but problems

[DToy]

Looking for a little advice. I had a reputable local diesel shop rebuild the 48RE in my 2004. 5. Not going to mention who or what components... don't need to start another transmission war. Have been dealing with it for 3 months now. Cliff notes version:



Paid for a transmission that was supposed to be able to hold 650-700hp.



- A week after I got truck back transmission started locking up in reverse, then TC wouldn't stay locked. Took it back a few weeks later, shop had my truck for nearly 2 weeks trying to figure out what was causing problem. Turned out that the billet input shaft had been machined wrong and was allowing fluid to leak past it. Shop couldn't get shaft warrantied until they sent old shaft back, so they put a hardened shaft in.

- Took almost 4 weeks before they had the new shaft and I could get truck back in. Noticed before I took it back in that throttle valve was sticking and told them to fix it while they had it. Got truck back a few days later and throttle valve was still sticking.

- Took truck back in last week for sticking throttle valve. Picked truck up this past Tuesday night, lost all forward gears on the way home.

- Truck is currently back in shop for the 5th time.



I've been extremely patient hoping that they would get it right. I've been without my truck for 26 days and counting over the past 3 months. I've driven a total of 550 miles and spent $200 in fuel taking it back and forth to the shop (about 40 miles each way from my house). Made over 50 phone calls and almost that many text messages dealing with the problems. I manage a large construction project and use my truck every day. I get a monthly allowance for using my truck at work and work is getting ****** that they're paying for something they're not getting. Also, it seems like every time I take it back my truck is put at the end of the line. It sits for 2 or 3 days sometimes before they even look at it.



What should I do? At this point I'm not sure if I'll ever have a transmission that I can depend on. Should I be content with simply having a transmission that works after everything I've been through? Should I demand a refund and take it somewhere else? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm so tired of dealing with it that I don't know what to do.

 

[cerberusiam]

Umm, if it sat at the shop for 2 days before they EVEN looked at it that would be the last time it went there.



You have way more patience than I do with shoddy workmanship and outright customer abuse. You are being hosed big time.



Now, if you payed them $1000 to do a $3000 rebuild I can see where they would drag their feet. If you payed fair value then its total BS. Demand they build you another trans on their dime IMMEDIATELY and quit playing games or go somewhere else.



Sorry for your problems but it seems the way of the world these days.

 

[mwilson]

Agreed, they need to find you another transmission ASAP.



They can do failure analysis later on. You need your truck.



If they are affliated with someone, then they need a call from you as well.



Mike.

 

[KParsons]

700 hp ?

700 hp that would be 1000 to 1200 foot pounds of torque?that seems to me the upper end of what that transmission could take. how many people are there that can do this kind of work perfectly. i would think not to many.

 

[DToy]

Thanks for the replies. Crazy thing is right now my truck puts out maybe 400hp. The first problem was not the shop's fault. Since then I'm not so sure. And I paid good money for a well-built transmission ($4300) so I definitely feel like I haven't gotten anywhere close to what I paid for. Ready to get my money back, cut my losses and go somewhere else.

 

[HBarlow]

There are several well known and trusted Dodge automatic transmission rebuilders that any TDR member would have recommended. You apparently used a local independent shop instead.

My guess is you're screwed short of filing and winning a lawsuit against the shop that did the work. Once a job disintegrates to this point nobody wins. The shop is not going to refund your money because they have parts and labor invested and they are equally unlikely to repair it correctly now because that would require more expensive parts and more labor.

 

[DToy]

HBarlow, you may be right. Right now I'm in the process of starting a credit card dispute for the charges since it will probably be a less-costly alternative than court to get my money back. But I also have EVERYTHING very well documented if it comes to that. I checked these guys out pretty thoroughly and they had great reviews and a good reputation. Seems to be my luck.

 

[CPittman]

Once you have your money back call James Northum at 972-467-3702 in Midlothian, TX. He will get you back on the road with no BS.



on edit: If you're in Utah we all have a pretty good idea of which company built your transmission...

 

[HBarlow]

HBarlow, you may be right. Right now I'm in the process of starting a credit card dispute for the charges since it will probably be a less-costly alternative than court to get my money back. But I also have EVERYTHING very well documented if it comes to that. I checked these guys out pretty thoroughly and they had great reviews and a good reputation. Seems to be my luck.

I have never had to take a credit card dispute all the way to the ugly battle at the end but from what I have read about the details of the process I expect your transmission builder will fairly claim that he provided expensive parts and labor and will refuse to back down so you'll end up with no resolution.

If you are being 100% honest and fairminded about this and believe you were cheated (only you can know) and have not contributed in any way to the problem you are having (I'm not asking you to justify your position here) and are determined to accept the long battle and misery ahead I would recommend you consider small claims court or a lawsuit.

This one is going to be very difficult to resolve and unlikely to provide the result you seek and I think you'll be better off in the long haul to cut your losses now and start over with another more reputable builder.

Why won't you name the builder? Others would like to know so they can avoid a similar result.

 

[DToy]

My intent with this thread has never been about bashing the builder. I am still hopeful that he will get it right and that at a minimum I will finally have a transmission that works. I talked to him last night again - it sounds like it has been parts defects/failures causing the problems. The billet input shaft was machined wrong (saw that with my own eyes), then a bad valve body, then a broken spring in one of the clutches (I think). He started over completely and should have it back together today. I guess it's possible that somehow the perfect storm of defective parts hit my transmission. The builder has never refused to fix it and never tried to blame me for any of it despite him likely losing several thousand dollars worth of shop time dealing with it. I will post the outcome and hopefully this will come to a resolution soon. My real question is should I be satisfied with that, or is it reasonable for me to expect some compensation for my time, expenses, and inconvenience?

 

[HBarlow]

Well, this transmission builder doesn't sound so bad when we know all the details.

My opinion is that if the builder builds you a good and reliable transmission this time you should consider yourself very fortunate.

 

[DToy]

Well, this transmission builder doesn't sound so bad when we know all the details.



My opinion is that if the builder builds you a good and reliable transmission this time you should consider yourself very fortunate.

Honestly my biggest complaint is after I have to take my truck back for the 3rd or 4th time I would hope that I can get to the front of the line and not have to wait 2 or 3 days to have mine looked at. Also the communication from the builder could have been better... keeping me updated on the progress/solutions would have gone a long way in helping me to be patient and understanding.



That's really my question, should I just be satisfied if I finally get a reliable transmission? Should I ask for an extended warranty? A few discounted fluid changes? Nothing at all? Both the builder and myself have lost big on this one.

 

[MChrist]

I feel that, as long as the transmission builder is getting your transmission fixed properly on his own dime, that I would be satisfied. I can't think of any business that compensates anybody for downtime, so I wouldn't bother there. So far, it sounds like honest mistakes, and he is trying to make things right.
Oh, and thank you for taking the high road and NOT mentioning which shop it was. . that would've started a whole, big, convoluted discussion of which shop they would've used instead... why would you use that shop?... they suck!... no they are great!... blah, blah, blah, and so on. You just stuck to the facts.

 

[jray]

If I was the transmission shop owner I would do something for you in the way of compensating your time. Yes it may have been the perfect storm of poor quality parts, but thats between he and the vendor.

I think it's just good sound business to go a step above and beyond. Two free fluid changes might spell the difference between being satisfied and trash talking the business.

 

[goodguys75]

can someone answer this..... why is it so hard to rebuild these trannys... I have an auto... and I am scared of the day i have to get mine worked on... . Seems like you always hear on here how no one can get there transmission fixed correctly. not even the high dollar aftermarket ones... ... There nothing special... just like any other transmission out there:{

 

[MChrist]

I suppose it's because aftermarket parts are used, and if they don't spec exactly like they should, there will be problems. I for one, have zero problems. Dave Goerend built mine. Then ran it on a test stand to check all pressures, shifting points, etc.

 

[cerberusiam]

can someone answer this..... why is it so hard to rebuild these trannys... I have an auto... and I am scared of the day i have to get mine worked on... . Seems like you always hear on here how no one can get there transmission fixed correctly. not even the high dollar aftermarket ones... ... There nothing special... just like any other transmission out there:{

Its not hard, it is more of knowing what to do and when.



You have to understand exactly what is going on here. This is a transmission that was devloped in the 1960's for use with high revving gas engines NOT a low revving TQ motor and definitely not a medium duty engine.



Whne you look at the transmissions that normally go behind MD engines and compare to the 48RE you really wonder how it stands the abuse it does. Add to that the tendency to under engineer and TQ managed, NVH, caosts, etc, in the drive train then question becomes "Why does it last" not "Why doesn't it last".



You are exactly correct, the 48RE is nothing special. Therein lies the root of the problem, it NEEDS to be special to handle the way the truck can be used and driven.

 

[mwilson]

To add to cerberusiam's comment above...



Courtesy of Allpar... .



Snip.....



The Legendary Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge Torqueflite automatic transmission

“The Chrysler Torqueflite transmission is one of the smoothest and trouble-free units in the world, even when compared to Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce. ” — Wheels, 1966



The TorqueFlite transmission was Chrysler's mainstay from its introduction in 1956 through the early 1990s, remaining in duty in modified form (for front wheel drive) through 2001 in the Neon, and continuing even today with electronic controls for trucks.



Though the first TorqueFlite was the revolutionary A-488, called the best automatic transmission in the world, the most legendary Torqueflite model is the A-727, which replaced it in 1962. Assigned to the most muscular engines, heavy duty applications, and trucks, the A-727 used an aluminum case (rather than the A-488's cast iron case), saving about 60 pounds; in some models, it used a pawl (lock) for parking, actuated by a lever (1962-64 models) or by putting the transmission into Park (see sidebar).



Snip... ...



Our transmissions are based on the TorqueFlite and do well to stand up behind a Cummins.



The TorqueFlite is a sound, proven design and has been used by many manufacturers in the last 40 years or so including American Motors and International Harvester.



I owned a 1973 Travelall with a 392 IH truck V-8 in it.

Had a Holley carb on it the size of a 10qt. pail.

A TorqueFlite transmitted the power.



If you have never driven an IH engine I can't possibly relay to you how much torque was going thru that little transmission when that 392 was doing full throttle upshifts. It would kick the tires 1-2 and 2-3 every time. That is not a small vehicle to be doing that with.

I used and abused that thing, but the motor and transmission never failed me. Blew up a couple of posi rears but that was it.



They have added things along the way but way down deep it is still a TorqueFlite with a willing heart and soul.



Mike.

 

[rscurtis]

You couldn't have punished that TF for too long at once, as the 392 would've run out of gas. I had a '74 PU with a 345 in it and it drank gas like it was free- from a 16 gallon tank.



It was also used in motor home chassis and called a "Loadflite". It also lived behind the Hemi with some internal modifications, namely 4-pinion planetaries.

 

[mwilson]

I can't imagine pouring gas through it nowadays.



I had the dual tanks which extended the range quite a bit, and I payed for some of the gas back then drag racing and beating GM pick ups.



They would get off the line a little quicker but I'd have 'em in good shape at the end.

The old girl was pretty long legged once you got it moving.



Has some serious fun with that thing, I'm getting a little weepy missing it right now.



Mike.