Transmission Replacement

[rncordy]

I'm in dire need of advice. And I am not sure I am posting this to the right forum/thread.

I've been advised by my local auto service shop that I need to replace my transmission. They have done good work for me over the past 4 years.

The truck has 163K on the clock. I pull a 8000 lbs travel trailer about 6-8000 miles per year. Other than that it is just a daily driver. They are advising I get a 3 disk transmission for about $9000! Or a 1 disk version for $8000. I have no clue about "disks"! Or transmissions!! These prices seem high to me.

Are these quotes reasonable?

Is there a transmission speciality company I should use instead? I live Tri-Cities area of Washington state. There is an AAMCO here, what's their reputation?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[GCroyle]

Bob,

I'm clueless about AT's but some members might want to know what the symptoms are that lead to this to try to understand and comment.

Does the shop have any codes or details etc.

Good luck,

Gary

 

[rncordy]

Bob,

I'm clueless about AT's but some members might want to know what the symptoms are that lead to this to try to understand and comment.

Does the shop have any codes or details etc.

Good luck,

Gary

Good observation. No transmission codes, ever, in the 9 years I've owned this truck. But, from day one there was a slight jerk when gradually accelerating through about 30 mph, maybe the shift point between 2nd and 3rd? No jerk during rapid acceleration. The dealer wanted to have the truck for a week to pull the trans and "look" to see what what happening. I didn't let them do that. More recently there has been a "clunk" shifting at a stop, from D to R, or P to R, P to D. A recent check while pulling trailer, trans oil temp was good, 170F during a warm day up a 7 mile, 7% grade.

 

[Jim W]

I would do a search on this subject for the 68RFE Auto. There use to be a poster on here who called himself TRANSENGER. I believe he worked for FCA until he retired and answer all sorts of issues about the 68RFE. One complaint had to do with the trans valve inside the transmission. He had recommend that this be replaced to solve an issue, I would look to see if this is similar to what your are experiencing.

I maybe all wet, but either SAG2 or BOB4X4 maybe able to answer your question better. Before I dropped 8 to 9 K on a transmission I would do more investigation.

 

[rncordy]

I would do a search on this subject for the 68RFE Auto. There use to be a poster on here who called himself TRANSENGER. I believe he worked for FCA until he retired and answer all sorts of issues about the 68RFE. One complaint had to do with the trans valve inside the transmission. He had recommend that this be replaced to solve an issue, I would look to see if this is similar to what your are experiencing.

I maybe all wet, but either SAG2 or BOB4X4 maybe able to answer your question better. Before I dropped 8 to 9 K on a transmission I would do more investigation.

Many thanks for these ideas!

 

[GCroyle]

Might not hurt to try for a TSB search on the truck too for trans issues.

 

[RVTRKN]

I live Tri-Cities area of Washington state. There is an AAMCO here, what's their reputation?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Run as fast as you can, they claimed my 94 was dead on arrival, drove it to an independent shop, they serviced it and I drove it for another 20K miles. Sold it, and to this day it’s still on the same transmission.

 

[rncordy]

Run as fast as you can, they claimed my 94 was dead on arrival, drove it to an independent shop, they serviced it and I drove it for another 20K miles. Sold it, and to this day it’s still on the same transmission.

Thanks! I think I've heard that caution before! Thanks!

 

[rncordy]

Might not hurt to try for a TSB search on the truck too for trans issues.

Thanks. With your recommendation, I just tried that and didn't find anything, but I'm not sure I was doing it correctly.

 

[GCroyle]

Bob,

If you have any friendly shops that have service software like Mitchell or Alldata it only takes a few minutes to look for AT TSB's for your specific truck.

Gary

 

[Timd32]

There are some TSB listed here.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...call-information-updated-through-2017.263694/

It's at the bottom menu of the page, viewing from my phone.

 

[Timd32]

As JimW said do a search for TransEngineer posts there are alot.......
Here is how I did the search. From the main Forum page, other wise you need to uncheck "search this forum only" sometimes.

It auto fills the user name.

 

[rncordy]

As JimW said do a search for TransEngineer posts there are alot.......
Here is how I did the search. From the main Forum page, other wise you need to uncheck "search this forum only" sometimes.

It auto fills the user name.

View attachment 115221

Super! With your help I searched the TSB and found none that were specifically listed for my truck. There were several for later models that called for reprogramming to solve shifting issues. I assume a TSB for a 2015 truck, for example, would not apply to my 2010 model.

 

[sag2]

I just checked TechConnect and there are no transmission TSB's for your truck.

 

[rncordy]

Thanks sag2 for the TSB info! I uploaded a photo my mechanic took of what he called "aluminum shavings". Serious? Left over manufacturing debris? (Probably not.)

 

[sag2]

Service the trans if they didn't already do it. Drive it another 1k and have a different shop pull the filter and check it again. If it looks the same you may have something coming apart, otherwise drive it.
Best case you wasted a couple hundred for a fluid and filter change. Also did they replace both filters?

 

[rncordy]

Great idea sag2, thanks! I don't know if they replaced both filters, I'll find out. I've driven the truck around town for 4 days and the transmission is behaving the same, i.e. a few hard shifts but not too bad. Certainly something I can live with.

Another question: If the transmission is truly failing, is it likely to fail suddenly, or will it be gradual and give me warnings, like more frequent and harder shifting? Anybody out there have a transmission fail completely?

 

[AEdelheit]

If you do need to replace the transmission I would look into Randys transmission, they are very well known for 68RFE builds and I believe cheaper then what the shop quoted you.

 

[rncordy]

Thanks for the Randy's suggestion!

 

[mweiman]

More recently there has been a "clunk" shifting at a stop, from D to R, or P to R, P to D. QUOTE]
I don’t see where anyone has mentioned it but the clunk could be a driveshaft u-joint or something in the differential. Might not hurt to have someone shift it back and forth while listening to or watching the u joints.