- Joined
- 10 November 2002
- Messages
- 1,124
Documenting my Automatic Transmission Rebuild for posterity...
I took my car to my favorite mechanic (Car Doctor, Falls Church, VA) for a whining noise in the rear of the car. I had had them check this out once before, but the noise was worse this time. After checking it out, they determined that it was the transmission. Gulp. This is going to be expensive.
They referred me to Hi-Tech Transmissions Inc., an independent shop that specializes in transmissions. As I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in any other shop except the Car Doctor, and I especially have no faith in the local dealer, I was very anxious about this. But the Car Doc assured me that this was THE place, and that this is where they would take their own car.
So the Car Doc dropped the car off at Hi-Tech on a Friday, and after a weekend of anxiety I called Hi-Tech the following Monday morning to discuss. Hi-Tech told me that they would thoroughly test it out to determine if it indeed was the transmission. So that afternoon they call me back and tell me, yep, it is definitely the transmission and it is going to need a rebuild, for an estimated price of $3500, with a 3-year warranty. I asked them a lot of questions but they assured me it was the transmission and that they knew what they were doing, and had done "two or three" NSXes before. They would need to have the car for a week to a week and a half. In the meantime, I will be commuting on my Gold Wing as I don't have another car.
They called me the following Monday (last Monday) to notify me that they had finished rebuilding the transmission and said the noise was a bearing wearing out, and that they had some trouble locating one of the bands, but that the transmission would be installed that afternoon. They also told me that they discovered a leaking rear main oil seal in the engine and that it should be replaced while the transmission is out (makes sense, go ahead). But three days passed with no update so I called them and they informed me that they had received the wrong torque converter but that the correct torque converter was enroute.
I called them again today (Friday) and they informed me that they had received the correct torque converter in the morning and that the transmission would be installed Friday afternoon. So here I sit Friday afternoon, anxious, waiting for the phone call that the car is ready. The car has been away for two weeks so far...
I took my car to my favorite mechanic (Car Doctor, Falls Church, VA) for a whining noise in the rear of the car. I had had them check this out once before, but the noise was worse this time. After checking it out, they determined that it was the transmission. Gulp. This is going to be expensive.
They referred me to Hi-Tech Transmissions Inc., an independent shop that specializes in transmissions. As I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in any other shop except the Car Doctor, and I especially have no faith in the local dealer, I was very anxious about this. But the Car Doc assured me that this was THE place, and that this is where they would take their own car.
So the Car Doc dropped the car off at Hi-Tech on a Friday, and after a weekend of anxiety I called Hi-Tech the following Monday morning to discuss. Hi-Tech told me that they would thoroughly test it out to determine if it indeed was the transmission. So that afternoon they call me back and tell me, yep, it is definitely the transmission and it is going to need a rebuild, for an estimated price of $3500, with a 3-year warranty. I asked them a lot of questions but they assured me it was the transmission and that they knew what they were doing, and had done "two or three" NSXes before. They would need to have the car for a week to a week and a half. In the meantime, I will be commuting on my Gold Wing as I don't have another car.
They called me the following Monday (last Monday) to notify me that they had finished rebuilding the transmission and said the noise was a bearing wearing out, and that they had some trouble locating one of the bands, but that the transmission would be installed that afternoon. They also told me that they discovered a leaking rear main oil seal in the engine and that it should be replaced while the transmission is out (makes sense, go ahead). But three days passed with no update so I called them and they informed me that they had received the wrong torque converter but that the correct torque converter was enroute.
I called them again today (Friday) and they informed me that they had received the correct torque converter in the morning and that the transmission would be installed Friday afternoon. So here I sit Friday afternoon, anxious, waiting for the phone call that the car is ready. The car has been away for two weeks so far...
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