transmission shop

[Mayhem_J30]

I'm at a loss with people around here.I spoke with the manager at the transmission shop that does all the Infiniti dealer transmission work around town. He told me three things today that kinda made me not want to go to him.1) "What's a turbine sensor?"2) "transmission mounts never have to be replaced."3) "I've never had good luck with sythetic ATF and WILL NOT put it in your transmission."

Ummm...did I miss something, but seems like a guy that says he's been doing this for 42 years would know a little more. I think he's afraid that I won't be coming back as soon if he does use sythetic fluid as he mentioned not guaranteeing his warranty with the syn ATF.

[Q45tech]

To my knowlege no dealer [in US] uses an out side shop as Infiniti set up a factory in Tennessee to rebuild transmissions and the dealers get units for much less than $1400 exchanged and that includes both ways freight........1-2 day delivery from regional warehouses.I believe it is mandantory for dealers to use factory remans! Just as no dealer can install non oem parts [if they get caught they are in franchise trouble]. Nissan is concerned about junk getting put on cars.

No way on earth a rebuilder could compete with a factory facility specializing in 4 or 5 transmissions.......by the way the factory doesn't rebuild the valve bodies but returns them to Japan in bulk where they are remanned, too critical for US workers who just swap new unit in.

Not to say in US there is not the expertness just rare and the internal cost of a typical shop means they have to cut corners somewhere. Most transmission shops just buy from dealer and say they did the work!.......on the R04R03A anyway.......they mark it up $300 and charge for the swap labor.

There is a large rebuilder in Arizona that uses Ebay.......$995 plus both ways freight for a 6 month warranty they will sell you a full year for $250 more..................but again how are they dealing with valve body R&R at that low a cost..........mix and match non failed parts use 2-3 trannys to make one.

Pay the price the dealers ask for the units we have had only 1-2 failures after 4-5 years this is a very good track record for remanned.

[Q45tech]

Now the R04R01A as used in J30, non turbo 300zx, and Pathfinder QX4 is a much more common domestic rebuild transmission that is less rigorous to do but still Nissan only has a 5% total market share so less than 1 out of 50-100 units proccessed by a local repairer might be Nissan RWD so how much expertise do you build on rare work vs GM, Ford, Chrysler?????????????????

[Mayhem_J30]

I do believe this 'outside shop' does typically order factory remans leading to the very high price quotes.

Although Fred has had different luck, this particular dealer IMO has given me some of the worst experiences yet. They like to get upset when I make special requests, always questioning me why I want that...when personally it's none of their business...just do as told and you'll recieve a check in the end. (for example, the Consult print out) NICO has teached me what to ask and what to have done, but apparently everything is against the grain when done correctly for most shops. No one ever wants to do things "the right way" and that has become ever more frustrating.

When told earlier today that the transmission shop WILL NOT put in syn ATF, I told him "Well thanks anyway, have a good day". He will not be getting my business.

In the battle to find the best new transmission for the buck I've had to give up using a factory reman as no one will install it. I could go the dealer route but I refuse to pay over $4000 for the transmission service.

[Q451990]

In the battle to find the best new transmission for the buck I've had to give up using a factory reman as no one will install it.

That's absolutely amazing! Maybe you could ask to have your rear main seal replaced and then slip a new transmission in the shop where your old one is sitting! I really think I'd keep looking for someone who will do what you tell them to do...

Heath

[Q45tech]

But you want recourse [a warranty whose funding comes from parts profit] when you buy labor [at a shop] the $68-$85 an hour assumes they will make ANOTHER 30-50% on parts [the business must generate $90-$120 an hour but they don't present it that way! Customers always focus on per shop hour charges and never the total price.

We are happy to provide JUST labor with no recourse for $90 a shop hour [typically 45 minutes] or $1000 per day [9 full working hours]. Sure we warranty OUR labor but not YOUR parts.We will install all the parts you bring but if you forget a nut or washer all bets are off as we have to spend or wait for something to be delivered from dealer ......the clocks still running while we wait. If the part is defective you must pay labor to substitute another part or let the car sit on a lot and pay for it to be pushed off and back on a lift .

A tied up lift [workstation/tech] is worthless and will cost you $90 an hour.

What happens If the transmission goes bad in 300 days - you pay for the removal and deal with where it came from.

Hard to have your cake [discount parts] and low cost labor!

[Mayhem_J30]

But you want recourse [a warranty whose funding comes from parts profit] when you buy labor [at a shop] the $68-$85 an hour assumes they will make ANOTHER 30-50% on parts [the business must generate $90-$120 an hour but they don't present it that way! Customers always focus on per shop hour charges and never the total price.

We are happy to provide JUST labor with no recourse for $90 a shop hour [typically 45 minutes] or $1000 per day [9 full working hours]. Sure we warranty OUR labor but not YOUR parts.We will install all the parts you bring but if you forget a nut or washer all bets are off as we have to spend or wait for something to be delivered from dealer ......the clocks still running while we wait. If the part is defective you must pay labor to substitute another part or let the car sit on a lot and pay for it to be pushed off and back on a lift .

A tied up lift [workstation/tech] is worthless and will cost you $90 an hour.

What happens If the transmission goes bad in 300 days - you pay for the removal and deal with where it came from.

Hard to have your cake [discount parts] and low cost labor!

good counter point.

[PalmerWMD]

There are several transmission shops on preston.Competition is high,I am sure u can find at leat one shop who will do the install for you.Have u asked there?I canask some for u if u want.

Fred..

[Mayhem_J30]

There are several transmission shops on preston.Competition is high,I am sure u can find at leat one shop who will do the install for you.Have u asked there?I canask some for u if u want.

Fred..

email me your recommendations as there are A LOT of trannys shops around town. I checked the phone book and there's too many pages to thumb through.

[PalmerWMD]

There is one that put in a tyanny cooler on my old Q (AAMCO, but from speaking to them and the knowledge they showed they clearly appeared competent), and another one also also here.

I dont have their numbers handy but will check in person soon.

Fred..

[jimb]

From what I saw of the inside of the Qs tranmission when mine failed ( and I watched a lot of the work being done at the trans shop) there's not much unusual about it.

I couldn't say that its a copy of this GM or that Toyota trans, but they all seem to have about the same parts and assembly/disassembly is not markedly different. A competent (ask lots of people in the area for recommendations) shop should be able to rebuild your trans for less.

My local dealer wanted $4,000 to install a remanned with a 1 year warranty. I got the thing rebuilt and filled with Redline syn ATF for $3,000 and that included kevlar clutches, new planetaries, valve bodies, tc, the works, with a 2 year warranty.

Its performed flawlessly, knock on wood.

My understanding is also that the remanned at the Infiniti facility get what's broken fixed, and that's about it. They don't replace everything. On mine for example. the tech said the pumps looked ok but they replaced them anyway.

[jimb]

Shops shouldn't be shy about quoting a labor only rate, along with the parts and labor price.

That with the flat rate manual would give buyers the information they need to know an honest price when they see one.

Were lucky to have several good sources for parts with excellent pricing, and I think most all of us here only want be sure we are paying a fair price. After looking at some of the dealer rip offs in this area, it pays to be careful.

I have no interest in subsidizing Infiniti new car buyers by paying more than I should for dealer repairs on the Q I purchased used.

[jimb]

One last thing. I've been told by several people that the trans shops who do dealer work are the 'whores' of the transmission business.

Reason being that they will be asked to cover up problems on used cars. They will tighten up hear and there to get through the warranty period.

This was done to me when I bought my Q. I felt a trans problem and the dealer's trans place kept the car for 3 weeks. It seemed ok when I got it back but two months later it died.

That got me talking to the dealer and local shops in the area where I got an education. Its the first trans I ever had fail.

I'd been driving Toyota Supras for ten year and they don't fail. Before that GM cars, Camaro's and Vette's and they had the reputation for making excellent tranmissions for a long time.

[90Q45blue]

Mayhem,

Cottman Transmission rebuilt my transmission with new mounts and a cooler. They charged me 1500 but that was a fluke and long story but they quoted me at 2200. The best part about it was that they gave me a LIFETIME warranty!!!

Check em out,

Nick

[Mayhem_J30]

Thanks Nick, but I don't live in Kansas so I don't think they'll do me much good. If I could find a place with a lifetime warranty that would be sweet. Must be to good to be true.

[90Q45blue]

Mayhem,

Looks like they have 3 stores in Louisville and one in Lexington. Tell him you talked to Steve in the Kansas branches about price. He is the one that gave me a great deal and really wants to get the Cottman name out to Infiniti owners. Let the Louisville guys know about our little site and maybe they would be willing to cut you an even better deal. If they quote you too high, e-mail me [email protected], and I will have Steve call them and talk some sense into em

Nick

[90Q45blue]

Also, do not have them do the RDI, which is the 400 charge to inspect the damage but since you already know it's busted. Therefore, it's not necessary. Just tryin to save ya some money.

Nick

[Mayhem_J30]

Also, do not have them do the RDI, which is the 400 charge to inspect the damage but since you already know it's busted. Therefore, it's not necessary. Just tryin to save ya some money.

Nick

Thanks Nick, I haven't thought about that part yet.

[Mayhem_J30]

I talked to one of the Cottman centers here in Louisville and 'John' the manager on duty said they do not offer the lifetime warranty (except on collector cars that aren't driven often) but they offer the standard 1year/12Kmile and a 3yr/30something thousand mile. He also couldn't give me a quote without looking at it and of course wanted to hook it up to his free diagnostics machine. They also offered free towing service if work is done to it. The guy sounded more helpfull then others I've spoke to and sounded like he generaly wanted to help. I tried to talk to him about getting more involved with Infiniti transmission work but he didn't really seem to taken about all of that. Maybe marketing isn't his interest. So far though Cottman is bumped to the top of my list just because of being nice and helpfull on the phone.

[90Q45blue]

Good to hear about your experience thus far. Just make sure not to let them do that RDI. They can hook it up to their free diagnostic machine..no big deal. Just tell them you know it will need a complete rebuild. Steve is supposed to call me back tomorrow morning and I will have him give 'John' a call and then we'll see what he can do. They did do a very good job on mine and give me super cheap rates on flushes every year, in fact, that's one of requirement of the warranty which made me feel more confident in their knowledge. While they orignally didn't treat me well, in the end I ended up talking to the right guy who really did want to help. Anyway, I'll let you know what Steve says.

Nick

[Mayhem_J30]

Sweet! If Steve asks, it's the Cottman on Fern Valley Road.