Transmission rebuilt or buy used one?

[Ryan Heo]

Hi.When I bought my 96 infiniti i30, the car was broken on transmission.So I wanted to repair transmission. At that time the mechanic told me that buy a used one and set it up is $1000 with 3 month warraty or rebuilt the transmission is $1500 with 1 year warranty. I chosen "rebult" because of 1 year warranty.It was the last month (May of 07). After that, the transmission is leaking until today. Now I think the mechanic doesn't have a exprience to rebult transmission. If I go to transmission expert for replacing or rebuilting, how much do I pay for? I want to know approximately estimation. And What is the best way?Help me. I'm very very concerned about that. Even I can't sleep.I don't want to change my car. Also I can't afford to buy another car.

Thanks.

[NewfoundlandDude]

You shouldn't have had a regular mechanic re-build your transmission. A transmission shop would have only charged the $1500 that you paid, as long as there were no unforseen problems, or extra part replacements.

If there is a warranty on the transmission, is it just parts or does it include labour? You would have been better off buying a used transmission with a replacement warranty if you could have found it, then got the regular mechanic to put it in for a couple hundred bucks labour.

Your situation sounds like it sucks man, I'm in the middle of the exact same thing right now. I couldn't find any used transmissions or shops willing to re-build mine here. I was quoted $2200 for the re-build or $1600 + shipping + labour for a replacement. Luckily I found a transmission a couple of provinces over, and can get it here for about $1000. Then I just have to get it put in.

transmission problems are definately expensive, I would talk to your mechanic and see if he can give you a little better direction since he's done all of the work for the job so far, and probably knows better than you and I right now...

[MinisterofDOOM]

Find a REPUTABLE shop that is familiar with JATCO transmissions (JATCO is the company that builds Nissan's automatic transmissions). Definitely don't got to a regular mechanic for it unless you're absolutely sure they know the transmission and have experience rebuilding them.

A decent transmission shop should be able to do a rebuild and offer a LIFETIME warranty on it, not just 1 year.

I would definitely do a rebuild over used. Rebuilds often involve upgrades that can strengthen the transmission, so if it's done well, you can be better off than you were with the original transmission.

A used transmission is a gamble: you don't know how well it was cared for or if it was abused and there's no way to tell how long it'll last you.

Best advice is to pay more for a GOOD rebuild with a lifetime warranty instead of taking the cheaper route and going to an inexperienced shop or risking a shorter warranty. If you take the cheap route and something goes wrong, you could end up spending even more money.

[Ryan Heo]

I should have tried to find a reputation shop.I thought he runs his own repair shop more than 10years,so I believe him wihtout doubt. However it was huge mistakes.Even I don't afford to buy or re-build another transmission.I don't know what I should do.Anyway thanks guys.

**Would let me know how to post pictures? I will show the photo of my leaking transmission.
Modified by Ryan Heo at 6:40 AM 6/23/2007

[maxhopper]

It could be a faily easy fix, depending on where it is leaking. The most probable places would be the pan, or the axle seals.

To post pictures, you'll need to host them on line (like photo bucket or iserve) then copy the url address and put it between [img] [img]. If you don't have anywhere to host the pics, email them to me and I'll host them on my iserve account.

[NewfoundlandDude]

What is an external seal kit for a transmission?

Is it just the Axle seals & the shifter seal? The used transmission that I sourced had "all the external seals & the filter removed", I guess this means the filter & pan gasket, but what are the other seals???

[maxhopper]

I'm sure that's probably all they removed. There is also a seal (on the AT) where the shift lever goes into the trans.

I hope your trans works out better than mine so far. I took the pan off this morning to replace the filter (had been removed) and pan gasket. Well, the dumb asses didn't put the bolts that hold the filter back in! There are two small bolts and one nut that I was able to get ahold of, but there are also seven bolts that are 66mm long that no one in the city has. I called the place that sold me my transmission, but the guy I talked to told me to call back on Monday and they would over night the bolts.

[NewfoundlandDude]

Ouch.....So much for getting a head start on the weekend.....

[Ryan Heo]

I replaced a transmission fan seal with adhesive things, a transmission axle seal in righthand side and retighten all of nuts.And I'm waiting now...Thanks.

*** How do I send photo to you guys? I want to show pictures.Would let me know e-mail address?


Modified by Ryan Heo at 12:42 PM 6/23/2007

[maxhopper]

Just click my screen name to bring up my profile.

[Ryan Heo]

I sent pictures to you.Thanks man.

I had a test drive after all of the seals be changed, the pan seal is ok and axle seal is ok. OK means there is no leaking anymore.The problem is two nuts in which are on the bottom. Unfortunately I don't know what they called. I will take more pictures which is after the works tomorrow morning.It will make sure.
Modified by Ryan Heo at 8:02 PM 6/23/2007

[maxhopper]

Got the pictures, and I will host them, and post them tomorrow (I've been consuming adult beverages tonight, and my girlfriend has only allowed me enough time to type this reply). Try to get some pics of where the axles go into the transmission. From one of the pics, it looks like it is leaking down from the axle seal and dripping from the bottom of the bell housing.

And my girlfriend is now hitting me for because she saw what I typed.

[Ryan Heo]

Thanks Thanks for answer even though you are in the difficult condition.Have good time!

I want to know amount of tranmission fluid.After changed transmission seal, I reused the transmission fluid because the fluid was changed on last month.However I think it need to change.How many bottle of transmission fluid do I need and what kind of things? I just would to buy "prestone" on Walmart.Would you recommand which one is good for I30?Thanks.

[danielekfuj]

^^ at least she understands your addiction to NICO

[maxhopper]

Here are the pictures of the leak.



This is the one that looks (to me) to be dripping down from the axle seal.

[maxhopper]

The total capacity of the auto trans is 10 qts. But you will probably need only 4-5 qts if you do a drain and fill. Either use the Nissan Matic-D trans fluid or a good Dextron III.

[Ryan Heo]

I checked the leak right before.There is the same situation as photo. I don't know what should I do anymore?I have been a professional transmission shop yesterday.The expert checked the leak and told me the leak is not so bad because of a little. If the transmission is re-built it cost $2000, or bought a used one it cost $800~$1200 plus $500 labor.However I don't think it is need re-build or a replace.It need to repair seriously.

[brianw]

If that's all the leak is-=- and it doesn't look like an emergency to me-- it's up to you if you want to rebuild your transmission to fix it.

[Ryan Heo]

Actually I want to re-bulid but I can't because of cost.Unfortunately I couldn't find a way to fix it. The transmission expert who I met yesterday just told it looks like from axle. So I replaced the axles two times, but the same condition.I'm frustrated now because I did what I can do.There is no solution.Huh...

[brianw]

If it's leaking from where the axle goes into the differential, you have worn differential bearings and will need to replace those. Replacing the axle seals alone will only be a temporary fix as the worn bearings will wear out the axle seals very quickly.

If your differential bearings are worn you're best off just rebuilding the whole transmission while you're in there, because you're talking $$$$ by that point already and another few hundred bucks for the rebuild is cheap on top of the labor you've already paid.

[Ryan Heo]

The transmission was just re-bulit on the end of last month.Do I have to One more??? Oh... NO...I met the machenic who re-bulit the transmission and showed the pictures today. He told me two possiblities that the first one is to be need to replace the seal where is on the center of transmission and the second is the axle wouldn't be straight which was just replaced 2 weeks ago.We will meet to find the source of the leak on this friday. At that time, I should tell the machenic about differencial bearing. I will let you know what's going on after met him.Thanks.

[brianw]

it sounds like it wasn't properly rebuilt, or a mistake was made and the differential was not properly shimmed.Quote »replace the seal where is on the center of transmission [/quote]I'm not quite sure what seal you're referring to, but if you mean from the transmission to the block, there is no seal there?

I assume I'm thinking about the wrong thing. I'm not a transmission expert, so I would fully expect you're referring to something else. The axle not being straight is essentially impossible, if the splines are fully inserted into the differential it should be properly lined up...

[audtatious]

You paid for a transmission rebuild. I would keep on the guy who did the work until it was fixed. No reason to pay twice.

[Ryan Heo]

I think so. He is not expert about transmission. The problem is that I don't know about transmission. If the mechanic give temporary solution to me, I wouldn't be recognized that.He is mechanic, otherwise I'm not. So while he is telling me about the transmission, I just say really? or O.K. , do it. That's what I can tell.I need to know what the transmission re-build is and what kinds of problems can be happen if it wasn't perfectly re-built?

Anyway Thank you so much.

[maxhopper]

At this point, I would have to agree with the others in that you've paid to have the transmission rebuilt. If it's not done properly, take it back and demand that it be fixed properly. If the mechanic is not capable of doing the job, have him pay to have it done correctly. There's no reason you should have to foot the bill because he took a job that he couldn't handle.

Just be sure you have the warranty in writing.

If he will not fix it, or have it fixed by someone who knows what they are doing; report him to the Better Business Bureau.

[Ryan Heo]

Unfortunately I don't have any document of the transmission warranty.So, I would like to make the document. I will make the document by myself and ask his sign on it. What do I write down on the document? Do you have any form of a warranty? What do I need to make the document such as his sign, address, driver license number, and what else?Would you write it down by reply or send to me by e-mail, if you know or have?

It was happen on last month.

"I paid $1500 to him on May of 25th. He gave 1 year warranty without a document by speaking."

Thanks.

[MinisterofDOOM]

That would work. The shop should be able to provide you with something more official, though.Unfortunately, since it was just a verbal agreement, if the shop really wants to fight you on it, they could easily get away with not honoring the warranty.

If you do end up having to hand-write the proof-of-warranty, consider getting it notarized so it will stand up in court.

[Ryan Heo]

You mean if the machenic and I make a warranty document by hand-writing, it doesn't have any official effect. So, a lawyer should be involved when the document is made. Am I understanding correctly what you told me?Thanks.

[maxhopper]

If he has a sign that states his warranty, take a picture.

A notary public is not a lawyer, it just someone who acts as a witness to a document singing.

[Ryan Heo]

I understand.I will take a picture by my digital camera when he signed on it.

For example.

" MY NAME paid $1,500 to rebuild the transmission mounted on 96' Infiniti I30 which is VIN****** on May of 25th. THE NAME OF MACHENIC gave 1 year warranty of the transmission to MY NAME.

ISSUED DATE MY NAME AND SIGNATURE HIS NAME AND SIGNATUREA" with photo.

Thanks.
Modified by Ryan Heo at 7:31 AM 6/26/2007