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  #1  
Old 03-18-2004, 11:33 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 41
Smile Thanks guys! This forum saved me big bucks!

I posted a query last month regarding flaring of my transmission after having had a rebuilt MB engine installed last year. My shop convinced me I needed a new transmission - the trans has 180,000 miles on it & is the second one (total of 380,000 on the car). But the transmission had worked just fine on the old engine before it gave out. After driving it nearly 5,000 miles with a combination of taking my foot off of the pedal as it shifted, and manual shifting into 4th, I was ready to have a rebuilt MB installed for an estimate of $2900. I found this website, did a search, and after reading numerous threads found an article on transmission adjusting by Steve Brotherton in Gainesville, Florida. I took the article in to my shop but they were not interested, convinced that my transmission was worn out. I called Steve Brotherton, who directed me to Tom Scott at PT Service in Des Moines, Iowa. I called him and explained my problem , and he said "I can fix it". To make a long story short, I drove the 300 miles to Des Moines from Madison, WI, to his shop. Tom found a disconnected vacumn hose in the black box on top of the valve cover, and adjusted the modulator on the transmission (after 4-5 lifts on the hoist and repeated road testing until he had it to his satisfaction). The modulator leaks a small amount and will eventually need replacing - but wow! This car shifts and has acceleration like it never had previously! Total repair bill: $120. This is a very useful forum which I will consult for future problems.

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  #2  
Old 03-19-2004, 05:58 AM
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That is really great....
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  #3  
Old 03-19-2004, 09:08 AM
I told you so!
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Motor City, MI
Posts: 2,853
Nice to hear a success story like yours, and to acknowledge Steve for the valuable public service he provides "behind the scenes".
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  #4  
Old 03-19-2004, 09:42 AM
Charlie Mitchel
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Helping hand:

That is great. That is what the board is here for.
All we ask if it helped you then tell some else about the board or help someone your self.
Also I wouldn't suport the shop that wouldn't support you. Even if it mean a 200 or 300 mile drive. To many business have forgot what "service" mean.
Good luck and enjoy the ride.
Charlie
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  #5  
Old 03-19-2004, 10:12 AM
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If it were me, I wouldn't be able to resist the urge to go back to the shop that insisted you needed a rebuild, and rub it in their nose(s).
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  #6  
Old 03-19-2004, 10:19 AM
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Location: PA
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Dhbecker,

YES, rub it in their noses.

And $2900 is outrageous for a rebuilt transmission. You can get a rebuilt transmission for about $1200 and its only a couple hours job to R&R. I got mine for $1200 including a new vacuum valve and torque convertor. Put it in myself, nothing to it.

P E H
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  #7  
Old 03-19-2004, 12:06 PM
mb123mercedes
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Hi Dh.

Go back to the first shop and rub some salt
in their wounds,and as the "coupe de gras"
tell them they just lost a customer to a shop
300 mls away,which you'll easily be able to do
because of the money saved on that "NEW",
ha,ha,ha,ha(being sarcastic)transmission,

Louis.
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  #8  
Old 03-19-2004, 12:23 PM
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Imagine their (and your) suprise if they had put a rebuilt transmission in and it shifted exactly like the old one.
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  #9  
Old 03-20-2004, 11:05 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 41
saved big bucks

Actually, I had been told by Steve Brotherton that I could have a new transmission put in and still have the same problem... this is what really prompted me to get a second opinion. I have yet to return to my local shop and give them the news, but am looking forward to it. I hate to have to drive to Des Moines in the future for service, but it looks like that's what I'll have to do to have piece of mind. This reminds me of when I lived in Detroit 20 years ago - I worked with a fellow who owned a Citroen, and he would drive to Cleveland to get it serviced. I suspected he used this as an excuse to get out of certain responsibilities at work, but this is giving me ideas!
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  #10  
Old 03-21-2004, 09:06 AM
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It would be my presumption that you will get no satisfaction returning to the original shop to show them that the transmission is fine. Such people are in denial and will refuse to believe facts that are clearly in evidence. You will probably get a retort similar to "Well that won't fix it for long; that trans is shot and will definitely need to be changed soon!".

There is no way to get any satisfaction when you are dealing with a close minded moron.
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  #11  
Old 03-21-2004, 09:14 AM
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Zen And The Art Of Diesel
 
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Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 2,050
Quote:
Originally posted by Rick Miley
Imagine their (and your) suprise if they had put a rebuilt transmission in and it shifted exactly like the old one.
This has likely been repeated thousands of times. I had the same deal, like half or more of us seem to have, funky shifting trans, most people think it's shot, learn how to tune and all is well(more or less). Shame all that money was wasted and so many good trannys, or whole cars, were junked.

But so many good deals to be found as well!
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  #12  
Old 03-21-2004, 06:32 PM
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Thumbs up i second that

i also 'found' unknown vacuum for my trans because of this site

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