Kind of a long read.

OK, so back in December of 2005 my transmission in my Dodge Ram kicked the bucket and I went to AAMCO in Charleston, South Carolina to get it replaced. I bought the lifetime warranty, which meant that I had to do all the correct preventitive maintenance and get it inspected annually. Being in the military I travel a lot, so in 2006 I had my annual inspection done in Charleston, West Virginia, and it came back fine. I asked if I needed to do a transmission flush, and they said no, it's a 24 month thing.

So in 2007, I was deployed from October 2006 - February 2007, so my wife took the truck in and got it inspected in Bremerton, Washington. At that time, they told her she needed to change the transmission fluid, and later get a flush done. They told her that they had to be spaced a couple months apart, and you could not do them concurrently. So, taking their advice, she had AAMCO change the fluid. In March, after I got back, I was having some other work done on the truck at Firestone, and since I was spending so much they gave me a good discount, so I had them perform the flush of the transmission system instead of AAMCO..

So today, my wife once again took in the truck for our annual inspection at the same AAMCO cause I had to work, and they basically were really mean to her saying the transmission fluid looked almost black, and they were going to cancel our warranty if we didn't have it flushed immediately. Of course I did this previously at Firestone 9 months ago (about 3000 miles). I have a feeling one of 3 things have happened.

1. AAMCO is just being a bitch because we didn't get the work done there and they think they can take advantage of my wife because she is your stereotypical blonde girl.

2. Firestone just said they did the flush and actually didn't do it at all.

3. My transmission has catastrophically failed and is turning the fluid black.

I have not looked at the fluid yet (my wife just told me about it) but I have a feeling the problem is most likely #1. I am going to go to Firestone tomorrow and have them look at it to see if they agree with AAMCO's diagnosis. I would imagine if they see the same thing, then perhaps they did not do an adewuate job the first time. I really doubt there is anything wrong with the transmission (I know my truck pretty well and have noticed nothing.) Assuming #1 is the problem, what would you do? I don't know if I should try and deal with the shop or go above them to some kind of headquarters level. Any suggestions? By the way thanks for enduring the read.

1/30/2008 12:48:46 AM

shoulda went with the cummins

300,000+ miles and no troubles at all

1/30/2008 1:05:32 AM

Well, depends.

If you can look at the transmission fluid yourself and see that it is not in fact- anywhere near replacement level, then I would go down there myself and just politely ask them- why they said that, and prove to them they were wrong. Which lets them know that you aren't a sucker and they can't just talk your wife into things by scaring her. If they ever try it again, or argue the point, go up the management chain but I'd go above the shop itself immediately. Employees normally dont do shady crap like that if management isn't putting pressure on them somehow to do it.

However, do make sure you check the fluid first. I'm not sure how you'd honestly distinguish between case #2 and case #3 without other symptoms unless you get it flushed and wait and see what happens.

ALso, if you can prove with documents that you had it changed at Firestone, I would check into see who is liable (them or AAMCO for ending the warranty on false causes) if your warranty does get cancelled and what can be done. Not being a lawyer, I have no specifics for you there.

But I am not a garage head- just some random chick on TWW.

[Edited on January 30, 2008 at 1:12 AM. Reason : .]

1/30/2008 1:11:27 AM

^^? What does that have to do with the transmission? The Cummins have automatics available for them.
Well first thing I'd suggest to do is check the dipstick and see for yourself, I'm unaware of the newer models but my 96 dodge has one. I know some vehicles don't. If it is really dark, I'd check back at the Firestone place and ask them what reasonable reason there is for the transmission fluid being so dark after such a relatively short period.



[Edited on January 30, 2008 at 1:22 AM. Reason : ^]

1/30/2008 1:16:33 AM

Yeah, that's pretty much my plan tomorrow when it gets light out. Thanks for the replies.

1/30/2008 1:34:06 AM

do not move to garage?

1/30/2008 7:27:02 AM

its because we are a gang.

you should know omar

1/30/2008 8:51:52 AM

lol, got moved to garage.

1/30/2008 10:30:31 AM

Welcome to the garage. Prepare to get flamed for not owning a riceburner or eurotrash. They chew domestic shit up and spit it out for lunch.

THIS WOULDN"T HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU HAD BOUGHT AN 84 DATSUN PICKUP! ! MINE STILL RUNS JUST FINE, EXCEPT IT DOES NOT GO IN REVERSE OR BURN UNLEADED GAS. BUT IT STiLL IS BEETER THAN YOUR SHITTY DODGE TURCK. AND DON"T GO TO AMACO, DO THE FUCKING TRANSMISSION YOURSELF YOU WROTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT.

1/30/2008 11:30:02 AM

lol

1/30/2008 12:32:05 PM

wow... what a jerk move to put it in garage. i hope he asked for that to happen.

[Edited on January 30, 2008 at 12:51 PM. Reason : ]

1/30/2008 12:51:30 PM

1/30/2008 12:52:25 PM

Why shouldn't it be in the garage? It is completely car related.
Also, the garage section is great for answering questions, as long as you can read past the bull.

1/30/2008 2:48:03 PM

Yeah I am not sure why this got moved. I was certainly not asking for technical assistance with my vehicle. Oh well.

I inspected my fluid this morning and it looked fine. Then as a back-up I also took it to Firestone and they said it was fine. So I took it to AAMCO and the guy looked at the fluid and he was like, "Oh that must have been our mistake." He tried explaining that they were not theives and that he would "have a talk with the guy who inspected it." Basically the dude got caught and he was backpedaling. I am actually happy it worked out relatively easy.

1/30/2008 2:52:31 PM

Quote :

"Why shouldn't it be in the garage? It is completely car related."

This wasn't about the transmission as much as it was about dealing with a business that was trying to screw his wife. The transmission itself has no relevance.

1/30/2008 3:06:31 PM

^True, but vehicle services are more up our alley.

1/30/2008 4:07:56 PM

if the OP doesn't want the opinions from garage, then we shouldn't answer him.

1/30/2008 4:34:21 PM

if he had titled it "customer service problem" it probably wouldn't have been moved.

1/30/2008 7:17:24 PM

Quote :

"my transmission in my Dodge Ram kicked the bucket"

let me guess, it was a 94-2002 Ram with a 46/47 RH/RE automatic.

welcome to the club.

1/31/2008 1:15:54 AM

*raises hand as well*

1/31/2008 12:08:59 PM