Dodge: Why are Transmissions so scary?

On Fri, 7 Jan 2005, mike wrote:
 

The only two places? H'mm. Where-all did you call?
 

Nothing. That's why I want to know who-all you called.

DS

Called Speedy Auto Service, Canadian tire (was originally looking for
part and labor price before I bought the cable at the dealer)
Mr. Transmission (they would drop the trany for $425 + tax)
Dealer (they would do it for $95 an hour, forgot how many hours they
quoted)
and a couple of other places. Not very many people will touch
transmissions.
Also keep in mind that I was calling places within 10 to 15 miles from
home, as I would have to tow the car there.

Mike
mlawrenc(at)rcc.on.ca

Daniel J. Stern wrote: 
of the 
so 
I 
touch the 

On Fri, 7 Jan 2005, mike wrote:
 

Well, there's your problem. You're calling all the wrong kinds of places.
Speedy and Canadian Tire are not real shops. There are no real mechanics
there. They are *parts changers*. They can remove an old exhaust system
and install a new one. They can remove old brake pads and install new
ones. They can remove an old brake caliper and/or rotor and install new.
They can change oil and other fluids. They can change filters and wiper
blades. They can change tires. They can remove an old alternator and
install a new one. They can replace dead headlight bulbs.

They cannot diagnose beyond the very rudimentary. They cannot competently
do "involved" jobs that require disassembly and reassembly beyond the very
rudimentary.

What you need to find is a *mechanic*. Get in the yellow pages. Every town
has lots of independent car service shops. Call half a dozen of them,
describe the problem, find a shop that sounds good and go there -- problem
solved.

DS

The real scary part about transmissions is the low level of integrity
of most transmission shops. They know most people are not prepared to
do any of the work or even understand the problems. They have a open
door to take advantage and they do so.

That is the kicker. I know the problem, and what has to be done.
I can not justify paying $425CND + taxes for them to drop my tranny to
take a half inch piece of wire and a washer out of the bell housing.

On 7 Jan 2005 15:24:09 -0800, "mike" <com> wrote:
 

Take it to your friend's garage, put it on the hoist, support the
engine as required and loosen the tranny from the engine. Not sure on
a Neon, but on many cars you can separate the bell housing from the
engine far enough to fish the offending piece of cable and washer out
with a hook of mechanics wire or a magnet.

I've removed half of a starter drive from a Rover 2000 that way - one
of the most miserably built, but fun to drive cars ever built. Working
on them gives you grey hair just thinking about it. (brother tried to
start the engine while it was already running - starter drive took
exception to the abuse and came apart)

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 15:24:09 -0800, mike wrote:
 

So do it yourself. You said you had a facility available to you. The
time you spent in here, you could have fixed it by now...

--
If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Linux Registered User #327951

$425 CND to drop the tranny in a front drive car? That's fair. It's a pain.
Maybe I'm used to getting paid too much, but I hate misery, and that's not
much money.

"mike" <com> wrote in message
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