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Transmission is gone


Marcus815

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Hey Guys,

I have some unfortunate news. It seems as my worst fears were correct, the Transmission is the cause of my problems. They aren't 100% sure at this time, that's why they are keeping it over tomorrow and possibly even Wednesday, but they are fairly certain the Tranny is causing those problems.

I'm at a cross roads here, guys. I don't know if it's worth it to pay for the cost of a new tranny, plus all the labor and *smurf* that you'd expect. No, I don't know the exact cost, but I feel confident that it's high. Should I get rid of the car and get something cheaper, or should I dish out the money and get it fixed? What I'm looking for here are some opinions backed up with reasoning to help me make a wise decision that I won't regret later on.

Thanks a lot guys,

Marcus

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We can't fully appreciate your situation so looking at it as if I were in your position, I would look for another Cadillac. In fact, that's what I did. The silver Eldorado you see also has a bad trans and a few other issues, so I have decided to get rid of it. I bought another '94 Eldorado (Dark Cherry) for $3,550 with 90,000 miles. If you buy a salvage yard trans you will probably pay about $300, plus about $600 installation. If you can swing payments for a Northstar Cadillac like an Eldorado or STS it might be your best option. Unless you love the Seville and it has low miles and you can't afford spending over $1000, then I would go for a newer Cadillac.

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What problems are you having? Is the transmission slipping or the torque converter not locking up? If it's just the torque converter, I would not worry about it. I've driven my Eldorado this way for 50k miles and haven't had a problem.

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Here is the sad news. I got a call today, apparently the Tranny is slipping. They said it would cost $4,800 to replace it. There is no way in hell I can pay that amount. Thus, according to the mechanic it has anywhere from a week to a year of life left at it's current state.

I'm not about to give up on it though. I'd like to rebuild the tranny (or purchase a new one if that's a better idea). I know it's an incredible amount of work, at least from what I have read, but I'm willing to give it a shot. It would be a long project, but I'll commit the time (it will have to be over a long period of time though). I'll need to get the cash together and purchase the proper parts, and I'll need to figure out exactly how to do it, but I'll give it a shot. Where can I get the info I need to get this done, and how much money am I looking at spending? I think I'm way over my head on this one, but I've got no other options other than ditching the car.

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Here is the sad news. I got a call today, apparently the Tranny is slipping. They said it would cost $4,800 to replace it. There is no way in hell I can pay that amount. Thus, according to the mechanic it has anywhere from a week to a year of life left at it's current state.

I'm not about to give up on it though. I'd like to rebuild the tranny (or purchase a new one if that's a better idea). I know it's an incredible amount of work, at least from what I have read, but I'm willing to give it a shot. It would be a long project, but I'll commit the time (it will have to be over a long period of time though). I'll need to get the cash together and purchase the proper parts, and I'll need to figure out exactly how to do it, but I'll give it a shot. Where can I get the info I need to get this done, and how much money am I looking at spending? I think I'm way over my head on this one, but I've got no other options other than ditching the car.

I remember one CaddyInfo member bought a salvage yard trans and it was still going after 80K miles. The cheap way would be to go to a reputable salvage yard. Installation would cost about $600. A remanufactured trans will cost at least $1900 at RhinoTransmissions.com to about $2,800 for a Jasper remanufactured trans.

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I have some better news. I picked up the car today and it wasn't running so well, pretty ****** actually. When I got back home I called my favorite junkyard because I've seen them doing work on cars there before. I told them my predicament and the guy said "Hey, you sound like that guy who came in for them fuse box's" (which I did), so I guess I have a rep there ; )

Anyhow, he put me on hold and checked and told me it would come to about $1,100 for a rebuilt Tranny including installation, plus they guarantee it for 90 days. That sounds a lot better than what the dealer was going to charge me. What do you guys make of this offer?

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A 90 day warranty sounds very low. What's wrong, don't they stand behind their work????

I would rather spend a little more money and get a quality rebuild. For example, putting in a new sprag should be included in every rebuild but it costs money to replace and chances are, it'll last past the 90 day warranty but not last another 100k miles. One way to find a good rebuilder is to call several mechanics that are into hot rodding and ask them if they know of a good rebuilder in the area.

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Marcus, that could work out great, or you could get a transmission that works for 91 days then have the same issue you have now. On the bright side, it puts the problem off 3 months. I think a complete tranny rebuild from a local chop cost me $2,500, for comparison.

Bruce

2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

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Bruce and Ed, you both bring up excellent points that I've already considered. However, I suppose considering your expertise I ought to look at it differently. I agree, 90 days is nothing outstanding, but what should I expect, or better yet what should I be looking for when I call up places like this?

Also, it sounds like I have three options. I can purchase a brand new Tranny (being the most expensive, but also most reliable), I can have it rebuilt, or I can get one from a salvage yard (The cheapest, but also the least reliable). Bottom line is I don't have enough cash to buy a brand new one and it's not likely I'll have enough to have it rebuilt either, but I may be able to squeeze by with a salvage yard Tranny. Is there any way to know that what I'm getting from the yard is a working Tranny, or do I have to go hat in hand and hope they are honest? Also, what price should I be looking for, the Tranny and Installation included? I've already got a few price ranges but I'd like a few more so I can draft up a good average.

Thanks a lot guys, It's great to know I have some other people to ask about stuff like this other than the dealer.

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A salvage yard tranny with low miles might be the ticket. Try to find one out of a wrecked car with low miles. If the car is not wrecked, I'm suspicious as to why car the is at the junk yard. As far as price is concerned, I bought a tranny out of a wrecked Seville with 50K miles several years ago for $250 on craigslist.

A 90 day warranty for a salvage yard transmission that has not been rebuilt is not out of the ordinary. But a rebuilt transmission should have at least a 1 year warranty.

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Actually, the rebuild trans for $1,100 is about the same price a salvage yard trans will cost with installation. So, if the salvage yard is reputable and they're really giving you at least a rebuild (which is generally nothing more than replacing gaskets and typical worn parts and is less in terms of quality than a remanufactured trans) then you should go with the rebuild. But I would want to know which shop did the rebuild and get a list of what was replaced/done during the rebuild. Otherwise, it looks like a salvage yard trans is the cheapest way to go. Again, consider all your options including getting a used/newer Cadillac. I bought mine on ebay for $3,550, but there are less expensive cars depending on condition.

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I believe the '93 Base Seville (not STS) had the 4.9 engine with the 4T60E Trans. Others have given excellent advice. If it were my car, I wouldn't let the junkyard monkies rebuild the trans... The price may sound good but you get what you pay for - if it puked again right out of warranty, by the time you had it rebuilt properly, you'd have $1100 more into it vs. having it rebuilt by a properly qualified shop in the first place.

Most decent sized cities have reputable transmission shops - check with the local Better Business Bureau for complaints. Also, many dealers outsource such work on older cars - ask them who they use.

Kevin
'93 Fleetwood Brougham
'05 Deville
'04 Deville
2013 Silverado Z71

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Thank you all for your advice, it is much appreciated. I did a bit of calling around and here is what I've come up with...

Fram’s - $1,100 for a salvage Tranny with installation included, with a 90 day warranty

Trombly’s - $2,600 for a rebuilt Tranny with installation included, with 1 year warranty

AAMCO - $1,600 up to $2,200 for a rebuilt Tranny with Installation included, with 12 month 12,000 mile warranty, optional 36 month warranty for another 15% of original cost

Which place sounds like they are offering me the best deal here?

P.S. This is going to sound crazy, but is there any chance that there is still a warranty on the Transmission? It's 14 years old with 77k miles on it. I know it sounds crazy, but is there a chance?

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Thank you all for your advice, it is much appreciated. I did a bit of calling around and here is what I've come up with...

Fram’s - $1,100 for a salvage Tranny with installation included, with a 90 day warranty

Trombly’s - $2,600 for a rebuilt Tranny with installation included, with 1 year warranty

AAMCO - $1,600 up to $2,200 for a rebuilt Tranny with Installation included, with 12 month 12,000 mile warranty, optional 36 month warranty for another 15% of original cost

Which place sounds like they are offering me the best deal here?

With Fram's you're basically saying "I'm willing to take my chances." If Fram's gives you a trans with no signs of impending problems then you just may get a cheap and long-lasting alternative to spending over 2K for something that may not give you anything better than a salvage yard trans. If you choose this option, you might want to spend a few bucks to have the installation inspected and the trans tested by a reputable transmission shop to make sure it's healthy. If it turns out the trans has a problem then you can go back to Fram's and say you need to give me another one. Otherwise, have the trans tested before it's installed--It might be a hassle but if Fram's is not willing reimburse you for installation costs then considering your financial situation it might be best to have it tested first.

Assuming Fram's provides you with a healthy trans, with Trombly's you're essentially spending an extra $1,500 for gaskets and basic components attendant to a rebuild. Whether spending $1,500 is worth it depends on exactly what you're getting for it. In other words, if I were you, before I spent the additional bucks I would find out exactly what was done to the rebuild, i.e., was the torque converter replaced or rebuilt; what internal parts such as solenoids were replaced, if any. Generally, rebuilds are similar as far as what is replaced but this is not a rule. Some rebuilds are better than others, and some rebuilds rival remanufactured as far as quality. So if I were you I would definitely find out exactly what I would be getting for the extra $1,500 before I spend it.

With AMCCO the same applies as far as finding out what its rebuild process entails. Be careful with AAMCO because there have been numerous problems stemming from dishonest practices around the country. If I were you, I wouldn't even seriously consider AAMCO until I checked the Better Business Bureau to see if the particular AAMCO I'm looking to bring my car to has had any complaints. Whatever you do, get a final bill of impending costs before you allow AAMCO to touch your car. Don't allow an open-ended situation where you're being told that costs are only estimates and that it may end up costing more. If you're told that, then walk out. So if I were in your shoes, AAMCO's $1,600 to $2,200 estimate would not be good enough. They should tell you exactly what the whole deal will costs period--No estimates.

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Good advice Mac

I would do it myself before I went to AAMCO, I had a really bad experience with them, they will never get a second chance with me

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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P.S. This is going to sound crazy, but is there any chance that there is still a warranty on the Transmission? It's 14 years old with 77k miles on it. I know it sounds crazy, but is there a chance?

Not a chance.

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Guys, I have outstanding news. My father was going to the Lexus dealership today for his car's scheduled maintenance and on the way we passed by AAMCO. I figured it would be worth a shot to stop in with the Caddy (I was following him so he'd have a ride back) and see what could be done. The mechanic came out and checked it out quickly and said the Transmission fluid was low, down by about a third. This surprised me since it had been filled the last time it was at Trombly's (3 weeks ago) and had been checked at the Cadillac dealership last week. Naturally I was skeptical, but I let him do his job. He filled it with a lot of fluid, nearly an entire container (another gallon at least). He then thought that a few other things could be wrong, so he put it up on the lift and went to work for about an hour.

We went to lunch and came back to find it all done. According to the mechanic the pan was leaking and that caused transmission fluid to drain out. He replaced (and this is according to the invoice)

1-New-Filter-New Multi-Lip Seal design (8) = $18.83

1-New-Gasket-Pan = $3.19

New-Dexron/Mercon Trans Fluid = $23.10

Labor (SGS)

Total was $99.98, more than half of which was labor. It's working great now, just the way I remember it. No messy transitions between gears, smooth and fast. Needless to say I'm thrilled it was a $100 fix rather than $4,800. I'm sorry I mislead you guys on this, I thought it was the transmission too. I guess I see now that it really is sticky going from place to place getting different opinions. What I'm wondering now is why both the Cadillac dealership and Trombly's didn't pick up on it, but rather gave me huge price quotes.

P.S. While I was waiting for the car I came across an old Cadillac Eldorado parked in a lot for a tile factory nearby. After looking at it for a few minutes a gentleman came over and asked what I was doing, and when I told him why I was in that area and the Cadillac I had he started talking about his. It was a 1973 Eldorado, paper white. He let me drive it around the parking lot and up and down the street, quite an experience. It wasn't the least bit slow, but peppy actually.

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That's a nice break. ;) You would think the mechanics would have first checked the fluid level. :rolleyes: You should call both the Cadillac service department and Trombly's and let them know that their not as good as the AAMCO or perhaps not as honest. Seriously, you should at least call Cadillac and talk to the service manager and express your disappointment with their service.

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Second opinions ALWAYS matter.

My neighbour was telling me he took his early 00's Chevy truck in for a clunk(To a transmission shop). He was sure it was a U joint. They came back and told him the transmission was gone, there was brass shavings in the pan etc, not knowing any better he had the transmission rebuilt. As soon as he left the shop he knew the problem wasnt gone... Took it to the dealer and they fixed the u joint for a couple hundred. $1700 on a rebuild (somewhat) wasted....

:o

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What I'm wondering now is why both the Cadillac dealership and Trombly's didn't pick up on it, but rather gave me huge price quotes.

Maybe they where fishing and hoping for a bite. Didn't you check the trans fluid yourself?

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What I'm wondering now is why both the Cadillac dealership and Trombly's didn't pick up on it, but rather gave me huge price quotes.

Maybe they where fishing and hoping for a bite. Didn't you check the trans fluid yourself?

This falls under the category of, 'if you think education is expensive, try ignorance" Lucky you found an honest mechanic, however someone early in this thread stated to check the fluid.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Oh Yes, I did indeed check the fluid. I checked it several days before I brought it to the Cadillac dealer, and it was fine, at least I judged it as fine. It was a reddish color and located right in the middle of the "X" on the dipstick. I never checked it after I got it back from the dealer though, because they said it was fine and I assumed that it wouldn't have gone down much after 5 days. I also never saw a leak on the ground, nor was there any smell or anything that would indicate a leak.

The Transmission fluid was also filled about three weeks before I brought it to the Cadillac dealer for the Transmission problem.

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