CadiKing Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 I had to rebuild my tranny a couple of years ago , so I took it to Gibraltar, they charged my warranty company @ $4500.00, I paid $500.00 out of my pocket. That is a crazy price, probably a ripoff. Seabass 93 STS. Seabass, I had to rebuild my tranny a couple of years ago , so I took it to Gibraltar, they charged my warranty company @ $4500.00, I paid $500.00 out of my pocket. That is a crazy price, probably a ripoff. Seabass 93 STS. Seabass, You can say that again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAUL T Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Personally I would never use AAMCO, I had a really bad experience with them years ago, be careful, I had an experience like gc_caddy...... THEN they VOIDED the warranty by telling me that I put BRAKE FLUID in the tranny! Which I did not! Be Careful! They probably used the same flushing machine to flush someones brake system that they use to flush tranny's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Personally I would never use AAMCO, I had a really bad experience with them years ago, be careful, I had an experience like gc_caddy...... THEN they VOIDED the warranty by telling me that I put BRAKE FLUID in the tranny! Which I did not! Be Careful! They probably used the same flushing machine to flush someones brake system that they use to flush tranny's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 Ok well I called around and found "A Transmission Masters"....they are listed in the BBB and Angie's list. After talking with the owner for about 10 minutes I decided to at least have him look at the trans. Got a call back today and he said that there wasn't any way to tell what was wrong internally, and they would have to drop the trans. and take a look....In my mind that is sort of a half-truth....but anyway he said $195.00 to drop it and take a look...then if I don't want it fixed they will put it back in and send me on my way. If I do want it fixed the $195 goes towards the repair. He also said that the tech had found that the PCM had low voltage, or was sending low voltage or something, this could cause harsh shifts into overdrive. And this couldn’t really be fixed.....anyone ever heard of this symptom? A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldgamer Posted November 5, 2004 Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 Yeah PCM low voltage can be a problem and I like actually they told you that. Because if this is a case, it means you can find PCM and check if it's fine again. I changed the PCM and found that very easy and cheap. I got mine for $50 and it works great. But before doing that change you gotta do some things, not like just change.At least its look like they have a good electrician. If you need a help to change a PCM, just let me know I send you a link (I post it somewhere). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 acklak7, can you refresh our memory and detail what originally happened to your car, how it happened, and what you did. If I recall you replaced the solenoids, then had some problems and did a lot of diagnosing, can you summarize this from the beginning, Mike Did the solenoids look bad, cracked or test bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 I had to do the solenoids three times; I believe I had the check balls in the correct locations. After each attempt it would go to 2nd automatically and stay there. After the second attempt it tried to shift a couple times @ 3000-4000 rpm. But it just revved back and forth between 3 and 4, then it would quit (due to the filter coming loose?). On the third time I found the problem, there was a little metal bracket that came with the solenoid kit. It keeps the filter from popping out, I sort of feel stupid for not installing it...I believe It was in the instructions I received....... Put the bracket on and she ran fine, for about 15 minutes. The A solenoid was the first to go out, then the B solenoid (about 2wks later). The A solenoid was cracked, had a bearing sticking out of the side, however the B solenoid appeared to be fine. I should also note that roughly a week before the solenoid problem was "fixed" I got a code p076 out of nowhere. I got back from a 2 week trip and went to start it up, and within seconds I got a check engine light, I restarted and everything was fine. Also I did notice that a small portion of the black spacer plate in the valve body was slightly chipped...Ive heard this is a no-no. What finally caused the tranny to crap out was just a blunder in judgment. I had finally got the solenoids fixed and went to fill up the trans. I filled it up with 7 quarts and it wouldn’t hold anymore, I thought in the back of my mind (hmmm I thought it took a bit more.) Anyway I fired her up....and took drove about 2 miles. Then stopped. After about 15 minutes I began to drive back. A mile later it just dropped a load...check engine light,grinding,and inching its way forward. Pulled over, trans was smoking, I knew something was definitely wrong. Although this is ALL my fault I am very disappointed that there is apparently not a trans. fluid level sensor. Maybe there isnt a way to monitor the fluid level in the trans? or do the Northstars have a fluid level indicator? A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfoo Posted November 6, 2004 Report Share Posted November 6, 2004 man the transmissions has hella sensors in it it would tell you it's overheating, or if it's slipping, or if something is going on, at least the 4T80E in my 99 will.....it's not perfect because I do have some slip occasionally but it should not let itself self destruct or overheat.. besides, even if it does overheat you could probably fix it just by changing the fluid and using some trans fix, unless something physically broke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2004 For some reason I think the OBD II (96+) have more sensors...I could be wrong..Is there a trans. level sensor for the northstar system? I don't think I've ever heard of one. A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Just got done talking to A Trans Masters. There was a whole bunch of damage to a number of clutches and other components Im not real familiar with. The bill is $1789+tax. That includes a new torque converter, all new solenoids, new ISS sensor in addition to the clutches and misc. Overall Im pleased with the price and service up to this point. It seems as if these guys have been doing this for a long time. They also mentioned something that I haven’t come across on this board: That the failure of the solenoids may be indicative of a bigger trans. problem. They said that sometimes metal debris in the fluid can contaminate the solenoids and eventually cause them to fail. Seemed plausible to me. I should get her out tomorrow. A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 9, 2004 Report Share Posted November 9, 2004 Good Price, good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 I can’t catch a break!!! Picked her up about an hour ago...on the way home I went to change lanes (on the highway) and guess what? the rpm's went up to 6000 and I didn’t go anywhere...I decelerated and then I regained some power. I pulled over and put it in P then in D again, I gave it some gas and it acted real funny. I turned it off and then went to start it again and it wouldn’t start. It emitted some strange sound from under the hood...but it didn’t even attempt to turn over. Also no check engine light and No "current" codes. There were some history codes: P047 P059 P094 P107 T052 T061. They are towing it in and are going to get on it asap.. A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 OMG, I am sorry to hear that....hang in there.. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 any idea why Im not throwing a codes/check engine light? A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Can't help with that, maybe its a mechanical problem that doesnt throw a code. Hopefully they will fix it easily. I can't believe that a test drive wouldnt turn this up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesg Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Never under any circumstance rebuild a Tranny, especially a Caddy. It would be a waste of money. Once out of specification due to variation, forever out of spec, the mechanic will not replace all parts. Just some parts will be replaced to save even your best friend rebuilding the tranny time and money. The Giants and we all know who I am talking about will only give you a 12 mo warrnty and the tranny will go out again on the 13th month. Invest in a remanufactured tranny with an extended 3 year warrrant fior about $150.00 bucks extra. Go to the intrenet and find a tranny have it shipped and find a mechanic to put it in for labor cost. I went thru this myself and it is at nighmare rebuilding a Northstar tranny at $3,000 and 12 mos later having to buy a remanufactred tranny at $1800.00 because that 380T is so huge and electronic, until the mechanics will they open it up will run for shelter. Much to complicated for mechanics that change jobs every week Buy another Tranny. Trust me. Four years later my 93 STS is running great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 In regards to the test drive: I don’t think they ever test drove it. When I went in to pick it up all of the techs that were there at the time were 25 and under( "Much to complicated for mechanics that change jobs every week"). A semi-experienced tech may be able to fix a 88 pontiac trans. But when it comes to the 4t80e it is a whole different ball game. I believe they probably "tried" to fix the trans. but probably screwed a number of things up. And just figured "I don’t want to be the one to test drive it and have it screw up....Ill just cross my fingers and hope the customer makes it home" Well they are EXTREMLY lucky im not in the emergency room right now...I was on 70 west and it joins 71 and becomes a four lane highway for a mile or so through the city...I was at the junction and going to merge over 3 lanes, I went to merge and accelerate, and nothing...I decelerated as I merged...Had someone been coming up behind me It would have been all over...Another problem Im faced with now is driving it home after they "fix" it, I dunno if anyone has ever experienced an attempt to accelerate @ 70mph ,only to find that you dont move, and actually decelerate. It is very un-nerving and something I never want to experience again...Im telling you if It had been 2 hours later in rush hour I would be hooked up to an IV right now...Also why all the codes in the history? could they have possibly test drove it and then realized it was fouling up..then corrected something?... A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Those codes could have been left over from before. Who knows, but I would have thought they would have disconnnected the battery for safety reasons, so I am at a loss. I dont have time to figure out what the codes are for right now. As far as not rebuilding tranny's I disagree. While they are complicated, someone that knows what they are doing and is trained should have no problem with the job. While I know its not the 4t80e, I have rebuilt a bunch of TH 350s and they ran like clocks and I don't have ANY training, all I can do is read a manual and be methodical. Good rebuilders know what needs to be replaced and should measure allowable tolerances, good rebuilding manuals point out important issues. I would ask for their best tech to be put on the job, PERIOD! I would want to see the defective parts, as it appears you had an internal mechanical problem as the car decelerated as it did and then would not start or turn over. Start asking questions as to what they did, and what was wrong.... What a nightmare, good luck to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Ok I got a call today, around 3:30. They pullled the trans. out, and the crankshaft was "cracked". So they went to the nearest cadillac dealership and bought a new crankshaft and installed it....Only problems is I NEVER AUTHORIZED THEM TO DO SO!. If they would have called me before hand I would have raised all sorts of questions, like: who is going to be working on the engine? Have they ever worked on a northstar before? Will you warranty the engine and all the other components you had to remove in order to replace the crankshaft? Is it illegal for them to work on my car without my authorization? I am seriously considering pursuing legal action. I mean in all likely hood they damaged the crankshaft while working on the trans.....because they didn’t know how to work on my car...I cringe at the thought of some inexperienced tech trying to figure out how to install the crankshaft without a shop manual!!!! I don’t think I need to ask but I will....can mis-installation of the crankshaft cause catastrophic damage to the power train?....what would you all do if you were in my situation? should I consider legal action?...thanks!!! A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Hall Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Sorry to hear about your situation. I don't know how they would have cracked the crankshaft rebuilding the transmission. The only thing that is related is the torque converter bolts up to the flywheel and crankshaft. It's possible that maybe they didn't tighten those bolts up. One thing to be award of is the fact that all the rod bearings will need to be replaced when the crankshaft is replaced. I heard this somewhere so you might want to do some investigating on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 I am at a loss for words with this, I hope bbobynski or someone chimes in here, this is incredible. I have no idea how they diagnosed the crankshaft unless it cracked where the flywheel attaches. I dont know what to tell you at this point, I dont think they should have went ahead and ordered a crankshaft without consulting you that is a major job and they have not proven themselves to be competent at this point. What made them go ahead and order a crankshaft? What do they know about sealing the engine halfs? Did they say how it cracked, did they cause it, who is paying for it? OMG... I dont know what to tell you here.... This is terrible, try to get bbobynski, bruce, logan, ian, kevin, jason, ranger and anyone else to chime in here I am sitting here with my mouth open! Yes i do think you could sue here at this point as I would want to take the car to a reputible mechanic and they should pay the bill now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 I have yet to pick up the car....As of right now I have no guarantee on anything related to the engine. If I did pick the car up and something went wrong inside of the engine they would likely respond "we warranted the trans. for parts and labor...not the engine...sorry" I believe the only reason they fixed the crankshaft in the first place was because I broke down on the way home from the shop. Had it been the next day they likely wouldn't have fixed anything. I don’t plan on picking the car up tomorrow, I may consult an attorney. I briefly read over the crankshaft directions in the service manual. Like most repairs on this car it looks tedious and complicated....And not the job for a tech who has been working on ford escort tranny's for 5 years. I don't like anyone to touch my car, there are simply to many things to mess up on if you don’t know what you are doing and don’t follow the directions ( I learned that the hard way through the diy process and taking my car to a shady dealership). I am currently gathering a list of things that could possibly go wrong in the process of installing the crankshaft...any additional info would be much appreciated.. Im likely going to take this list to the manager and demand that the local Cadillac dealer re-install the crankshaft, at their expense. For some reason I don’t think it will fly....So im going to generate some other options....anyone else’s are appreciated. A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted November 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Also I belive it may have been the flywheel that was damaged..not the crankshaft....Im sorry for the confusion..Im so angry right now im sort of not with it.......If it is the flywheel is there any damage that can result from it failing? and what about the re-installation? can they screw anything up reinstalling it? or is it fairly straight forward?. A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Also it may have been the flywheel that was damaged..not the crankshaft....Im sorry Im so angry right now im sort of not with it...lol....If it is the flywheel is there any damage that can result from it failing? and what about the re-installation? can they screw anything up reinstalling it? or is it fairly straight forward? Everyone would get angry... I would ask the stupid shop to show the old crnkshaft to you and all the paperwork from the stealership assosiated with their purchase. Chances are it was just the flexplate and nothing more... You also might want to call the stealership and ask questions. What if they sold them nothing or maybe the flexplate? The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Also I belive it may have been the flywheel that was damaged..not the crankshaft....Im sorry for the confusion..Im so angry right now im sort of not with it.......If it is the flywheel is there any damage that can result from it failing? and what about the re-installation? can they screw anything up reinstalling it? or is it fairly straight forward?. This makes much more sense than the crankshaft post. Much easer and cheaper than a crankshaft replacement....Maybe the bolts to the converter were not tightened properly? I would be curious how that failed though. If that is the case and the car is fixed, I probably would not lose much sleep over it. Sounds like the shop made a mistake and then corrected it. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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