AAMCO Rip-off

“How I spend $2800.00 for a transmission repair when the real problem was electrical.”

 AAMCO Servicing location:  Lakewood, Washington, (253) 581-2725

June 13, 2003 

AAMCO was not totally honest  with me.  They knew it was an electrical problem from the very beginning, but intentionally withheld that information from me.  They told me about those codes only when I threatened them with a lawsuit.  They told me there were stored computer codes on the mechanics' worksheet that proved me wrong.  Computer codes that they knew about but did not show to me.  I believe those same codes prove them wrong.  Those codes, stored in my car's computer before they looked at it, indicated external electrical impulses that could be causing the transmission to act up.  They chose not to tell me about this possible cause for the transmission problem.  As a matter of fact, they told me there were no computer codes that might indicate some other reason.  The facts are documented below if you care to read it and I can document all of it. 

  1. 3/14/02 1995 Chrysler Cirrus taken to AAMCO for inspection.  The transmission had locked in the “Limp” mode (2nd gear) by itself one time.  Prior to this, I had no problems with the transmission.  I expressed my hope that it could be a simple electronic signal error, as it had only happened one time and the radio/clock had also reset itself two or three times.  AAMCO diagnosed the problem to be the transmission based on two factors: There were no computer codes stored that might indicate some other reason and there were metal particles in the transmission.  Based on the AAMCO diagnosis that it was the transmission and not some computer or electronic problem, I agreed to have the transmission rebuilt.  Cost was $2807.70
    Document 117403 dated 3/14/02; customer signature and pickup date 3/26/02.
  2. I informed AAMCO a few days after work was completed that the transmission did not feel “right” and that it had a hard shift feel.  I was told it would have a stiffer feel when shifting due to an upgrade deemed better.  AAMCO inspected the car and pronounced everything okay.
  3. 4/3/02 A couple of days later, I made a quick stop and, when I attempted to accelerate, the transmission did not engage.  As I looked at the gearshift lever to verify it was in gear, the transmission abruptly engaged.  When I took the car back to AAMCO, I saw the entire underside of the car was coated with transmission fluid.  AAMCO replaced a couple of gaskets.  I was informed that I also had an oil line that was leaking, and I could see the oil on the line that the AAMCO mechanic pointed out to me.
    Document 117580 dated 4/3/02.
  4. 4/18/02 I took the car to get an oil change and told them I also needed to get the leaking oil line replaced.  After they changed the oil and looked at the car, they informed me the line in question was not an oil line as AAMCO told me but a transmission fluid line.  They told me the oil leak was coming from the engine’s rear main seal.  I returned the car to AAMCO to get looked at.  I was told it was not the rear main seal, but was the oil sending unit and that there was “perhaps” a little seepage from a rear cam plug.
    Document 117645 dated 4/18/02.
  5. 4/27/02 I took the car to Tacoma Dodge and told them I needed to have the oil-sending unit replaced and to check for oil leaks.  They replaced the oil-sending unit.  They reported it had oil leaking from the rear main oil seal, and it had transmission fluid leaking from the transmission differential cover and the transmission pan.  I took the car back to AAMCO.  AAMCO removed the transmission and replaced the faulty seals to stop the transmission fluid leaks.  During their inspection, they determined the oil was coming from somewhere on top of the engine and leaking down inside and through the bell housing unit, making it appear the oil was coming from the back of the engine.  AAMCO did replace the engine rear main seal and guess what, no more oil leak!  We also noticed a water leak from the thermostat housing and I directed it to be fixed at my cost.
    Document 117691 dated 4/27/02; customer signature 5/3/02.
  6. 5/10/02 The vehicle again shifted into Chrysler’s “limp mode” locking into second gear.  I returned the vehicle to AAMCO and waited three hours on a Saturday morning for the repair to be completed.  However, I had not driven five miles when the transmission locked in the limp mode again.
    Document 117743 dated 5/11/02.
  7. 5/13/02 I again returned the vehicle to AAMCO to be repaired.
    Document 117747 dated 5/13/02.
  8. 5/17/02 Another major problem appeared on May 17, 2002 when I was returning home from work on the freeway.  In stop-and-go traffic, the transmission or torque converter would not disengage.  The car started bucking at low speed (5-15 mph) and it was difficult to keep the engine running.  AAMCO was able to duplicate the problem and diagnosed it as a mechanical failure in the torque converter.  They again pulled the transmission out, replaced the torque converter, and removed an “upgrade” valve that was causing the hard shift feel mentioned in item 3 above.  The one-year warranty will restart on 5/22/02.  Upon returning home, I noticed a lug nut cover was missing.  I notified AAMCO immediately.  They say they will replace it.
    Document 117768 dated 5/17/02; customer signature 5/22/02.
  9. 5/24/02 I noticed another major transmission fluid leak on the evening of 5/24/02.  On 5/27/02, after the car had sat for four hours, the transmission went into “limp” mode.  I had to pull to the side of the freeway and turn the ignition off and on several times to reset the computer.  Later in the day, when I went to the grocery store, the transmission again went into the limp mode on the way home.  AAMCO fixed the transmission fluid leak and replaced the solenoid believed to be causing the transmission to go into limp mode.
    Document 117802 dated 5/28/02.
  10. 6/24/02 Transmission went into neutral and Limp mode on the way to work. AAMCO said metal particles got into overdrive shift valve. Then they said the hydraulic pump in the transmission failed and they have to replace it. I hope to have the car back by the 28th or 29th.  Then how long before it fails again??? 
    Document 117947 dated 6-24-02, customer signature 6/28/02.
  11. 8/23/02 Transmission went into limp mode again on August 23rd.  I paid $95 for another transmission shop to diagnose the problem.  They found it to be an electrical short, possibly in the wiring harness/connectors or solenoid assembly. 
    Parkland Transmissions, Inc., RO# 13816 dated 8/23/02
  12. 9/3/02 Vehicle was taken to AAMCO on 9-3-02 with the transmission locked in 2nd gear.  AAMCO (hopefully) located the electrical problem and returned the car in three days.  The missing wheel cover from May 22nd was replaced. 
    Document 118261 dated 9-3-02, customer signature 9/9/02
  13. 9/25/02 Transmission locked in limp mode as before while in route to Olympia in rush hour traffic.  It goes into neutral and catches in 2nd gear when speed goes down to about 30 mph.  I called AAMCO and they towed it to their shop.  They advised me it was “an intermittent electrical problem external to the transmission.”  In other words, they were unable to do anything to correct the problem.
    Document 120146 dated 9/25/02
  14. 2/12/03 The transmission locked up three times in the ten miles from Puyallup to home tonight.  It has been locking up intermittently all this time but my fear has been that if the problem is not bad enough, it will be difficult or impossible to find the problem. The problem is now so frequent that it cannot be put off or ignored.  After nearly a year, the car is worse than before it was “fixed.”  I still have the same problem as before I took it in, only the problem is worse than it was originally.
  15. April 2003 AAMCO refunded $1000 to me so I could get the real problem, the electrical problem, fixed.  An electric shop found bent pins on both the solenoid connector and the main computer connector.  They replaced the connectors and the problem went away.

 What a waste of time and money with AAMCO.  My advice is to get a second opinion.  I did not.  If you suspect an electrical problem as I did, don’t be stupid as I was.  Take it to an electric shop for their opinion. 

 Get a second opinion even if you have to pay for it.

DO NOT TRUST ONE OPINION FROM AAMCO!