Cottman Transmission ripoff attempt almost worked I got suspicious when they cooked their computer Brewer Maine
I was experiencing tranny trouble. Checked yellow pages, and the Cottman ad caught my eye. Free trans. check. Road test and external inspection.
Drove the vehicle to service location with some difficulty. Trans. slipping and not upshifting. Serviceman took it for a spin around parking lot, then drove it inside. Another serviceman proceeded to hook up diagnostic tool. After some time and some conversation between servicemen it was decided that the computer chip had been fried in diagnostic tool by using wrong connection cable.
Replaced chip and found the right cable. Serviceman told me that diagnosis had determined that transmission had a problem. They would have to remove and dismantle transmission to fix it. Weren't really sure what was wrong, but probably clutch pack.
I asked how much would it cost. He said around $1600.00. I told him I couldn't afford that much right now. He said I could finance it.
I told him thank-you for his time, but I would need to think about it and drove out of there.
The vehicle set for about two months while I waited for a chance to work on trans. A friend and I were going to pull transmission ourselves and try to find the problem. He asked his mechanic friend for some advice. He told him that the symptoms pointed to a dirty filter.
Yesterday, my friend pulled the pan and changed the filter. Put new fluid in and the trans. works fine.
Saved about $1550.00. I wonder how many others have only needed a filter change?
Rastas
Orrington, Maine
U.S.A.q
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mel
Chesapeake,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Not the filter!! the shops builder certifies the quality of the parts
#2Consumer Comment
Sat, June 19, 2004
If you have already been having problems with shifting a transmission a service will not usually help. The new fluid will have increased lubricity and you may soon have a complete failure.
If your filter is clogged you should ask yourself "what is that stuff that has clogged my filter?" The answer is usually the friction material from the clutches, possibly the sprag and even the torque converter.
The next step is a complete transmission rebuild and remember that when the transmission is rebuilt every part must be examined for re-use or replacement as every part in the transmission will be warranteed.
Wether it was new or re-used is not important, the shops builder is the one that certifies the quality of the parts used and the company he works for is the one that pays for warrantee repair(s) if any are needed during the warrantee period.
Every job must include profit for the company as well as a small amount that has to cover any warrantee repairs that may be needed during the life of the warrantee.
I hope your "service" works out for you but, I doubt that it will. Good luck.