Complaint Review: Gears Transmissions

Gears Transmissions took advantage of a senior with the ability to pay. Keith Wayne, an assistant said they did not take credit cards because of tax. By not accepting credit cards they eliminate a card company interceding in a dispute. 

Gears took two months of my time to rebuild the transmission, rebuilding it two times. After complaining of the first rebuild, the owner, Jay Furr contacted me and said " we must have missed something on the first rebuild" and would do it a second time using " A Genuine Honda rebuild kit". This indicates they used aftermarket parts the first time. 

The second time is worse than the first. The transmission makes a loud click when initially shifting into reverse. It shifts abnormally hard through all the gears. Keith Wayne told me that it had a "sport feel" a solid thump when it shifts. I expected the transmission to perform like the Honda it was before I took it to Gears. He seemed rather proud of making me the recipient of his "Sport" rebuild. They were unable to adjust the shift lever, it takes several times jerking the lever up and down to remove the key. This is unsafe, my wife cannot drive the van.

I took the van to Honda of Bay County and also two highly rated independent shops, one a transmission rebuilder of long standing in Panama City.

Honda's diagnosis;  Noted excessive transmission vibration. Transmission surges/shifts hard at low speeds 16-20mph. Shifts hard at 38-40mph. Loud thump when accelerating quickly. Broken aftermarket engine mounts, loose mount bolt, axle bearing bracket busted, broken heat shield standoff, Shift lever not adjusted properly. The driver has to manipulate the lever numerous times to remove the key.

Frimet to Z Auto Center;

Transmission clanks into gear because of two broken motor mounts. transmission surges between 2nd and 3rd gear when holding a steady throttle around 20mph. whining sound from transmission intermittently-noise gets louder the faster you go.

Front mount broke and one bolt left loose. Passenger side mount broken. Passenger side intermediate drive axle shaft was cut to allow installation of the heat shield. Heatshield and intermediate shaft have to be installed at the same time to be properly installed. It looks like they put the heat shield on last and cut the bracket instead of pulling the axle a second time. It needs a new intermediate shaft assembly.

Recommend Jasper rebuilt transmission and Honda mounts plus other noted parts to be replaced.

Bills Transmissions:

Recommended rebuilt Jasper transmission and OEM replacement parts after almost identical evaluation by Honda and Frimet A to Z. 

GearsTransmissions has caused me irreparable grief and harm from their shoddy work and devious business practice of taking advantage of seniors and people who are unable to put large amounts on credit cards. I can not safely take this "pristine" Van on a trip.   

I wrote Gears a registered letter demanding my money back that is yet to be answered.