Complaint Review: AAMCO Transmission -Clark's AAMCO Transmissions Z.F. - RO Clark - Carl J. Lawrence - Saint Petersburg Florida

 I read your story. I am in a similar situation. I feel so overwhelmed but it all! I have contacted Dept of Agriculture and am awaiting their response.

They are holding my car and have been now for 3 weeks talking about they put a lien on it and I better get an attorney!Corporate never answers!

I called Channel 8 they said to call Dept of Agriculture which I did and am awaiting a call back. I will keep trying. They said I can't get anytning out of my car too!

I never signed anything! Never authorized them to fix it because I didn't have the $3700 he said he thought it would end up being for my transmission!!!!! I got 3 different #'s from them! It's rediculous! Do you have Nicole's #? or email? I am trying to get results NOW! i CAN'T GO TO COURT AND WAIT MORE TIME FOR MY CAR! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 AND IT'S MY livelyhood!!!!!

Heck man me don't feel nothing.I understand these new systems, Thats why I went back to school in 92. Now I work on a team that designs these little do-dads that you put on. When you add on a belt driven turbo or wet NoX systems. They do things such as change the curve of advance fuel and of coarse the shift pattern of the transmission. If you meet any of the older guy's that worked with me back in the 80s they would tell you I was saying then the the next shift kit would be resisters and transistors. I was right but I also was lucky enough to listen to my self and go back to school.

Greg~~To answer your question~as you refered to a speed sensor ~~as i said before it is magnetic/ it creates pulse that is read by a computer~~The switch that you refered to on the 350 is a normaly open switch to ground to activate the "smog" system on pre computer vehicles~~This is a on/off system~~This is a way for parts to work together on systems designed by different manufacturers. The systems now are designed to work tighter with each other to create the power/mileage/emissions on todays vehicles. Rob~~~Sorry that you feel the way you do about everything~~But~~~The only reason i provide information to the uninformed is to help "if i can" without any compensation only to know that i've helped someone.~~~Sorry that you feel that this is a venue for debate/arguement on technical know-how~~~~~~or identity~~~it doesn't matter~~~ONLY TO YOU~~~~~THE TRANZMN

There is no difference other than terminology Greg. An engine is powered by "fuel". A motor is powered by electricity. The engine in a car is routinely referred to as a motor all the time. This debate over switches and sensors was just so someone who uses an alias could try and impress himself. Most of his advice is very good, but the fact that he uses an alias degrades his credibility. Even Benjamin Siegel hated the nickname "Bugsy" because of it's detracting his reputation. Hopefully, April will be more careful in the future.

A magnetic when it is tripped sends a signal if it is a speed sensor the computer see's a on off on off and it counts it a pressure sensor is either normally open (no signal) or closed(sending a signal) when these are tripped by pressure the computer gets a signal. Whats the difference?

Greg~~~~~Heres my arguement on this subject~~~~A "sensor" is a magnetic signal pickup,It has no moving parts or contacts,polarity is not nessesary as long as has more than one connection an power is Not at either connection~~~Otherwise if it has points or contacts,only goes to ground or power to "complete" a electrical system~~This is a switch~~and yes the "switch on the 350 is a ground switch and not a sensor~~~~~THe Tranzmn

Tranzman how long did you say you have been in the business? Since the first year om GM cars on the old 350 that little sensor on the side of the case by the accumulator that was a shift sensor for lean burn, what about the 200r4s, 700r4s, the early 449t4s, Ford's AXODs they all had a shift sensor in some of the different cars and trucks. In those models how did the computer get the signal to know when it was in high gear on some of those models not only did they a up shift sensor but also one to let the computer know when the tranny down shifted.

Ok guys here's the deal, after much digging and calling around contacting my local news station ABC 28 and corresponding back and forth with Nicole Turner from AAMCO Corp., I got my car back today! I don't know what they said or what they did but whatever it was it worked thank God! I received a call from Tom and I went to pick it up. I asked him if he had my keys and he told me "you need to chill" Ha! the nerve of him! He told me that I didn't have "to go to all the extremes that I did." Heck I just got some people involved who put some fire under their butts to get them to do right by me that's all. If I hadn't I can almost guarantee I wouldn't have my car back today! Then he told me to sign the receipt and because I chose to carfully read what I was signing I was "agitating" him and I was "acting as if we were doing something deceptive." Hey bud you said it! Dupe me once shame on you , dupe me again shame on me! I thought to myself you've got a lot of nerves but I took the high road and didn't even entertain that, I have way too much class for that, so I paid him $306.02 in cash got my receipt/paperwork , told him to have a good day and got out of there! Needless to say I am relieved and can rest a little easier now, but from reading many of these other complaints I am watching my car carefully to make sure they didn't try any monkey business under the hood, if you know what I mean. Well I hope that everyone else gets the justice they deserve and don't stop until you do. I know its tiring and overwhelming but don't take it lying down or at least don't go down without a fight! Best wishes to all! And thanks Rob and Tranzmn for all your comments, but through all this I still never found out what exactly was wrong with my girl. Again, BEST WISHES! First Time Customer, Last Time Customer!

Well rob~~1988 on up do have a 3-4 shift solonoid this is different from the 84-87 even the electical connector has 3 blade connection~~instead of the 2 blade connection in the 84-87~~but as you know~~~This design did not become a real electronicly controlled trans till later that controls pressure through an epc and full shift solonoids~~~~by the way 88 on up have a 3-4 shift solonoid and a lock up solonoid~~~but otherwise it is a hydraulic controlled trans.~~Thanks rob i teach the differences of the evolution of transmissions from 40s to present~~~~The Tranzmn

My MV Certificate is in my office because I don't have a front lobby for customers. Perhaps that wasn't made clear. I did not design this building, and if I did, it would be alot different. The certificate is at eye level right next to me so if you are in my office signing the work order and looking AT me, you cannot help but see it. And Tranzmn(wonder why you don't use your name if you are on the "up and up") you can call the solenoid/sensor whatever you want. If I call the parts house and tell them I need a shift sensor, guess what they send me. And, the A4LD does have a 3-4 "shist solenoid". Therefore, I am right when I say they have one. try looking at the factory parts manuals. The 3-4 shift SENSOR is what tells the converter to lock up. The converter will not lock up with a bad 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID. Learn your trade. try using your real name also, I have always found that people who only go by aliases are usually criminal in intent.

My MV Certificate is in my office because I don't have a front lobby for customers. Perhaps that wasn't made clear. I did not design this building, and if I did, it would be alot different. The certificate is at eye level right next to me so if you are in my office signing the work order and looking AT me, you cannot help but see it. And Tranzmn(wonder why you don't use your name if you are on the "up and up") you can call the solenoid/sensor whatever you want. If I call the parts house and tell them I need a shift sensor, guess what they send me. And, the A4LD does have a 3-4 "shist solenoid". Therefore, I am right when I say they have one. try looking at the factory parts manuals. The 3-4 shift SENSOR is what tells the converter to lock up. The converter will not lock up with a bad 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID. Learn your trade. try using your real name also, I have always found that people who only go by aliases are usually criminal in intent.

My MV Certificate is in my office because I don't have a front lobby for customers. Perhaps that wasn't made clear. I did not design this building, and if I did, it would be alot different. The certificate is at eye level right next to me so if you are in my office signing the work order and looking AT me, you cannot help but see it. And Tranzmn(wonder why you don't use your name if you are on the "up and up") you can call the solenoid/sensor whatever you want. If I call the parts house and tell them I need a shift sensor, guess what they send me. And, the A4LD does have a 3-4 "shist solenoid". Therefore, I am right when I say they have one. try looking at the factory parts manuals. The 3-4 shift SENSOR is what tells the converter to lock up. The converter will not lock up with a bad 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID. Learn your trade. try using your real name also, I have always found that people who only go by aliases are usually criminal in intent.

My MV Certificate is in my office because I don't have a front lobby for customers. Perhaps that wasn't made clear. I did not design this building, and if I did, it would be alot different. The certificate is at eye level right next to me so if you are in my office signing the work order and looking AT me, you cannot help but see it. And Tranzmn(wonder why you don't use your name if you are on the "up and up") you can call the solenoid/sensor whatever you want. If I call the parts house and tell them I need a shift sensor, guess what they send me. And, the A4LD does have a 3-4 "shist solenoid". Therefore, I am right when I say they have one. try looking at the factory parts manuals. The 3-4 shift SENSOR is what tells the converter to lock up. The converter will not lock up with a bad 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID. Learn your trade. try using your real name also, I have always found that people who only go by aliases are usually criminal in intent.

April ~~To bad you took it there~~~Looking at robs suggestions~~The office is not the best place to put all your consumer requirements~~~If your on the up and up the first things you see are all the contact info~~Thats how it s in Ca.~~I look for them when i patronize an unknown vendor.'~~If the work order is clear on the description of work contracted for At that point its legal.It sounds like the vehicle was not running at peak performance~~Possible restricted exhaust?~~~~~~The computer controled vehicles have many sensors that measure load/speed/etc.~~It sounds like you had another problem not the trans.The AAMCO (ALL AUTOMATICS MUST COME OUT)way is to disable the car before you confirm the root cause of the malfunction.This could of been diagnosed in the car without removal. #1 oil pressure test (verify hydraulic integrity) #2 computer scan to review electrical signals & comands and any present codes.~~AMMCO has a sheet with each job with places to make notes/documentations of conditions found "prior" to removal. This is supposed to stay with the job paperwork.By the way Rob~~~A4LD~~transmissions are hydraulic and DO NOT HAVE 1-2 SHIFT SENSORS only a VSS~~NO Transmissions have 1-2 shift sensors~~1-2 shift solenoids which are controlled by signal from pcm or tcm.names will change by makes.Sensors initiate signal~~~ solonoids act on signal thats the difference of the two~~~~~April it might be in your best interest to ask in writing for these documents or copies of them~~if they refuse to produce them ask in writing by return reciept requested mailing to aamco corporate.So you involve both partners in the loop.I'm sure the ATTORNEY GENERAL needs to see a pattern before he can act on your behalf. THE TRANZMN

On the wall in plain sight you find the blue poster containing the info for the Division of Consumer services. Attached to this poster MUST be the owner's Motor Vehicle Repair Registration Certificate. At the top right of this you will find a number MV*****. You will need this number to get anywhere with the Dept of Ag in Florida. This is how repair shops are identified. It MUST be visible to everyone in a conspicuous place. Mine is hanging on the wall in my office. It's there because I only do business in my office. I do not have a front counter at my shop down here. If you are in my office, it is right at eye level and nobody can miss it. I find it hard to believe the $286 plus tax was for removal, disassembly AND reassembly and install. What it probably was for is what is called RDI. This means remove, disassemble, and inspect. It is legal in Florida to do this and then just place the torn down tranny back in the trunk as he offered. RDI does not include reassembly ot installation. That is how they get you. Florida law requires the vehicle be given back to the customer exactly as it came in if the customer chooses not to have the repairs done. The loophole is RDI. They get you to sign the repair order for RDI so they can stay within the law and not waste time doing work for nothing. If you agree to RDI, they have fulfilled the terms of the order by doing everything EXCEPT putting it back together. That would cost extra, along with all "parts required to place vehicle back...". They can legally charge you for labor, gaskets, fluids, etc. By the time this is done, the only money saved will have been the parts that were actually needed to fix the vehicle. Since there will be no warranty and the vehicle still will not be "fixed", you will not have saved anything, just thrown good money after bad. I do not fully agree with RDI as a rule, but it is legal and does come in handy for some repairs. If an angine has internal noises, the only way to check it is to tear into it. If the customer decides NOT to have it fixed because the repair would cost more than the vehicle is worth, or the customer decides they "can do it myself for less", or find out they don't have the $$ to do it anyway, I can leave it torn apart and they can tow it away. If they want me to put it all back together without fixing the problem, I will and charge them for it. This would be a waste of $$ and time. That is why RDI came into practice down here. I also do transmission work. I know enough about them to tell you up front what the problem "probably" is. All vehicles have their own little quirks and the same repairs show up on all of them. Chrysler products are notorious for A/C evaporators. Mazdas have bad transmissions. If you fix one, you fix them all. In the tranny game, RDI is a scam. They know what they will find before they open it up. They get you to let them do RDI so you will be stuck, and they know it. Most shops advertise make-believe prices like $8 oil changes and $20 tune-ups. Tranny shops do the $30 fluid/filter change. None of these can be done at the advertised price. Nobody ever owns "most cars" and the games begin. Your car is stuck on a lift and you can either pay or stay. Tranny shops are the worst offenders though. They pull the pan down and show you "all this material" from the pan. I can cover an acre of concrete with a quart of fluid. They can turn a teaspoon of debris into a $2000 repair job. Some debris is always normal. It's called "normal wear and tear". If the stuff is piled up and the tranny wasn't working right, that would be different. Since you said your tranny had some issues, it may have needed RDI. I doubt it though. Since you did not state what kind of vehicle you have, it is impossible to offer any reasonable guesses as to the actual problem. I will offer this though. Since your complaint was a shift error from 1-2, I will assume the problem is nothing more than a shift sensor. Most vehicles made from about 1986 and up use electrically controlled automatics. In my professional opinion, you got jacked. Chryslers are bad for shift sensors, so are most imports. Some of the GM front wheel drives are too. That horrid excuse for a transmission(A4LD) that Ford put into the Rangers and Aerostars was the worst. Good luck getting some resolution to your immediate problem. Remeber this though. AAMCO shops are franchises. The Corporate Office can do very little but pay lip service when you call them. All the shop has to do is fax them a copy showing RDI and they're covered. If you'd like, you may fax me a copy of whatever you signed to (904)381-1270 and I will look at it and tell you what you really signed. I tell everyone to use Mom/Pop shops for their repairs, and not just because I own one. Big companies have money to pay for advertising and lawyers. Small shops do not. Most small shops will also take care of younger people better. I have children and would not want them "taken for a ride" either. Good shops stay busy through "word of mouth" advertising and the occasional special of the month. Good luck.