I think i've been hustled

[blkcamry94]

I just got the motor fixed on my car a month ago after sitting for a year. I took the car back to the mechanic 2 weeks ago and told him the tranny fluid was low and can he check it. The day before I added 2 quarts and when I took it to him he said it still needed half a quart and i'll be good. No he didn't put me on the lift to check for leaks. Now, all of a sudden my tranny spilt all over the highway and left me stranded. When He looked at it again he said one of the seals went bad not sure which one (I guess there's a front and rear???????). Should he have replaced the tranny seals during the engine swap or am I just screwed???? Please advise.

[sheepish_fixer]

If he was a fantastic mechanic, he would suggested replacing them at the time of the swap...it's like pulling your engine and replacing the waterpump and t-belt - they may not need to be done, but since it's right there, you just do them.

Legally, the only case you would have is if he damaged the seals during the swap - and there isn't any way you can prove that. He didn't act with malice, at very worst, he might have missed something obvious. But at the time he did the work, the seals might have looked intact.

Sorry for your misfortune, hope you get it up and running soon.

[Luckynumber5]

NO you are NOT screwed.

You have some work to do though, you need to find out EXACTLY where the fluid leaked from. The main problem that can happen with an automatic transmission if the engine is removed and the torque converter is left on the transmission is the heavy torque converter sagging on the pump shaft. This will cause a massive leak if the transmission is not properly cared for during the work.

Other likely possibilities include the transmission cooler lines going to the radiator which can leak if one is accidentally cut, and the transmission oil pan seal.

Sounds like you may not be at fault, don't get pushed around but don't get in the mechanics face about this either, try and get it looked at by another shop first.

[sheepish_fixer]

Originally Posted by Luckynumber5

The main problem that can happen with an automatic transmission if the engine is removed and the torque converter is left on the transmission is the heavy torque converter sagging on the pump shaft. This will cause a massive leak if the transmission is not properly cared for during the work.
.

even if the torque was left on, how can you prove it? The engine will not come out without removing the radiator, and to do that, you have to remove the trannie cooler lines - kinda hard to cut something that isn't there..

A leaking oil pan seal would take about a half hour to fix, and not destroy the transmission at all - and it would have to be one massive leak..meaning, the pan would have to have been hit...while driving, or you'd never have even got it out of the shop.

I do agree with lucky about one thing - have another shop look it over...they might say something like "The bolt holding the intermediate shaft in was missing" or "the shop criss crossed the cooler lines"...

[Eye8Pussies]

I agree with what's said...it could be pretty much just about anything at this point, really- even something as simple as a tranny cooler line blowing off cuz a clip fell off

or it could be a bad seal on the tranny


the only thing that I disagree about is that a mechanic should advise to change a tranny seal while the engine is out- never actually heard about people saying that's a regular maintenance item, unlike a rear main seal

[sheepish_fixer]

I agree with eyepussy. Onlly a very very good mechanic would think to suggest replacing the seal...it's not a common item the average joe would think to do...and are you even sure that's what's wrong?

If your only problem is loss of fluid, consider yourself ahead of the game - even if you ran it bone dry, you've done no damage to your trannie...once you find the leak, your problem is fixed!

[blkcamry94]

Originally Posted by sheepish_fixer

I agree with eyepussy. Onlly a very very good mechanic would think to suggest replacing the seal...it's not a common item the average joe would think to do...and are you even sure that's what's wrong?

If your only problem is loss of fluid, consider yourself ahead of the game - even if you ran it bone dry, you've done no damage to your trannie...once you find the leak, your problem is fixed!

but it did leak out i saw it pouring out when I popped the hood (not sure if it was bone dry cuz i killed the motor right away) and the mechanic told me the tranny is done the seal went bad now I need a new tranny.

[blkcamry94]

Originally Posted by Eye8Pussies

I agree with what's said...it could be pretty much just about anything at this point, really- even something as simple as a tranny cooler line blowing off cuz a clip fell off

or it could be a bad seal on the tranny


the only thing that I disagree about is that a mechanic should advise to change a tranny seal while the engine is out- never actually heard about people saying that's a regular maintenance item, unlike a rear main seal

I swore I was told once that once you remove the tranny from the engine the seal is no longer any good you have to replace it.

[sheepish_fixer]

Originally Posted by blkcamry94

but it did leak out i saw it pouring out when I popped the hood (not sure if it was bone dry cuz i killed the motor right away) and the mechanic told me the tranny is done the seal went bad now I need a new tranny.

Where was the trannie fluid coming from? I think you should ask your mechanic which seal...

One of the problems with letting a car sit is, the seals get dry. They weren't intended to be left exposed to air, they get brittle without lubrication on it...so if the car didn't run for a year, the faulty seal might have been a result of just being dry. That's really a hard thing to judge when you're swapping an engine.

If you could prove they damaged a seal when they did a swap, you'd have something - but that's going to very difficult to prove. You might want to check with the Better Business Bureau in your area - if this shop is bad, you might be able to find a complaint the same as yours...long shot, but it might be worth it for you.

[blkcamry94]

it was leaking where it connects to the motor (basically right side towards the bottom spewing over the top part. 5sfe)so if they dry out the month that he had my tranny off may have done that cuz he originally had a motor for it but it was wrong. it looked the same but the tranny didn't mount to it right the bolt were a 1/4 inch off so he had to get another one and the tranny was off the whole time so it was exposed to air for a while. if i'm understanding correctly that could have done it cuz it was connected while it sat.

[sheepish_fixer]

Don't think a month would do it - I though you said your car sat for a year?

Have you asked them which seal was bad? Either way, get a second opinion - take it to a aamco shop, or a respected trannie shop.

[blkcamry94]

the car sat for a year but the engine was off for a month when it was gettin fixed cuz like i said wrong motor first time around but yea i'll get a second opinion....by the way what toyota motor is identical to the 5sfe but has a different tranny????

[sheepish_fixer]

I would suspect that during the year the car did not run, your fluids leaked down to the bottom of your trannie...a year without lubrication is a long time for rubber parts that are normally lubricated daily.

[blkcamry94]

and he knew that it sa for a year too god i hate people

[sheepish_fixer]

Originally Posted by blkcamry94

and he knew that it sa for a year too god i hate people

I feel your pain, I really do. I don't enjoy working on cars, but I do it for exactly what happened to you.

Take the car to a different shop - see if they can find out what went wrong, and why. You might have recourse, but I think it's going to be a hard one to prove.

The best to you, I hope it gets back on the road soon, with little or no expense!