What's involved in tranny replacement? What can go wrong?

[neil0311]

Call me a pessimist if you want, but I'm nervous letting the dealer perform what I think is major surgery on my new car, given the track records of many dealers. Can someone tell me what's involved with tranny replacement? Does the engine have to come out? What can the crack mechanics (or is that mechanics on crack?) screw up in the process? I'm hoping more problems are solved than created in the process.

Anyone had their flaring tranny replaced and end up worse off?

[onsknht]

I sold my 2007 SE V6 Camry based on the very thought of having that much work done to a 3 1/2 month old car.

There are approximately 95 steps to removal and I think 105 for reinstallation, that's about 200 oportunities for something to get screwed up... The only way I'd let them replace mine was if I could stand there with the FSM and check off steps.

The engine is dismounted among just about everything else forward the firewall... If it gets put back together correctly from a functional standpoint, the only thing you need to worry about would be...

Rerouted wiring/vaccuum lines or possibly connected improperly

Broken wire looms that aren't replaced

Scratches and gouges in areas that can't be readily seen, but since they weren't touched up (they won't touch up anything they think you can't see) will cause premature rusting and rotting of affected components.

Varrious odds/ends like plastic or metal clips that broke during removal that will not be replaced.

Rounded bold heads and clapped out screw heads.

etc.

[djmase]

This is when I would be looking up my warranty and saying hmm if you do enough damage new vehicle.

[onsknht]

Problem is, cosmetics aside, the car works perfectly...

I really am OCD when it comes to things like this. As a result, I expect all mechanics to be the same. For example, I will break one of those "push dart wire-loom" things, I will go to the dealership and special order a replacement one or two.... The guy twirling sockets on your ride for a living can't wait to get it out of his bay fast enough, he will never take the time to go to the parts counter for a replacement plastic dart he broke.

Another example, my Sequoia was subjected to a front end ball joint replacement... The a-arms etc looked like they dragged them through a gravel pit when they got done. I bitched, but looked like an asshole because nobody cares what the underside of their car looks like! I tend to agree, but on a 4 x 4, these parts are clearly visible... They offered to slop some spray paint over the parts, I wanted them re-powder coated... No deal, they would have nothing to do with it even though they fugged em up.

[thoots]

Originally Posted by neil0311

What can go wrong?

EVERYTHING!

Originally Posted by neil0311

What can the crack mechanics (or is that mechanics on crack?) screw up in the process?

That would be my worry, with ANYTHING a dealer might do to my car. I've had some absolutely MISERABLE experiences with stuff like "Just how they put the interior back together" after doing some interior work -- and they absoulutely could not possibly have done a more sloppy job of it. Hopefully the guys who work on transmissions and steering and stuff like that pay a little better attention to the job they do....