Suggestions for a dying transmission

[Brian the Automator]

So, I've got a 2001 Mercury Cougar with just over 100,000 miles on it. It's got an automatic transmission, and it's struggling to shift from 1st to 2nd gear all the time. It does it eventually, but the engine revs up until 2nd gear "catches". I also have about $300 more of repairs to make to it.

 

The private party blue book value on it in fair condition is $3,600, and the trade-in value is $2,125.

 

I guess if I had a preference, I'd like to drive the thing for another year or two, but I'm not opposed to just getting a different ride.

 

Is it worth it? And if so, does anyone know a decent place near Waukesha or near the western suburbs that does transmission work?

[brucrustu]

There is a small shop that looks like a farm West of Wern Valley pheasant farm. Thats West of town on 59 and the first right after the generac plant then he's on the west side of the road with yellowish buildings. They are good and VERY inexpensive.

I can get you the phone number if needed. I forget the name of the place too, but I have a friend who drives a tow truck and he hauls lots of stuff up there.

[Gobias Industries]

Brian:

 

If you just want to drive it for another year or so I'd go with a low-mile used transmission. The place brucrustu recommended would probably do that for you. I'm assuming a new one is ridiculously expensive. I'm sure you could find one relatively cheap at a junkyard. Of course, there is some risk there that the same thing does happen again, which can be maddening.

 

Personally, I would try to sell it on CL between private party and trade in and use it as a down payment on a newer car. As long as you are up front about the issue(s), people that are mechanically inclined don't seem to care and would probably buy it in that range.

 

I really think you'd have a hard time getting 2100 in real money for it at a dealership, and I say that as a person who appraises cars daily. If they show you around 2100, they probably have a good sized mark-up on their car.

[PaulRigdon]

Im selling a 2007 Mazda 3 if your looking for a new car...

[TooLiveBrew]

SHOOT IT LIKE A HORSE!

 

SHOOT IT LIKE A HORSE!

 

SHOOT IT LIKE A HORSE!

[Brian the Automator]

Im selling a 2007 Mazda 3 if your looking for a new car...

Regular or Hatchback? Stick or Automatic?

[Teatoe993]

Do not stick any money into that car. Drive it till it dies and replace it.

[burniebrewer]

Once the car dies, what do you do? Junk yard? What does a junk yard pay, if anything?

 

I've got a decent truck in my garage that needs a mechanic's touch and I'd hate to junk it when all it needs is some attention from the right person. I just don't want to put any money into it.

[lodiness]

To tell you the truth, It's probably not worth fixing even with a used Transmission, by the time you even pay for a used one, the cost will probably be over half the value of the car. I say if you can afford to get something else do it. I would have a tough time dumping that much money in a car that old with that many miles on it. I'm also selling my car, a 2007 Mazda 6 if your interested.

 

Edit: I'm guessing it's going to cost over $1500 even with a used transmission, based on what I've seen at my dad's car dealership

[brucrustu]

The shop I mentioned rebuilt the transmission in the ford f-350 dual rear wheel work truck I use to haul a big cattle trailer for $1500.

Little car rebuild I would guess $800 but that's just a stab in the dark. It would be rebuilt not a junker ready to fail again.

[Brian the Automator]

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

The quote from the transmission guy was $2100. If you put $300 on top of it for the busted mirror, and add onto it that my brakes seem to be going, I think I'm just going to bid farewell to the cougar. The ex needs a car, and because of the divorce, I don't think she'll be able to get a loan for one, so I'm probably just going to give her the Cougar (since the cost of the repairs pretty much bring the value of the car to like $500, I'll call it a final favor).

 

As far as getting a new car goes, my credit's all mangled because of everything that's gone on, so I don't think I'll be able to do a private party purchase. I'm talking to a Hyundai dealer in Fond du Lac that can do some good deals on an Elantra, so I'll probably go that route.

 

Honestly, I'll be glad to get rid of the Cougar. I got it when I was fresh out of college, and it was the first new car I ever bought. I rushed into it and got a really bad deal. Despite the payments on it being horrendous, the transmission was actually the first serious thing that ever went wrong with it (outside of the air pump that went bad the first month, but was under warranty).

[BrewersSuperCollector]

Did you ever get the transmisson fluid changed in it. If not, this might be a reminder to get it changed every 50,000 miles or so.

[Brian the Automator]

Did you ever get the transmisson fluid changed in it. If not, this might be a reminder to get it changed every 50,000 miles or so.

Yeah, that was the first thing I tried. Unfortunately, it was a no-go.

[temke]

resurrecting an old topic. here is my situation:

 

02 honda accord with 115,000 miles. transmission slips between 1st and 2nd only when the engine is cold...after a couple cycles through the car shifts fine. took it to dealer and of course they want $3,000 for a new transmission. i want to shop it around to see what other places can do. not ready to give up on the car yet...we like only having one car payment!

 

anyone have some other suggestions for where to take the car...preferably on the south side of milwaukee or the south/west suburbs....we live near the airport.

[Teatoe993]

After doing some research, $3,000 isn't that bad for a new transmission. Labor-wise, I'd charge you $750 labor if you have the V6. Maybe a little bit less for the four cylinder. It looks like good used transmissions are far and few between. And they cost a fortune. There's nothing out there for under a grand. Some of the salvage yards want over $2,000! Factor in the markup for parts, the shipping charges, Honda ATF, etc., it'd be hard to save you any significant money at all, let alone match that deal.

[dadofandrew]

Teatoe, my Saturn has started to "rattle" under the hood when I shut it off, sounds like a fan hitting something, that kind of sound. Any guesses? Need to take it in, or just wait and see?

 

Thanks for the previous advice on the oil burning, driven it 30K miles since and other than adding half a quart every couple weeks, runs perfectly, knock on wood. Still gets 40 mpg if you keep it at 55, 37-38 if I get antsy and go 60.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Gobias Industries]

After doing some research, $3,000 isn't that bad for a new transmission. Labor-wise, I'd charge you $750 labor if you have the V6. Maybe a little bit less for the four cylinder. It looks like good used transmissions are far and few between. And they cost a fortune. There's nothing out there for under a grand. Some of the salvage yards want over $2,000! Factor in the markup for parts, the shipping charges, Honda ATF, etc., it'd be hard to save you any significant money at all, let alone match that deal.

1999-2002 Honda Accord transmissions are notorious for being very troublesome (so it's easy to see why the price is so high), yet I've driven them when they're supposedly bad like temke mentions and they just act up for a little bit and then shift fine.

 

My only advice if you want to keep the car? Don't go used to save a few bucks. The used one will have a high chance of malfunctioning down the road too. $3000 sounds pretty good for a new trans.

[Teatoe993]

Teatoe, my Saturn has started to "rattle" under the hood when I shut it off, sounds like a fan hitting something, that kind of sound. Any guesses? Need to take it in, or just wait and see?.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

I'd wait till your next oil change to have someone check it out. If the noise gets worse before then, go have someone check it out. And be sure to take it to some place more qualified than a quick lube.

[dadofandrew]

Thank you sir.