Bad News

[Snotty]

My son's truck, a '96 Dodge 1500 Indy Pace Truck, is having transmission issues. It won't get out of first gear. It was low on fluid, but after filling it he has the same results.

Took it to a shop today; quoted him $2,900 for a replacement - used. They said the trans needs a rebuild and such would be more than replacing it. I told him to take it to a transmission specific shop for a second opinion (I actually told him to take it there first!); here's hoping for some better, if not cheaper, news.

It has almost 180,000 miles on it, so the question of "Just how much do you spend?" is clearly in play.

 

[polara71]

The mid 90 trucks got such a bad reputation for bad transmissions. So much so people I know didn't buy because of it. The amount sold to the amount I've heard gone bad was huge. At 180000 I consider it hit or miss and lucky if I got further

 

[300rag]

The mid 90 trucks got such a bad reputation for bad transmissions. So much so people I know didn't buy because of it. The amount sold to the amount I've heard gone bad was huge. At 180000 I consider it hit or miss and lucky if I got further

The transmission in my 92 Dakota was replaced with a new complete assembly in 94 because they couldn't fix the shifting issues. BTW, aren't you supposed to be on the road?

 

[66sptfry]

For that price he would be better off getting a mega viper transmission. That's what I plan on doing when mine goes out of my 99 ram 1500. Hopefully no time soon has 154xxx on it now

 

[65sporty]

For 2900 that better be a reman with a good warranty.

 

[sczuylevch]

2,900 is outrageous! i had my 727 built for $1,300 and its got everything but the billet steel imput shaft! Bolt in sprag, billet servos, heavy duty clutches, 4 pinion planets-they even built the converter for that price! If id have got it rebuilt to stock it would have only been $550.00 an a518 is pretty much the same trans!

 

[tallhair]

Took it to a shop today; quoted him $2,900 for a replacement - used. They said the trans needs a rebuild and such would be more than replacing it. I told him to take it to a transmission specific shop for a second opinion (I actually told him to take it there first!); here's hoping for some better, if not cheaper, news.

Yes go to a trans shop and also ask how much to rebuild if you guys remove and reinstall. Get both prices.

 

[mr. fix it]

one of the neighbours in my area just paid $4,000 for their Dodge mid sized SUV... It's only about 8 years old

 

[72Fury]

• Call Summit/Jegs and see what they charge for one.

 

[detmatt]

That's outrageous and downright ridiculous, it should be no more than $800 if you guys r & r it and that includes parts.

 

[Samplingman]

$2900 is about right for a reman, been there done that three times, once with the '98 Plymouth and then twice with the '05 Dodge, both mini-vans. Needless to say, it's why I shied away from buying an '05 Magnum last year. I went with Aamco, and got a three year warrenty. They are a much different animal than the 727, and my transmission guy said they don't rebuild the modern units, just remove and replace.

 

[detmatt]

The trans in question is very much like a 727 and in fact even has lots of parts that interchange. I used a doner 46RE from the same year truck to have my 727 rebuilt. My buddy that rebuilt it wouldn't take money for labor so the whole thing cost me about $300 bucks in parts including the craigslist doner trans.

 

[Samplingman]

The trans in question is very much like a 727 and in fact even has lots of parts that interchange. I used a doner 46RE from the same year truck to have my 727 rebuilt. My buddy that rebuilt it wouldn't take money for labor so the whole thing cost me about $300 bucks in parts including the craigslist doner trans.

Didn't know that, figured it was the typical crappy 4 speed overdrive.

 

[Snotty]

He took it (towed) to a Transmission specific shop. They agreed with the diagnosis - bad pump=low fluid volume - and quoted $1,800-2,200 rebuilt with a warrantee. Much better! It's getting done now. As I said to my Son, he cannot replace that truck for 2 grand, and in its condition he would be lucky to get a grand out of it.

I was wrong on that price I wrote yesterday. The $2,900 from that one sop was to replace it with a junkyard transmission. To rebuild they wanted $3,200! Gag!

 

[70bigblockdodge]

was wrong on that price I wrote yesterday. The $2,900 from that one sop was to replace it with a junkyard transmission. To rebuild they wanted $3,200! Gag!

In other words they did not want to touch it.

 

[Snotty]

Sounds about right to me.

 

[traintech55]

Had to rebuild the trans in my 2000 Ram 1500. 2/3 band broke, (they took it apart in front of me), Cost me $ 1,800.00 for the rebuild and new hard parts and a new T/C with a two year warranty. 80,000 mile later still going strong.

 

[Snotty]

Sorry, I've bee on vacation for a week in a place without internet access.

The transmission is fixed and working! The pump was bad; the shop did a complete rebuild and offer a one year warrantee. They replaced the torque converter in the process. They also noticed his oil pressure gauge wasn't working so installed a new sending unit too. Total cost was right at $2,400.00.

 

[Dobalovr]

Sorry, I've bee on vacation for a week in a place without internet access.

The transmission is fixed and working! The pump was bad; the shop did a complete rebuild and offer a one year warrantee. They replaced the torque converter in the process. They also noticed his oil pressure gauge wasn't working so installed a new sending unit too. Total cost was right at $2,400.00.

Hopefully the vacation was better and cheaper?

 

[Snotty]

Ha! Yes, to both! Still on vacation; I'm writing this from the Nugget in Sparks. I'll be back here in a couple of weeks for Hot August Nights!