If it weren't for bad luck......

[cherylsteele]

Coming home from my parents yesterday afternoon my car started to jolt and other niceties. I woke up to go to work this morning and it would not go into reverse.
I have a 2001 Hyundai Accent automatic transmission 1.6L. It has only 57,000 miles on it.

I was told by my mrchanic to take it to Gene Brown transmissions......they said it was an internal problem and want $485 just to take it apart to look at it and give me a solid estimate. They said it was internal and I have no reverse (which I already knew), no 3rd gear or overdrive. He said it would probably cost around $900 when all said and done.

I feel like this is a rip-off. I remember reading somewhere....but cannot remember where.....that if a mechanic shop doesn't do anything to improve the performance of the car they cannot charge you....I seem to recall this being a state law.

I have googles it but have found nothing....if anyone knows about this please let me know.

[Gatita]

No 100K mile warranty?

[MannyIsGod]

Coming home from my parents yesterday afternoon my car started to jolt and other niceties. I woke up to go to work this morning and it would not go into reverse.
I have a 2001 Hyundai Accent automatic transmission 1.6L. It has only 57,000 miles on it.

I was told by my mrchanic to take it to Gene Brown transmissions......they said it was an internal problem and want $485 just to take it apart to look at it and give me a solid estimate. They said it was internal and I have no reverse (which I already knew), no 3rd gear or overdrive. He said it would probably cost around $900 when all said and done.

I feel like this is a rip-off. I remember reading somewhere....but cannot remember where.....that if a mechanic shop doesn't do anything to improve the performance of the car they cannot charge you....I seem to recall this being a state law.

I have googles it but have found nothing....if anyone knows about this please let me know.Is that 5 year 100k warranty or a 6 year 100k warranty?

It is going to be expensive to just take a look becuase there is a lot of labor involved in removing a transmission. It isn't easy work and there is no place that you're going to go and get a free estimate because of the nature of the repairs.

When automatic transmissions go, it is never cheap to fix them. That is an incredibly low mileage to be having transmissino problems, however. Did they rule out sensor issues?

[phyzik]

Is that 5 year 100k warranty or a 6 year 100k warranty?

It is going to be expensive to just take a look becuase there is a lot of labor involved in removing a transmission. It isn't easy work and there is no place that you're going to go and get a free estimate because of the nature of the repairs.

When automatic transmissions go, it is never cheap to fix them. That is an incredibly low mileage to be having transmissino problems, however. Did they rule out sensor issues?

I doubt its a sensor issue if he cant even put it into reverse.

They can charge you because they have to do manual labor to take it apart to see what the problem is just like Manny said.

The law you are refering to is the Auto Repair law. Specifically the part you refer to is :

Charging the customer for “unnecessary”
repairs. For purposes of the law,
“unnecessary repairs” means those
where the repair shop represented the
repair as needed (as opposed to merely
recommended) but for which there is
no reasonable basis for performing the
service. A reasonable basis for a necessary
repair includes, but is not limited to:
(a) That the repair service is consistent
with specifications established by law or
the manufacturer of the motor vehicle,
component, or part;
(b) That the repair is in accordance with
accepted industry standards; or
(c) That the repair was performed at the
specific request of the customer.


here: http://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/cars/autorepr.shtml

[cherylsteele]

No 100K mile warranty?
No...I purchased it with a salvaged title.

I doubt its a sensor issue if he cant even put it into reverse.
I can put it inot reverse....it just doesn't move.

Phyzik:
I think that is the one....I guess I missunderstood the law.

I have a plan for now....I need wheels to get to work so I am going to look into purchasing an el cheapo car for like $500 until I can get the money to fix my car.

I was told that a complete rebuild is in the $2000 neighborhood. I just need to save the money to get it repaired. and then sell back the cheap car.

[phyzik]

No...I purchased it with a salvaged title.

I can put it inot reverse....it just doesn't move.

Phyzik:
I think that is the one....I guess I missunderstood the law.

I have a plan for now....I need wheels to get to work so I am going to look into purchasing an el cheapo car for like $500 until I can get the money to fix my car.

I was told that a complete rebuild is in the $2000 neighborhood. I just need to save the money to get it repaired. and then sell back the cheap car.

Well, even if it was a sensor it should still go, I have never run across a sensor that will disable the car, they are just there to inform you something is wrong as far as I know (most comon is the o2 sensor that causes engine lights to come on but the car will still run fine). If you had a bunch of clunking noises and stuff it sounds like the gears in your tranny got tore up (it happens) and its slipping. could be something you didnt even do wrong but a couple of things that could cause it in an automatic are using the gas instead of the brakes so you dont roll back on a hill at a stop, sudden gear changes while in motion (ie. Drive to reverse or neutral to drive).

You might want to check around some junk yards here in town or check on ebay for a transmission for your car, it might be cheaper that way. By all means though, Im just giving you my opinion, Im not a certified mechanic or anything.

[katyon6th]

Car problems are the worst.

Hope you get it situated.

[TDMVPDPOY]

time for a new box

[cherylsteele]

Well, even if it was a sensor it should still go, I have never run across a sensor that will disable the car, they are just there to inform you something is wrong as far as I know (most comon is the o2 sensor that causes engine lights to come on but the car will still run fine). If you had a bunch of clunking noises and stuff it sounds like the gears in your tranny got tore up (it happens) and its slipping. could be something you didnt even do wrong but a couple of things that could cause it in an automatic are using the gas instead of the brakes so you dont roll back on a hill at a stop, sudden gear changes while in motion (ie. Drive to reverse or neutral to drive).

You might want to check around some junk yards here in town or check on ebay for a transmission for your car, it might be cheaper that way. By all means though, Im just giving you my opinion, Im not a certified mechanic or anything.
Actually the sensors electronically send signals to the tranny to tell it when to shift. The mecahnical and electronic parts of work together. From what the Hyundai shop manual says the electronic stuff can cause this. The manual also gives the info of what the hydraulic pressures are supposed to be.

I have called around to some of the junkyard and I found a couple....but because it is a newer model they aren't so plentiful yet. The used ones range from $650 - $800. I also told the recycle yards about Gene Brown and eeach one said he is a rip-off artist. They recomended the dealer as well just to find out the real problem and go from there....use that info the dealer gives from their diagnosis to make a better decision on the course of action.

We are taking it to Superior Hyundai tomorrow to have a proper diagnosis.....since we have the book and my dad is a retired engineer (SWRI) we can evalaute this better.

[MannyIsGod]

It can definetly be a sensor becuase the sensors aid in shifting. But the thing is that there usually aren't sensors to tell it to switch to reverse, just when to go from 1st to 2nd to 3rd and to 4th (OD).

Either way, if it is a sensor problem, they'll know without taking anything apart. They can just hook it up to a computer.

How was the car totaled origionaly?

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I heard 2Blonde's friend is selling a car.

I'd consider trading an older car in before making a bunch of costly repairs. Five years is approaching that trade-in point...although your mileage IS really low.

[ALVAREZ6]

drive stick.

[MannyIsGod]

drive stick.Amen, but are you even old enough to drive?

[AlamoSpursFan]

Did you say Gene Brown transmissions? Hell, why don't you just give me the money and let me "fix" it.

:lol

Gene Brown was THE transmission shop that KENS busted a few years back. They disconnected a vacuum line from a new car and took it in to several different transmission shops to see if any of them said "here's your problem" and reconnected the vacuum line. A few did, but EVERY Gene Brown shop they went to said basically "total rebuild...call your bank".

:lol

[ALVAREZ6]

Amen, but are you even old enough to drive?
I've been driving since October (legally) and I do drive a manual transmission car.

[cherylsteele]

It can definetly be a sensor becuase the sensors aid in shifting. But the thing is that there usually aren't sensors to tell it to switch to reverse, just when to go from 1st to 2nd to 3rd and to 4th (OD).

Either way, if it is a sensor problem, they'll know without taking anything apart. They can just hook it up to a computer.

How was the car totaled origionaly?
It was damaged on the driver side door...it was already repaired when I purchased it in 2002. At least that is what the title states.

Gene Brown was THE transmission shop that KENS busted a few years back. They disconnected a vacuum line from a new car and took it in to several different transmission shops to see if any of them said "here's your problem" and reconnected the vacuum line. A few did, but EVERY Gene Brown shop they went to said basically "total rebuild...call your bank".
I don't usually watch KENS....so I don't remember hearing about that....after my experience...it doesn't surprise me...I feel lucky they didn't charge me for just letting them look at it.

At least McCombs is going to give us a read out of all the hydrualic pressures and such....to show they actually did a diagnosis. They are charging $79 to do this and to pinpoint the problem better, it would be money well spent. This way you could decide better what to do.

We stopped at the salvage yards today and the used ones range from $600-700 plus $250 intallation with a little warranty on the labor....about 3 mos on the tranny.

My dad suggested to drive it until the tranny craps out....hell, if we are going to replace what harm could it do? I will ask McCombs if driving will damage something else like the engine in some way. Or will it strand me somewhere?

I only drive to work (less than 5 miles) and HEB (less than 3) and to my mom's ( about 6-7 miles).

[pache100]

I was told that a complete rebuild is in the $2000 neighborhood. I just need to save the money to get it repaired. and then sell back the cheap car.

That sounds about right. I had the transmission rebuilt on my Ford Ranger last year and it was just under $2300. Runs like a charm now, though.

Good luck with your repairs. This stuff sucks.

[cherylsteele]

That sounds about right. I had the transmission rebuilt on my Ford Ranger last year and it was just under $2300. Runs like a charm now, though.

Good luck with your repairs. This stuff sucks.
Don't it though......especially when you don't have $2k to spend....and when the car only has 57,000 miles on it.

I think we are going to put a used one in it....we found one of a car with 27,000 miles on it. That will total around $1000 including installation. I can get most of that by the end of the month and my parents ca

[cherylsteele]

Just got McCombs to call me back.....the worst news......they said it was leaking pretty badly and had an internal problem. Which goes to show Gene Brown never even looked at it IMHO. I guess if you bring a car to them it is an automatic rebuild/replace.

[cherylsteele]

Does anyone recommend a reputable transmission shop?