Diagnosing Today's Transmissions

Why are you at our web site? Is it that you're smart and wanting to be a more informed consumer?

Yes. OK great. Please read on.

A transmission professional who will quote prices for any repair over the telephone is not doing you a service. In fact, they are doing just the opposite.

First, even qualified automotive technicians who specialize in other areas of a vehicle, seldom have the ability to observe, and then analyze all the necessary information to come to a conclusion related to your transmission's problem.

Second, there is the problem of successfully conveying your observations to the transmission specialist in a manner they will understand. For example, will one's definition of the terms slip, squeak, grind, squeal, bump, or "smells bad in hot weather" be the same as the transmission professional who is trying to interpret those terms? Think about it, the answer is no.

Third, have all the diagnostic procedures been performed which are necessary to provide a correct and cost efficient repair recommendation? With today's electronically controlled transmissions, before a transmission technician can render a qualified opinion, an accurate diagnosis requires "high tech" diagnostic test equipment.

When it has been determined which systems in the transmission have failed, the extent of the internal damage must be determined before a price can be discussed.

Short of performing a complete diagnostic procedure, people who quote prices over the telephone are guessing. With virtually thousands of variables, stating a price over the telephone which will have to be adjusted later when all the diagnostic data is obtained is not a service, it is just the opposite.

Look at it this way, we could compare this situation to a patient who calls his doctor, describing chest pain under a given set of circumstances. Is the pain caused by heartburn, indigestion or is this the BIG one? If the doctor were to recommend Open Heart Surgery over the phone, the average patient would be less than confident.

The same is true in transmission diagnosis. A meaningful diagnosis can only be rendered after a complete inspection is performed.