Transmission gone... does this rebuild estimate seem fair?

[PJDYukonXL]

Follow Up:

So, in the end I let the shop do the repair their way.

I would encourage anyone in my situation to discuss all the concerns @NickTransmissions brought up before letting the shop take your transmission apart. I did feel a bit held hostage at that point and continued with letting them finish the repair their way (keep in mind, this is still a very reputable shop with 500+ 5 star reviews).

I certainly think I paid a premium for what I got - out the door, rebuilt tranny with billet TC was $7,147.43 plus tax.

Also, they now have their claws into me for the local warranty. While it's a lifetime guarantee on all mechanical parts (not including torque converter) it is non-transferable and requires me to do an annual service with the shop at $300/year to maintain the warranty.

Expensive lesson to learn and I expect I'll be keeping the vehicle a bit longer than originally expected due to this costly repair.

That said, it's still the perfect vehicle for our family of 5 with 2 littles in car seats still! After driving a couple hundred miles, I can certainly notice a difference in shifts around town and on highway. I also didn't realize how much it "clunked" into reverse every morning backing out of my driveway - all good now!

Thanks for everyone's input!

 

[swathdiver]

Follow Up:

So, in the end I let the shop do the repair their way.

I would encourage anyone in my situation to discuss all the concerns @NickTransmissions brought up before letting the shop take your transmission apart. I did feel a bit held hostage at that point and continued with letting them finish the repair their way (keep in mind, this is still a very reputable shop with 500+ 5 star reviews).

I certainly think I paid a premium for what I got - out the door, rebuilt tranny with billet TC was $7,147.43 plus tax.

Also, they now have their claws into me for the local warranty. While it's a lifetime guarantee on all mechanical parts (not including torque converter) it is non-transferable and requires me to do an annual service with the shop at $300/year to maintain the warranty.

Expensive lesson to learn and I expect I'll be keeping the vehicle a bit longer than originally expected due to this costly repair.

That said, it's still the prefect vehicle for our family of 5 with 2 littles in car seats still! After driving a couple hundred miles, I can certainly notice a difference in shifts around town and on highway. I also didn't realize how much it "clunked" into reverse every morning backing out of my driveway - all good now!

Thanks for everyone's input!

Glad you're back on the road in one of the safest vehicles ever made. Please give us an update in a few thousand miles, after she's broken in.

I forget, did they put in a lower temp transmission thermostat?

 

[NickTransmissions]

Follow Up:

So, in the end I let the shop do the repair their way.

I would encourage anyone in my situation to discuss all the concerns @NickTransmissions brought up before letting the shop take your transmission apart. I did feel a bit held hostage at that point and continued with letting them finish the repair their way (keep in mind, this is still a very reputable shop with 500+ 5 star reviews).

I certainly think I paid a premium for what I got - out the door, rebuilt tranny with billet TC was $7,147.43 plus tax.

Also, they now have their claws into me for the local warranty. While it's a lifetime guarantee on all mechanical parts (not including torque converter) it is non-transferable and requires me to do an annual service with the shop at $300/year to maintain the warranty.

Expensive lesson to learn and I expect I'll be keeping the vehicle a bit longer than originally expected due to this costly repair.

That said, it's still the perfect vehicle for our family of 5 with 2 littles in car seats still! After driving a couple hundred miles, I can certainly notice a difference in shifts around town and on highway. I also didn't realize how much it "clunked" into reverse every morning backing out of my driveway - all good now!

Thanks for everyone's input!

Echoing @swathdiver , glad your vehicle has been repaired and appreciate the mention - happy to help. Also while time will ultimately tell, it sounds like they did a good job based on your feedback on the shifting, general performance etc.

One question: Is the $300 per year to maintain the warranty applied after the first year and can you opt out? How long can you maintain the warranty by paying the $300?

 

[PJDYukonXL]

Glad you're back on the road in one of the safest vehicles ever made. Please give us an update in a few thousand miles, after she's broken in.

I forget, did they put in a lower temp transmission thermostat?

I need to verify that... I have a 15-day follow up service appointment with the shop and I'll check. Question - if they didn't, is it too late at this point now that everything is reinstalled? Or can the thermostat be swapped separately?

 

[PJDYukonXL]

Echoing @swathdiver , glad your vehicle has been repaired and appreciate the mention - happy to help. Also while time will ultimately tell, it sounds like they did a good job based on your feedback on the shifting, general performance etc.

One question: Is the $300 per year to maintain the warranty applied after the first year and can you opt out? How long can you maintain the warranty by paying the $300?

It would appear that it's "lifetime" at this shop and on parts only as long as I own the vehicle and continue the annual service every May (30 days grace period each year)... attaching a snippet of the warranty.

 

[NickTransmissions]

It would appear that it's "lifetime" at this shop and on parts only as long as I own the vehicle and continue the annual service every May (30 days grace period each year)... attaching a snippet of the warranty.

Interesting…thermostat can be swapped or deleted whenever, it’s not inside the transmission.

 

[swathdiver]

I need to verify that... I have a 15-day follow up service appointment with the shop and I'll check. Question - if they didn't, is it too late at this point now that everything is reinstalled? Or can the thermostat be swapped separately?

Anytime, it's on the side of the transmission where the cooler lines connect to it. I think if you remove the one inside the flow to the coolers is disrupted. You can either put in the lower temp unit or flip the existing one upside down. @NickTransmissions

 

[OR VietVet]

Interesting…thermostat can be swapped or deleted whenever, it’s not inside the transmission.

So, you did not know about that or was just set in on doing it a certain way no matter what? I don't doubt you. You are a tech that I understand. I just want the info from prime techs.

 

[NickTransmissions]

Anytime, it's on the side of the transmission where the cooler lines connect to it. I think if you remove the one inside the flow to the coolers is disrupted. You can either put in the lower temp unit or flip the existing one upside down. @NickTransmissions

Yep, you can flip it, takes just a few min…I usually recommend a delete kit like the one from Superior Technologies and that keeps fluid cooled via heat exchangers (teans coolers) flowing continuously back into the transmission, keeping temps in check. I believe the factory thermostat begins to open at 190 so fluid is usually 210-215 or so.

This article provides an overview of cooling options.

Only exception to this practice is when the transmission (vehicle) is in a cold weather climate and temps routinely drop into the teens or below…

 

[NickTransmissions]

So, you did not know about that or was just set in on doing it a certain way no matter what? I don't doubt you. You are a tech that I understand. I just want the info from prime techs.

Sorry, what are you referring to when you say “I didn’t know about that”?

 

[OR VietVet]

Now we are talkin'.

 

[alpha_omega]

It would appear that it's "lifetime" at this shop and on parts only as long as I own the vehicle and continue the annual service every May (30 days grace period each year)... attaching a snippet of the warranty.

That warranty says “transmission with torque converter”, or did I read that wrong?

 

[Marky Dissod]

Also, they now have their claws into me for the local warranty.
While it's a lifetime guarantee on all mechanical parts (not including torque converter), it is non-transferable and requires me to do an annual service with the shop at
$300 / year
to maintain the warranty.

It would appear that it's "lifetime" at this shop and on parts only, as long as I own the vehicle and continue the
$300 / year
service every May (30 days grace period each year) ...

How many miles do you put on this transmission every year?
'cause it seems like this next rebuild better last another 100,000 - 150,000 more miles for it to be worth it.

Does ANYONE service their transmission yearly?

 

[moman406]

Personally I would just order a remanufactured Transmission and have my local shop swap it in or do it myself for a lot less money. Why would you waste $1,420.00 on a diagnosis for a 7 year old vehicles transmission? The dang thing is shot swap it out and move on.

I just had my 4L60E completely rebuilt. Shop removed and rebuild and reinstalled for $2800.16. 1995 2 door Tahoe. Included a new torque convertor

 

[NickTransmissions]

I just had my 4L60E completely rebuilt. Shop removed and rebuild and reinstalled for $2800.16. 1995 2 door Tahoe. Included a new torque convertor

What did they charge for the rebuild itself and what did they do specifically, if you know?

For $2800 (less say, $700 for R/R, fluid, line and cooler(s) flushing would leave $2100 for the trans.

I can build one hell of a '95 4L60e for $2100.00.

 

[89Suburban]

Does messing with the thermostat affect that warranty OP?

 

[CM_2016Tahoe]

2016 Yukon XL SLT - 95k miles. 6l80 transmission - 2 nights ago felt like it was starting in 4th gear, kept changing gears on highway, clunky shifting. Took it to a local shop and was told the following:

We have thoroughly inspected your transmission. The valve body assembly (hydraulic cross leak) and the Torque Converter(overheating) are bad. The transmission has other internal failures; ie, burnt clutches and steels.

We can fix it. The first step is to remove, disassemble, and inspect the transmission. This labor equals $1,420.00.

The range the rebuild this six (6) speed transmission is from
$5,680.00 up to $6,350.00 + taxes

The inspection labor is included in the price range above.

Comes with lifetime warranty on internal mechanical parts.

Does this seem like a fair estimate? Transmission shop has 4.9 star rating with 500 reviews in Orlando, FL.

Also, anything I should try to have upgraded at this time?

Hi,
I just went through this with my 2016 Tahoe (6 speed). Got a trans "overhaul" with a billet torque converter. Solved the problem!
Cost me $5,100.

 

[OR VietVet]

Hi,
I just went through this with my 2016 Tahoe (6 speed). Got a trans "overhaul" with a billet torque converter. Solved the problem!
Cost me $5,100.

You will get better responses to your concerns with a separate thread that you would start.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[CM_2016Tahoe]

You will get better responses to your concerns with a separate thread that you would start.

Welcome to the forum.

Not to sound dumb, but what do you mean? Do you mean that I should type my response in my own thread or comment box and not directly reply to one person?

 

[NickTransmissions]

Not to sound dumb, but what do you mean? Do you mean that I should type my response in my own thread or comment box and not directly reply to one person?

No need to start a separate thread unless you want to expand on your statement ORvietVet quoted or have questions about your vehicle/transmission.