Aamco transmissions

[Jersey mike]

Hey all,

I may be in need of a new trans for my '03 Ford E150 van, waiting on prognosis.

Anyone have any real life experience with Aamco transmissions?

I knw they are franchises and each location can be hit or miss, but I'm interested if they are a quality product.

I researched the local Aamco shop near me and it has excellent reviews but only initial reviews no long term follow up info except for a few which say they have had excellent service over the years.

it seems as though if I need a new trans and they do a swap out it will come from their own rebuild facility, it doesn't seem to be rebuilt in their shops anymore.

all thoughts, opinions and comments are welcomed.

mike

[old2soon]

Been a day or-well hellz bellz-been longer den dat! But I had a turbo 400 automatic transmission in my 73 Chevy suburban rebuilt at Aamco and while I had it-it also had a tweaked 454-i drove the snot outa it with nary a hiccup. Shifted smooth wouldn't complain well into triple digits-don't ask-and did well around town in high heat conditions. I did have Aamco add a trans cooler as part of the rebuild. From that one and only experience a LONG time ago I'd recommend them. Not transmiision related-I went to quite a few junk yards around East Texas at the time I owned that Suburban. Soon as the owner of a given junk yard heard 454 turbo 400 they wanted to buy it. One ole boy laid $7500.00 cash on the desk and I turned him down. I had a thing for Big block G M Iron. RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

All I can tell you about AAMCO is, they have a nation wide warranty but, not all shops can do all the work.   I suppose that's a part of being a franchise and what expertise they have.  

Not long ago, I transported a Dodge Ram from S. E. Arkansas to Central Kentucky because the shop in Arkansas didn't rebuild or work on manual transmissions.   The Kentucky shop had me transport to them.  

I have had a Jeep Manual transmission rebuilt by the AAMCO previously mentioned in Central KY, never had another problem with it as long as I had it.   I'm thinking it really depends on the shop.

[Robert]

Because each shop is run differently you can get spotty results. Not to mention more than likely top dollar. If you know any repair shops ask around and see which ones they use and what they recommend. Careful that the price quoted is out the door no addons and its for a complete rebuild including all the parts needed. Some will give a com on price then add on a bunch of stuff.

[Big Rig]

JM,

I have used them several time in 30+years....Solid work, it does depend on the shop. Do you have a regular mechanic that you use? I would ask them for recommendations as most mechanics do not do transmissions. If you have to replace it, check the junk yard and do it yourself...trans in vans are one of the easiest install on a vehicle.

Good luck

BR

[mark81]

Careful that the price quoted is out the door no addons and its for a complete rebuild including all the parts needed. Some will give a com on price then add on a bunch of stuff.

A lot of trans shops are good for not pricing out or even mentioning torque convertor. then saying the warranty is void because you didn't approve all needed parts.

[Hook#3287]

I had a good experience with the local Aamco shop, but my buddy didn't.

He ended up in court with them.

I recently had to have my dodge dually trans fixed. Went to do a tranny service and found part of a retainer clip in the bottom pan.

I asked three different mechs for suggestions and got three different names.

Then I found a shop that specializes in dodge tranny's and had an open bay.  The owner uses dodge exclusively for truck pulling competition, so I figured he had to know dodge trannies.

Cost me big bucks, but all went well and still is.

Sometimes It's a crap shoot, or fate, that decides the outcome.

[RDKLL]

I work for DriveTime an we have Aamco stores around the country signed up as part of our preferred vendor team and they do a real good job for us. There are a few shops that have had an issue or two and then they get a call from me as part of the Vendor Team...

[G-Man]

Friend of mine was a manager at one of their shops a very long time ago.  They trained him in selling the product/service.  Had not automotive technical experience at all.  He had a pre-rehearsed answer for every objection a customer may have as to price, or even if the car is worth repairing to begin with.  And when they do fix your tranny, he would then sell you a warranty.  If you choose #3 they repair and you get a 30 day warranty, choose #2 and you get a 6 month warranty, choose #1 and you get lifetime warranty.  (the three choices could be called something else like gold silver bronze and the length of warranty I stated could be different, but the jist is, the more you pay the longer the warranty.)

[MarkT]

The Aamco shop in Omaha stole my transmission off my Bronco II "while they were at it" replacing my transfer case on a road trip breakdown. They replaced it with one that wouldn't stay in gear. I had to hold it in OD all the way to Kenosha. They had me over a barrel on a road trip at Christmas time about 1993 and abused the situation.  I refused to pay the Visa bill and they dinged my credit.  Sure it was a crooked local shop but AAmco has never seen a penny from me since.