I called around to other transmission shops in the New Orleans area, and explained to them what I was looking to have done to the 92 Explorer. I said the same thing to each company "The car has a leak and I was told that the converter, solinoid and planetary gears were said to be replaced" I told them the car is currently at another shop and they informed me from day one after a external inspection, test drive and revoming the pan that it just needed a reseal, but wouldn't be 100% until they took it apart to check it out, but most likely a reseal is all that will be needed.
Once they got it off, they said the solinoid went bad and that ruined the torque converter, which in turn damaged the planetary gears. The only way this car will be safe to drive would be a complete overhaul $2,000 and anything less we can't warranty any of the work.
I was floored, I was lead the entire time that $700 would be the most I would spend, because it shifted fine before and didn't have other problems (no metal in the pan etc).
I was told by another transmission company that has been in business for over 30 years that they are flat out trying to pull a fast one. He said the converter might be bad but $1,100 to fix that is crazy.
Here is a list of the other places I called to get estimates. Most of the places said that if what I am telling them is the truth about the transmission then they would also recomend an overhaul or to install a rebuilt transmission:
COMPANY PHONE reseal w/convert Overhaul
Automatic Transmission (504) 466-1381 $300 $500 $1200
Trans Way Transmission (504) 362-9515 $1200
Dyno Man, Inc (504) 738-2555 $1275
Custom BuiltTransmission (504) 347-5481 $1425
Aamco Gretna (504) 362-8433 $700 $1200 $1500
A & G Transmission (504) 834-1283 $1600
Aamco Hammond (985) 345-8243 $700 $1100 $2000
The transmission shops even Aamco Gretna stated that any shop worth anything would be able to tell that is the leak is comming from the front, that there is more damage without removing the transmission.
I offered Aamco $300 to just leave the car alone and to put all the parts in a box, or I'll bring the box up and do it, but aamco stated they would not release the car for anything less than $700, because all the labor was already done.
A sidebar of info, after I got a quote from the other shops they all said sounds like aamco and I never said a word of the shop holding this poor car ransom.
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