My transmition went in early august, so i figured i'd take it to the local aamco since transmitions are supposed to be their specialty. Boy was i wrong. I had my van towed early morning to the aamco, and by early afternoon the manager vince called me back. He said it was going to need a new transmition, front, and rear differentials, and a new tourqe converter. Totall bill was 3,189 dollars (including a year long warranty). He asked me to pay that moment by credit card over the phone which i thought was kinda odd. He said they do that so they can't be ripped off. I said ok, and he said i would have my van back in a week. So after almost two weeks i finally get the call to go pick up my van. As soon as i started the van i knew it wasn't the same. It was making the same noise it made right before the transmition went. I told wally the mechanic, and he said that was just the new transmition breaking itself in, and to bring it back in one week for a checkup. So for a week i drove the van back, and forth to new york from philly for work. I took it back the following week to have them check it out, and explained to them that i was getting the fluid spatters on my back windows again, the gears were slipping, and sticking, and the noise was stillthere. They had the van for three days. They told me to come back, and pick it up finally, so i did. When i arrived, the mechanic wally said to stick around because he wanted to go for a ride with me so i could show him what i was talking about. I had previously explained it all to him. I told him to take the van out on 95 so he could drive at high speeds, and he would see what i meant. I guess he drove it around the block once, and called it good. Anyhow... I waited for a half an hour while he tinkered with another customer's car. Finally i told him i had to go, and asked him if he was sure the van was ok, he said yes, the fluid i am seeing re-appearing on the back windows was only fluid still remaining on my undercarridge from when the transmition first blew out. He said the noise, and slipping of the transmition was going to go away in time when the new transmition breaks in. After another week of driving, the problems were getting worse. At seventy miles an hour on the new jersey turnpike every day, my engine sounded like it was running way too high, and i knew all this was due to the ongoing transmition issues. Coming over the turnpike bridge my van made a loud noise, and stalled. I had to call a tow truck because it would not restart. When we pulled the van onto the flatbed, while on an angle, transmition fluid starting running down the bed of the tow truck. I was pissed. 78.00 to have my van towed back to aamco. I dropped off the keys, and explained the situation. They said the transmition wouldn't cause the van to not start up, and i told them that i understand that, but since the transmition was still not functioning properly, i wanted them to fix it, and in order to get the van in the garage, they would have to start it as well. Whatever the starting problem was, i would pay for it seperately. And i did... 229.00 for a new module. They said that was most likely why the van was running weird, was because of the module, and it runs normal now. So once again i picked up the van. It still made the humming noise when i had it running. I had to take the van to work because using my girlfriend's car was not possible this time. So... Back to work i go, and the van starts getting even worse. I took it back again (now late september) and told them i don't care what they say, just fix the damn thing right. I had to get a rental car this time. They had the van for another eight days. It costed me 500.00 for the rental car during this amount of time. The manager vince apologized to me for his mechanics doubting me. It turns out he said the new tourqe converter had a factory defect, and the van was fine now. He told me nobody knows their vehicle like the owner because they are the ones driving it all the time. Yeah, no st! I told them over, and over, and over again by phone about twelve times, and by personally brining the van back to them four times over a two month period. The van seemed ok for two days, and then went right back to the noises, and slipping, and sticking of the transmition once again. Oh, and also now my cruise control doesn't work, and my ac, and heat vent lever doesn't work either. It is stuck in one position. Window defrost. The vents pointing at me don't have any air coming out of them. Only the windshield. I'm lucky i even have that. I tried calling twice in the last week to talk to vince the manager, and both times the mechanics answered, and said he wasn't in, but he would return my calls. I willing to bet they never even told him i called. Oh, and just to let all who read this know... The manager was always nice to me... But the mechanics were real jerks. They always gave me an attitude, like i had no idea what i was talking about, and acted like i was inconveniencing them!!! This matter is still unsolved. I called corporate offices for aamco. I'll bet my next step will be to get a lawyer. And i will if i have to. I will not take my van back there not even one more time. They have proven that they are arrogant, ignorant, and can't be trusted. I want all money involved in this matter back (around 4,100.00). Then i will take it somewhere else, and have it fixed right. I hope nobody else ever has to go thru this bs!
Frank
bensalem, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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