pagiven@drutx.UUCP (GivenP) (07/23/85)
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My 1981 Buick Regal, V6, auto tranny, 90K miles is experiencing
transmission slip only when cold starting. After three minutes or
so, slipping stops.
Transmission oil and filter has been replaced every 20K miles. Car
has mostly highway miles and has been scrupulously owner main-
tained.
Now then, what's the preferred way of getting ripped off? A) Chain
store? B) Dealer? C) Independent mechanic? I've heard it said that
Chain stores specializing in auto trannys instantly go for the
rebuild job, whether or not yours needs it. Dealers are
notoriously expensive (witness one recent posting regarding a
Dodge). Independent's may not know what they are doing when it
comes to the tranny.
A) may cost less, but you might get work you didn't need, or pay
for work you needed but didn't get. B) is expensive but usually
get charged only for what they do and they usually do only what is
needed. C) may just send it out to A) or B) and charge a premium.
Free advice is always solicited. Thanks in advance!!
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Paul Given {ihnp4, houxe, stcvax!ihnp4}!drutx!pagiven
AT&T Information Systems Laboratories
11900 N. Pecos, Rm 1B04, Denver 80234 (303)-538-4058
-----------------------------------------------------------------notes@harpo.UUCP (07/25/85)
Check with your dealer. If it is a 200 type transmission, GM has been giving an allowance towards rebuidling the transmission. I bougth a used 79 Buick in which the owner had replaced the 200 with a 300 transmission. The bill was around $600 and I think GM paid 200 to 300. Irv McNair ATT Bell Labs Whippany 8 232-4162
larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) (07/30/85)
In this article Paul Given seeks advice on where to get his car repaired: > Now then, what's the preferred way of getting ripped off? A) Chain > store? B) Dealer? C) Independent mechanic? I've heard it said that > Chain stores specializing in auto trannys instantly go for the > rebuild job, whether or not yours needs it. Dealers are > notoriously expensive (witness one recent posting regarding a > Dodge). Independent's may not know what they are doing when it > comes to the tranny. > > A) may cost less, but you might get work you didn't need, or pay > for work you needed but didn't get. B) is expensive but usually > get charged only for what they do and they usually do only what is > needed. C) may just send it out to A) or B) and charge a premium. In 20 years of owning cars I have tried all of the above, in addition to choice D) Do It Yourself... I am firmly convinced that going to a *LARGE* dealer is your best bet in the long run for the following reasons: 1. A large dealer has no real personal motive to rip you off. 2. A large dealer has the proper tools and trained mechanics to solve your problem. This is especially true in areas like computerized ignition systems which require special test sets. No way is your local gas station or even independent service agency going to have the specialized test sets necessary for this kind of troubleshooting. No independent mechanic can compete with a dealer mechanic who works on the same make vehicles every day. 3. A large dealer will have most model-specific parts in stock, whereas an independent will not. Furthermore, an independent may well order and install more parts than necessary so as to 'cover his bases' and do it all in one order. 4. Sure a large dealer may charge more, but it will most likely be repaired properly the first time. If you do have further problems, you are less likely to get mumbo-jumbo BS from a dealer if you take the car back and complain. One other observation: the absolute worst incompetent 'mechanics' (I use the word loosely) I have even seen have been in chain stores. Larry Lippman Recognition Research Corp. Clarence, New York UUCP {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax,watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry {rice,shell}!baylor!kitty!larry syr!buf!kitty!larry VOICE 716/741-9185 TELEX {via WUI} 69-71461 answerback: ELGECOMCLR "Have you hugged your cat today?"