ejsaenz

While driving down the freeway my transmission decided to not work anymore. The engine stayed on but when I hit the gas it didn't accelerate. I was going at least 70mph when it died. I was able to coast to a stop at an off-ramp but there was a funny smell about the truck. I restarted and my dash lit up the PRNDM indicators telling me there was a transmission failure. I shifted to neutral but it wouldn't even move under its own weight.

The tow truck driver was able to pull it up the ramp of his flatbed, but when we got it home, we had to oil the bed and have it slip off due to not being able to go into neutral or any other gear and set it in my driveway. After a few minutes, I started it back up and the dash lit up normally, but only drive barely worked and it felt like a heavy strain was on the transmission. No reverse and no neutral.

I took it to an indy shop and same oily bed procedure to drop. They inspected it by computer and it showed that it had overheated twice and that something inside broke according to the tech. I need a new transmission.

Can anyone recommend a rebuild shop in the Southern California area or anywhere reputable? I got quoted $11,000 for a new transmission. I did find 3 used units with a one year warranty, but would a rebuilt unit be better? Any help would be awesome.

I'm in the high desert in San Bernardino County. I tried search but nothing came up for me. I really need this truck back since the 944 is a bit hard to transport stuff I need to carry.

Thank you in advance.

--------UPDATE-------------

Well I got the Pepper Back. It runs well. still a bit nervous but that should go after a while. The total damage was close to $8K with other work done while it was there....

Here are the trouble fault codes:
715 – Input shaft speed (turbine speed) inductive pickup- Electrical fault, test conditions are not completed, fault is not currently active and causing a DTC light
729 – Gear “6” incorrect transmission- Mechanical fault, Electrical fault, test conditions are not completed, fault is not currently active and causing a DTC light
841 – Oil pressure switch 1 transmission – short circuit to ground, test conditions are not completed, fault is not currently active and causing a DTC light
453 – Function restricted due to excess temperature – no additional fault status available, , test conditions are not completed, fault is not currently active and is not causing a DTC light
641 – ATF temperature – upper limit value exceeded, , test conditions are not completed, fault is not currently active and causing a DTC light


I found a used transmission from a wrecker with 66K miles for $2875 or so at GotTransmissions.com shipped to the repair shop. Labor for the trans was $1900 with parts. The torque converter bolts were impssible to remove with the engine in the car so it was another $1000 to pull the engine. The housing had a crack on it and the trans pan drain plug was frozen so hard that the spot welded bung sheared off.. luckily my old trans had good parts to swap so more labor costs.

I had a bad engine torque mount that was bad and that was replaced.

Replaced drive belt.

The cooling pipes had a leak, they were aluminum but something had a crack in it so it was replaced.

Total parts and labor for shop minus the trans was $4852, trans $2900 total to just under $7800.

The trans has a one year warrantee with labor costs included. Hopefully I’m done for a while now..

I have the old transmission and will be taking it apart to see what screwed up inside. I did get some black melted piece of plastic looking thing that was in the pan when it came off...

wrinkledpants

car-parts.com. find one from a junk yard. that would be my first option before rebuilding or buying a rebuilt unit.

J'sWorld

Used unit or ship it out to Import performance transmission.

TomF

There was a guy who posted last week in another thread that he rebuilds them all the time. Do a little digging and you might find him.

Sorry for your misfortune.

Best,
TomF

Dan87951

I would go for a low mileage used one. From the experience I have had as well as others I don't think there is a person who can rebuild a transmission correctly.

Corso

To OP, curious on how many miles were on your CTT when it decided it'd had enough?

ejsaenz

It had about 73,000 miles. I
I've had it maybe 7 or eight months now.

TomF

Wow, that is a surprising failure for the mileage.

Cheers,
TomF

Dan87951

Yea that is what I was thinking? Has the shop tried even to check the fluid level? Did they get more specific about what broke inside?

ejsaenz

I seem to have this kind of bad luck with ALL my Automatic cars be they new or used. Transmissions and I just don't get along... :/

Cuba

Sorry to hear that. I had trans problems two years ago and it was the valvebody which we replaced along with a new TCU. Did you by chance ever have sudden violent shifts when accelerating that scared the crap out of you before this happened?

ejsaenz

I never had that problem. I did feel a slight shudder at deceleration but that was it. It just died, was kinda weird but no other indications.

Sorry it took a while to answer...