Wife's Mustang

[SemperFiArms]

This all started a couple months ago when i was out screwing around in my wife's Mustang. I somehow managed to smoke the first gear of the transmission and barely got it back home.

A week or so later I located a good used trans out of a wrecked pony but after I got it installed I discovered that the 1998 Mustang had a one year specific transmission. The used one came out of a 1997 and all the internal electronics were different and would not work. '99 and above went to the electronic speedometers and had a different drive and tail shaft.

Since I couldn't find a used '98 locally I said screw it and I'll rebuild it myself. Got all the parts and a couple special tools needed for under $350 and got to work. Keep in mind I'm still traveling every week for my day job and still doing the honey do's around the house as well. I't only took me one day to tear it down and 2 more to put it back together. Got it reinstalled and went to test it. At first I had reverse and forward but when I went to back it up again the reverse was gone. Still had all 4 forward gears but no reverse. I pulled the pan and control valve and rechecked everything I could get but found nothing wrong. Reinstalled everything and tested again, now I got reverse again but after I put it into drive and then back int reverse it was gone again.

Now I'm pissed and have some week long trips scheduled so I loaded it up and took it to a shop for them to check out and fix. After them having it for several weeks and coming up with the same result they told me the trans would have to come back out and the shop they use for rebuilds wanted $2100 to do the job. I said the car ain't worth $2500 to $3000, I'll pick it up and bring back to the house.

Did some internet work over the weekend and found a place up in New Jersey that would sell me a reman for $1250 with a 3 year unlimited mile warranty. Free shipping including the core return. I placed the order tonight and hope to have it in hand next week and in the Stang by the weekend after next.

I've built a half dozen or so transmissions over the years and done countless transmissions on offroad trucks and other heavy equipment. I probably could have eventually figured this one out if I wanted to tear it back down but I'm tired of it and decided to go the reman route and be done with it.

I told my wife the next time I get the wild hair to build an electronic overdrive transmission to kick me in the nuts, it would be a lot less painful.

[DOUG]

Dang, probably something simple, ball hung up, valve sticking.

[SemperFiArms]

Your probably right. Talking to a buddy while in Savannah yesterday and he is thinking the reverse band or possibly the servo pin may have broken since all 4 forward are working fine. I just don't feel like taking it all back apart and spent the next couple weeks looking for the issue. I figured it would be better for a reman with a warranty and be done with it.

[DOUG]

I hate those choices when all involve spending more money on a projet you thought you had budgeted and handled. 

I replaced the van trans 2x and then went to AAMCO where they sold me one with a 3 year warranty installed for $2100 that comes from an OEM style rebuild factory with of quality parts and high levels of process control and its been perfect.  They don't rebuild them in the store anymore unless you insist, and the warranty isn't near as good.  They have become a trans swap shop.

[BigMike]

I hate those choices when all involve spending more money on a projet you thought you had budgeted and handled. 

I replaced the van trans 2x and then went to AAMCO where they sold me one with a 3 year warranty installed for $2100 that comes from an OEM style rebuild factory with of quality parts and high levels of process control and its been perfect.  They don't rebuild them in the store anymore unless you insist, and the warranty isn't near as good.  They have become a trans swap shop.

That is because there is a difference between mechanics and parts changers.  Sounds like Aamco now employs parts changers.

[SemperFiArms]

That is because there is a difference between mechanics and parts changers.  Sounds like Aamco now employs parts changers.

This is very evident with the quality of technicians my dealer have. Basic troubleshooting and critical thinking seem to be almost non existent with a lot of people these days.

Still aggravated that I'm not fixing the issue myself but with the limited time I have to do the work it's just going to be easier.

Note to self - go buy lottery ticket.  //LMAO//

[clark123456]

That is because there is a difference between mechanics and parts changers.  Sounds like Aamco now employs parts changers.

This is very evident with the quality of technicians my dealer have. Basic troubleshooting and critical thinking seem to be almost non existent with a lot of people these days.

Still aggravated that I'm not fixing the issue myself but with the limited time I have to do the work it's just going to be easier.

Note to self - go buy lottery ticket.  //LMAO//

I have three 'green' people working with me on my current project since my company is trying to hire young people and provide a career path rather than hiring experts for all jobs...it is frustrating to work with them since they have zero clue about anything, can't reason their way through stuff, and are timid and lost.  I may have been this way when I was younger, but I don't recall it.  They aren't dumb or stupid (university educated), just not aware of what they don't know and have hardly any experience.

[kent10sne1]

We stopped hiring "green" kids a while back, it was too much of an issue as most seemed to "Think" they knew it all but failed to have a clue.   They seemed un-willing to stay late, arrive early.   they used up all their PTO within like 3 mo and then complained to HR when we wrote them up for missing work cause they where sick.  it was a cluster-F#Uk to say the least.   we only went thru 4 before we changed the policy.  their was an.. entitlement mentality..   they where all well paid, but seemed to lack the understanding of what it took to gain wisdom.    they complained that several senior developers would take 1 1/2 hr lunch and on some fridays leave like 30 min early..   (their work was completed), ...   they failed to grasp the concept of getting their work done...  like it was someone problem, but not theirs.  and its not "Fair"..

i remember starting out pulling 10-14 hr days for weeks on end , watching others leave, why..  my work was not done, plus i wanted to show i was willing to work to get the job done.   seems our younger crowd lacks this work-ethic.    so we hire senior ppl., who have "paid dues" and are "accountable" for their work. 

we have struggled to find the "sweet spot" last person we are dealing with is a retired school teacher who decided they did not like working for peanuts..  now they struggle with me leaving at 3pm.   he has been told by several ppl, including me.   he is welcome to come in at 5am and leave at 3 as long as his work is done.   and when i get home i get back online and continue to work for 2-3 more hours to keep things moving in the office.  he seems to shut up when thats brought up, but his boss is getting tired of him brining this up, he had gone to HR about time/attendance but the managers have discression..   he is just mad he's not shown any.   not sure if he will last... 

[SemperFiArms]

I don't know what it is, some folks are born with the knack of mechanical ability (i'm one) and can look at something to figure out how it works and why. I have been taking stuff apart and putting it back together ever since I could tell the difference between a flat head and phillips screwdriver. Sometimes other can learn it but to me either you have it or you don't. It goes the same for computers and IT stuff. I found out a long time ago if I can't use a hammer on it find someone else to fix it. My computers do not react well the a 12 pound sledge hammer.

When I was turning wrenches professionally I had all the time I needed in order to repair things properly. Having a properly equipped shop and all the proper tools made things easier and faster as well.

[clark123456]

Even the highly paid 'consultants' we have are kids straight out of college that we end up training on the job, while paying their companies huge bucks. 

[kent10sne1]

Even the highly paid 'consultants' we have are kids straight out of college that we end up training on the job, while paying their companies huge bucks. 

 run them until they give out.

Sounds like Don has a plan.   

[patman]

That's PWC/DT/Accenture strategy - get smart kids out of college and run them until they give out.

My wife is a CPA and we've had discussions along these lines... the big public companies do hire "smart" people, but then run them into the ground. The ones that have a good work ethic and get the job done right end up going to private industry where the are handsomely rewarded. The not so good ones that have horrible people skills are usually what's left