Mike Aamco Transmission I took my car in to have the transmission checked and they advised me, the transmission needed to be completely replaced. It cost me over $4700.00 which I thought was outrageous. I had to take a loan out to pay for this. I am wondering if it really costs that much? I have had to take myt car back twice as after they supposedly fixed the transmission, the car won't start. It's actually there now. Chicago Illinois

I am the owner of this Aamco Transmission Franchise. All the techs, employed here, and me know this car very well. The vehicle is a 1997 Saab 900 S Turbo. The real cost to rebuild his transmission was $4428.27 plus Illinois sales tax of $271.47. Illinois has one of the highest sales tax in the Country. We had to replace many, high priced parts, when we rebuilt his transmission. The reason the cost was so high was because there are no aftermarket parts available for his vehicle. All of the parts came from the Saab factory. We all know that OEM (factory) parts are alway much higher than aftermaket parts. The Aamco warranty is for 12 months or 12,000 miles nationwide and Canada.

The owner picked up his car and paid the bill on February 28, 2008. The car started and drove very well. if there was a problem, we wouldn't have released the car.

The owner broght the car back on April 2, 2008. We scanned the electronics and did all the diognostics tests. The car started very well and we couldn't find any problems.

The car is in our Center, now, because of a "no start" condition. We are in the process of diagnosing the problem. If the "no start" is because of something we did or caused by a defective part, the owner won't have to pay anything. On the other hand, if the "no Start" condition is caused by a bad alternator, battery, starter, than the owner will have to pay for the parts and labor.

OK. First let me address your comments of why the price was so high. This model transmission a ZF4HP18 is available as reman unit and also has aftermarket parts available through Axiom/Transtar, WIT, and many other suppliers you must know about. The fact that no parts are available except from the dealer is false! Hard parts are also available in the aftermarket as used or rebuilt from many companies as well that you use every week at your shop.

Secondly, I agree a no start or even a flat tire can not automatically be the shops faulty work as this car is 11 years old and can have many other unrelated problems. The car could not start for any number of reasons and some are related to installation errors of the transmission or as you stated altenator, starter, mlps, etc. What was the final diagnosis of the no start?

This customer failed to say that his vehicle is a 1997 Saab 900 S. Turbo. Saabs are expensive to buy and the parts are very expensive. There is no aftermarket for Saab parts. All the parts that had to be installed in his transmission were OEM (orginal) parts from Saab. The vehicle was towed into our shop on February 15, 2008 because the axle broke (while the car was moving) The broken axle damaged the transmission and differential. We had to rebuild both (expensive) assemblys. The total cost was $4428.27 plus Illinois sales tax of $271.47. The grand total was $4699.74. We don't get to keep the sales tax of $271.47. We sent that money to the Dept. of Revenue, State of Illinois.

We towed the car back on April 2, 2008 because the customer said that the car wouildn't start. We checked all the electronic systems including the starting circuits. Everything checked out ok and the car started everytime we tried it.

We got the vehicle back again on April 24, 2008. This time we discovered a bad starter. We replaced the starter and the car started everytime we tried it.

The job was expensive because the vehicle is a Saab. The Saab Dealer would have charged, at least, $2000.00 more for the same work. We didn't ripoff this customer.

STAY AWAY FROM ALL THE AAMCO'S PERIOD.RIPOFF COMPANY

HOW CAN YOU QUOTE A PRICE TO A CUSTOMER WITH HAVING A VIN NUMBER THAT HELPS WHEN PRICING A JOB OUT.YOU AAMCO DEALERS ONLY CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE.GET OUT OF THE BUS JERK OFF

reputable transmission re builders/repair shops will do an internal inspection, compile a worn and damaged list and then provide the consumer with an option, that they the consumer is/are not obligated in any way to accept. this is true of all states.  The comment about ZF parts being expensive is correct the comment about only from the dealer is an outright lie, that a vin# is required is just stupidity.  Be an educated consumer, be an educated repair facility, be an educated ripoff report responder.  read up on the perspective repair facility do they have good reviews google or yelp look around bbb is an option about how a shop is just do your home work you did before you bought your SAAB you should before you went AAMCO.