AAMCO ripoff breach of warranty contract car not fixed Summerville South Carolina

I am an ASE cert. master tech,

I was just wondering why they rebuilt the whole trans? I mean if just the converter was bad then that is all they should of replaced. Unless the converter completly exploded and filled the trans full of metal shavings then the trans should of been rebuilt/replaced, other then that the only things that should of been replaced were the converter along with the fluid and filter. Being a tech for a dealership I strongly recommend that you ask to see the old parts and have them explan to you what exactly failed and what was replaced.

I don't doubt for a second though that you were ripped of by aamco, and I think you have a good case to file a lawsuit on. I wish you the best of luck and I hope everything works out for you.

I apologize for forgetting this earlier:

There is NO connection between your air conditioner and the transmision whatsoever other than they are mounted in the same car and function as a result of the same engine.

As with the transmission, the air conditioner requires regular check-ups and service as well. There are indications in this complaint that this service might have been overlooked along with other periodic preventive maintenance.

The syndrom this portion of the complaint illustrates in the auto repair industry is that the last repair shop that performed any work on the vehicle immediately becomes responsible for the next problem encountered with that vehicle regardless of the problem.

At an earlier point in my life, I used to harbor suspicions that when I replaced/repaired exhaust systems in my junkers that I drove, the engine would blow up because it coincidentally happened a couple of times.

This is basically an attempt, albiet most probably futile, to correct certain aspects of the complaint above:

1. Transmission vs. transaxle: They both perform the same function, transmit the power of the engine to the drive wheels and they utilize the same hydraulic/friction principles to do it.

2. There is "There is No Such Thing as Just a Torque Converter Problem"! The trans(whatever you want to call it) is a sealed unit including the torque converter. It is essentially hydraulic/mechanical power delivery system connecting the engine to the drive axles (front or rear). The transmission (hydraulic) fluid inside this system performs three functions: 1. Lubricates the internal moving parts of the transmission; 2. Transfers the heat from the transmission (cooling) to the heat exchanger located either within or external to the vehicle's radiator; and, 3. Transports the wear particals of the moving parts of the transmission to the transmission filter to prolong the life of the transmission.

The torque converter (sealed unit in and of itself) operates within this sealed system based on hydraulic pressures. Therefore if a torque converter becomes the "problem" as can be identified using a snap-on scanner to analyze the on-board computer, the complete transmission/transaxle is contaminated. An unscrupulous shop owner may offer to just exchange your torque converter but not on a Contour. The remove and replace time as outlined by the mechanics' manuals is close to 16 hours (best I can remember) and at $65/hr, one should make sure to get it right the first time (the frame is a B**CH!). There's a reason Ford discontinued this model after 2000. It actually is a Mazda MX6 underneath the bodywork and Mazda discontinued that model as well (Mercury Mystique as well as a European Ford model). The corrected technology lives on in the smallest Jaguar currently available.

3. If the torque converter on a properly maintained Contour becomes a problem, then the most likely cause is that the transmission was not properly maintained. Most owners are totally unaware of the requirement to service their transmission every 30,000 miles...oil service, and tune-ups but that's about it.

After the service interval is exceeded, the transmission filter becomes overloaded and the filter ultimately bypassed once it becomes clogged. The transmission fluid then transports the wear particles throughout the transmission/transaxle circuit, depositing heated sludge on the walls of the fluid circuit throughout, torque converter included. At some point this reaches a critical point and something has to give...In this particular case, the torque converter.

4. Replacing the torque converter alone at this point is hugely irresponsible. The transwahtever and the cooling circuit is coated internally with sludge that once new, aggressively cleaning dertergent transmission fluid is installed, the cleaning process begins anew and the sludge is broken off the internal surfaces to clog the valve body, the filter and the torque converter once again. Then, the original problem returns or worsens. (This is why transmission "flushes" are generally NOT recommended unless one is absolutely sure that the transmission has been regularly maintained.)

5. If you have a CV axle problem, the CV axle does damage the transaxle seals that more often than not result in a leak. The transaxles can be replaced for approximately $99 which is generally the cost of the part...it costs nothing more to install a good part vs. a bad part. I hope they provided this as an option for you.

6. I know of no builder (however bad) that does not replace all external seals in a rebuilt transmission/axle for the same reason as above. The seals are included in the most rudiment of rebuild packages.

&. As a previous transmission center owner (not AAMCO) $3200 is reasonable for a Contour rebuild WITHOUT hard parts. Don't ask about a SAAB or SUBARU or a VW.

8. Lastly, attacking the grammar and english usage of a respondent is childish. Your tenses contradict throughout your posts and your own misspellings are rampant...I may even have a few of my own...not here to proofread extensively.

$3000 for a Contour tranny is a little steep, but not out of the realm of possibilities. If it needed hardparts, it is right about there.

As for the leaking, and warranty problems, welcome to the club. AAMCO is well known for this. Granted, it's really just a small fraction of their shops, but it's enough to make them look bad.

Personally, I stopped rebuilding the things when it got to the point where I could buy one from the Dealership and get a 3/36K warranty for a good price. I can build them cheaper myself, but then I have to deal with warranties. I can buy the complete unit from the Dealership, including fluid, and install in just a few hours.

AAMCO's customer service is attrocious to say the least. When you find one that's good, use them.

$3000 for a Contour tranny is a little steep, but not out of the realm of possibilities. If it needed hardparts, it is right about there.

As for the leaking, and warranty problems, welcome to the club. AAMCO is well known for this. Granted, it's really just a small fraction of their shops, but it's enough to make them look bad.

Personally, I stopped rebuilding the things when it got to the point where I could buy one from the Dealership and get a 3/36K warranty for a good price. I can build them cheaper myself, but then I have to deal with warranties. I can buy the complete unit from the Dealership, including fluid, and install in just a few hours.

AAMCO's customer service is attrocious to say the least. When you find one that's good, use them.

She called it a transmission, which makes it rear wheel drive. I have a 95 ford which is still rear wheel drive, and I do not memorize every make and models' features.

It is a transaxle if it is front wheel drive, NOT a transmission.

I do know the difference, as I was a mechanic for several years.

Even for a transaxle rebuild, $3k is at least $1200 too much.

She called it a transmission, which makes it rear wheel drive. I have a 95 ford which is still rear wheel drive, and I do not memorize every make and models' features.

It is a transaxle if it is front wheel drive, NOT a transmission.

I do know the difference, as I was a mechanic for several years.

Even for a transaxle rebuild, $3k is at least $1200 too much.

She called it a transmission, which makes it rear wheel drive. I have a 95 ford which is still rear wheel drive, and I do not memorize every make and models' features.

It is a transaxle if it is front wheel drive, NOT a transmission.

I do know the difference, as I was a mechanic for several years.

Even for a transaxle rebuild, $3k is at least $1200 too much.

She called it a transmission, which makes it rear wheel drive. I have a 95 ford which is still rear wheel drive, and I do not memorize every make and models' features.

It is a transaxle if it is front wheel drive, NOT a transmission.

I do know the difference, as I was a mechanic for several years.

Even for a transaxle rebuild, $3k is at least $1200 too much.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that this is a ripoff.

However, Steve has a few facts wrong.

First, The vehicle in question (1998 Ford Contour) is a front-wheel drive sedan, not rear-wheel drive. This makes a notable difference in the labor time.

Second, I don't believe that any reputable shop would remove, rebuild, and then reinstall a Contour transmission for only 7 hours of labor. But the $3K price tag for an Aamco tranmsission is certainly not a good deal.

This should have been repaired by an independant shop that actually cares about satisying customers and does quality work because they have no time for comebacks.

I believe you do have a good case against Aamco, if they fail to come through in repairing your transmission leaks and air conditioning properly.

Renee,

You are absolutely right about being ripped off.

If it was in fact the torque converter, that is about a $400-$500 job all day long, parts and labor.

There is no such thing as a $3,012 transmission on a rear wheel drive Ford. [Except at Aamco]. They are thieves. Especially when they see a woman come in alone. They buy these tranny's from salvage yards, clean them up a little and put some paint on, and call it rebuilt! This is why they SELL you the warranty!

I have seen this with my own eyes. Tranny shops are the biggest scam going. Aamco was busted nationwide in the early 80's. Here in Bradenton they sent in young female cops undercover in a car that was checked out by the city garage. She was wired and recorded all conversations, and she demanded everything be itemized on an estimate that is wrong. According to Aamco, the tranny was shot. According to the city garage affidavit, it was totally rebuilt within the last 30 days!

Guess what? JAIL TIME!

You can look in the paper and find those tranny's advertised [2004] rebuilt/installed $695 all day long. With a 1 yr warranty!

Even at $70 an hour shop labor it is approx 4 hrs in/out. It takes an experienced tranny tear down person another hour or so to pull it apart, and another 2-3 hrs to rebuild it totally. The parts and Torque converter are about $350 or less.

So even for these fools to do it this way, you have approx 8hrs labor at $70 = $560+$350=$910 plus tax, you are still around $1000, NOT $3012!

Robert-Jacksonville....Where are you?..What do you think at 2004 prices?

I am the original poster of the rip off report but cannot remember the original email I used to file that report. I wanted to comment on this Kathy person who responded to my report.

First off, the ONLY mechanical problem my car had when I first took it to Aamco was that torque converter, which is why I took it to Aamco in the first place.

Second, we took EXCELLANT care of that car since the day we got it. Oil changes were ALWAYS on time, filters were changed on time, everything with that car was PERFECT until Aamco got a hold of it. I have witnesses to that. My husband and I did not slouch on our vehicle care. In fact, HE changed the oil all the time, would not let anyone else do it. So your excuse of my car having "many mechanical problems" is a cop out.

I did not take the car to a "real" mechanic until after I caught the people lying to me because the car was still under warranty, and if you know ANYTHING about warranties, if you take that vehicle to another company to work on an area of the car under warranty, that voids the warranty. I am not stupid. I was trying to give Aamco a chance to redeem themselves but they just dug themselves a deeper hole, that is not my fault.

Also, since you want to impart your "knowlege" on people...... learn to spell the word "knowledge" correctly. Your entire post is full of misspelled words and typos. You expect someone to take you seriously doing that?

In response to the person ripped off by the transmission shop. I understand your anger. But the ultimate blame lays on you my friend. First you are right the transmission and a leaking axle are not the same and I can't believe after not repairing your car right you did not take it to a real mechanic (note I said mechanic and not shop) and sue them then.

It sounds like your ford had a lot of mantenice needed. You probably worry about your health but you don't worry about your vehicals health. Change the oil every 3000 miles, ect. A tune up every year or so. That owners manuel will educate you beyond beleif!

You should always ask questions at whatever you do even getting your vehical repaired. Ask your neighbors who their mechanic is. Ask your doctor or grocer. Then ask about their mechanics. Are they ASE Certified? How long have they been using their mechanic. The buffet is only as good as the cook. And the shop is only as good as the mechanic.

Just because a name is branded in your mind by the media does not mean that product/service is the best. Only people you know that have experienced what is good and what is not can give you that kind of information.
Good luck in your law suite.
A mechanics wife.

Ok, well, after I called AAMCO hq the next morning after Doug refused to fix my car, Angel Harris, the customer service rep said she would call Doug and find out what was going on. I never heard back from her, and everytime I called, it was either she's "out to lunch" or "on the other line". I left message after message and never got a call back.

I found Lee Jamison, the owner's, email, and let him know what was going on. He called us two days later, begging us to bring the car to his other shop here in Charleston. We did, they kept it for two days. When we get it back, the manager at the time, Bill, tells me that my driver's side axle is bad and that it was causing the axle seal to warp, causing the leak. We told him that was bull because the leak wasn't coming from anywhere near there. He then told me that if I didn't get it replaced, they wouldn't honor my warranty anymore. I told him "Yes you WILL or I will sue for fraud." He just walked off.

A couple of weeks later, the tranny started leaking AGAIN. This time, we took it to the AAMCO in Mt. Pleasant. This one is NOT owned by Lee, thank GOD. They put it on the rack, find out the main transmission seal is leaking, they are ready to fix it, but the Summerville manager refuses to allow the repair. Long story short, I called back to the Charleston store, the new manager, Jason, calls both store and finds out what the problem with the car is and why Doug is refusing to allow the repair......the just didn't want to pay the Mt. Pleasant store to fix my car. Jason begs me to allow his store to fix the car. I told them this was their last chance. I am tire of this.
So I finally get the car back a week later, and Jason's telling me that my front engine mount is bad and that unless I replace it, they won't honor my warranty......big shocker there. I take the car back to the Mt. Pleasant store, who check out the transmission and the mounts, they are fine. Nothing wrong, they don't need replaced. I take the car to two more independant transmission places who came out with the same diagnosis.

Jason has committed fraud, and now my air conditioner no longer works, as well as there is a rattle noise coming from the transmission.
So we talk to a military lawyer, he said I have a great case for fraud and to file it. I do, and now we have a court date of Aug. 16th. AAMCO hq called last week trying to settle this out of court. They offered the $55 filing fee, plus $87 from a fraud in my original receipt, they are going to pay the Mt. Pleasant store to fix my transmission and air conditioner. I told them they have until August 16th to get all this taken care of or I will go ahead with the suit. So I will update again when it's all done.
Have any questions, feel free to email me at Reneeyng515@YAHOO.COM