tranny builders--advice please!

[02WS6dream]

I have learned a lot reading posts from our tranny guys (performabuilt and others) and now need some quality advice! My A4 (02 T/a) was rebuilt by a local place a 1 1/2 ago. Got it back with clicking when I started the car, flywheel cracked and broke several months later. Thursday, I was leaving my driveway for class and noticed a puddle of trans fluid under the car. Got it to the shop i now use (not a trans shop) and they found a blown front seal. Replaced it, test drove it, and blew again on their test drive. They are pulling it again monday to check it out further. I have spent a LOT in the past 2 years on this car, and the trans, and am needing to stop throwing money at it. So, what is the wisest thing to do here??? Does this problem indicate that i'm going to be having other tranny problems in the future; or is it something i should just fix and go on. Should I have this trans rebuilt by a different, very highly recommended local shop (the first shop is also very highly recommended). Or should I look into a new trans altogether? A new GM or perhaps a rebuilt one from a sponser perhaps :) .... Sorry for the long post, just need some good, objective advice before i throw more money at this and i know you guys are great! :worship:

[LETHALxLS1]

Take it back to the people that rebuilt the trans. Have you changed the shift points on your car? If so it may have something to do with that. Good Luck

[02WS6dream]

thx lethal! No--no tuning at all done on the car, barely any mods at all--just cat back and lid. Haven't taken it back to guys that built it because it went out of warranty in august--and though they may have built a great trans (i don't know yet) there were other probs surrounding the rebuild that keeps me from letting them work on it anymore. (clicking/flywheel issue in addition to breaking my oil sensor harness, leaking cooler line, etc...)

[LETHALxLS1]

Ahh I see what you mean. I wouldnt take it back to them either.

[performabuilt]

Well if the flex plate broke then likley it in turn damaged the front pump bushing and this is why you keep blowing front seals, They will need to remove the pump and replace the bushing then the seal. This does require complete disassembly if the pump.:(

[02WS6dream]

well--at least that is consistant with what my mechanic said. How likely is it that other parts were damaged? The flywheel was replaced back in august and the seal just blew--anything else that may be ready to give? Thanks for the feedback!

[02blkws6]

+1 and it is not too difficult of a job to do. Parts are maybe $10 and labor should be in the $300 maybe a little higher range.

Well if the flex plate broke then likley it in turn damaged the front pump bushing and this is why you keep blowing front seals, They will need to remove the pump and replace the bushing then the seal. This does require complete disassembly if the pump.:(

[02WS6dream]

This is all actually pretty good news... a thousand dollar repair bill is better than a $2500 trans replace or a $1000 bill this month...and next month...and next month... Like to drive the car and not worry about it breaking on me--drive 2000 mile round trip to NC at least once a year and like to take other trips in it too! Thanks again guys--love this site!

[LETHALxLS1]

Let us know the outcome man.

[02WS6dream]

this is getting old.... Still in the damn shop! I talked to him briefly yesterday and said he was waiting to get it back from trans. shop. Never knew he was sending it out! So waiting for a friend to get out of class so i can go have a face-to-face.

[02blkws6]

$1k bill for fixing front pump.... Ouch

[02WS6dream]

don't know yet...when i talked to him today the tranny was on its way back from where they had sub-ed it to a trans. shop to do the pump seal or whatever. He didn't have my estimate updated from last thursday when it was right below 600 to have the front seal replaced. Wonder what this pump seal deal will add????

[LETHALxLS1]

uh oh-doesnt sound cheap if a seal was fuckin $600 ouch my buthole hurts all the way over here!

[02WS6dream]

just got off the phone... instead of getting it this morning now its late today... estimate is $707. Not mad at the shop; great guys there, just frustrated that I'm missing class right now and no car for a week. Had two WS.6's pass by me while walking to class the other day--jealousy!

[Spikito]

Thats a bitch man, i was in the Fridays parking lot today, looking for you're car, lol. Who do you go to in Tyler? my guy is 65 miles away and he seems to have a hard time getting me in.

[02WS6dream]

Engines Express--its on New Copeland just before it meets Paluxy. Good guys in there-very honest and thorough. Not the cheapest place, but the only good place i've found to work on my car. Sometimes I call friends at ABC auto parts to get cheaper parts and always have E.E. do the work that I can't do. Still don't have the car...they got the tranny back yesterday and put it back in the car today...they did a trans. flush and replaced fluid/filter and wanted to let it sit over night under pressure to be sure it was no longer leaking. Wish i had the car, but i appreciate the thorough-ness. They know me and my car now by name and are very nice to work with! And they stay very busy--a disguised benefit--don't want an unpopular mechanic!

[02WS6dream]

Got the car back finally!!!

[mghawk57]

And ???? - What happened?

[LETHALxLS1]

Must be ok or he would be bitchin!!! He prolly was going out and couldnt give all the details. I know how that is after being without a car for a little while.

[02WS6dream]

Well F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Drove the car by the dealership to pick up some things, then home--a total of about 15 miles after i picked it up this morning. I then went to leave 2 hours later to get a hair cut, and what do I find???? A huge f'kn puddle of trans fluid!! Look under the car and have a steady drip. So i took it back, and its a'flowin' even with the car off. From the bell housing... The pump bushing, seal, some gasket, were all just replaced. they did fluid exchange also--WTF is going on with my car??? Is the trans perm. trashed? Im afraid of the news i will get monday...went and drove an 05 GTO and an 03 'vette today; but just reassured me that i don't want to part from mine. What do you guys think? Performabuilt--keepin' your email close; if i get bad news I'll be in touch! Sorry for all the bitchin'--just very disappointed and frustrated and worried about what its going to take to get this right.

[02WS6dream]

the guys at the shop, including owner, looked at it immediately. They couldn't figure what was going on-said all they could do is pull it back out Monday and look into it further and try to find out why its leaking. Said since its doing it even without running there may be a cracked case or something. confusing, and doesn't sound promising...

[Spikito]

thats a bitch, there must be something seriously wrong thats not getting noticed, fucked up pump maybe? almost sounds like you need to bite the bullet and get a new tranny.

[02WS6dream]

ya--that's what i'm afraid of--not easy to justify that cost w/90000 miles...especially after having spent 1750.00 to have it rebuilt 1.5 years ago....

[slims00ls1z28]

Sounds a little more than just a trashed bushing or gasket. The pump case itself could be cracked or the pump drive on the tq converter cracked. Seen that happen a few times but would cause the same situations you are describing. Still not a whole tranny, I would hope although that someone able to diagnose or build a trans would catch something like that when it's apart.

[performabuilt]

If they replaced all that I would strongly suggest pesure testing the converter , I have seen them leak at the welds

[02WS6dream]

Sounds a little more than just a trashed bushing or gasket. The pump case itself could be cracked or the pump drive on the tq converter cracked. Seen that happen a few times but would cause the same situations you are describing.

If they replaced all that I would strongly suggest pesure testing the converter , I have seen them leak at the welds

I will mention these when i talk to them tomorrow. thanks for continuing to read and give feedback on this thread!!!

[02blkws6]

This is sounding like a similar problem that I had with a Jeep Grand Cherokee after I pulled a few tree stumps out. I pulled the tranny out 3 times before I figured out what the problem was.


I put the torque converter on a vacuum with soapy water and found a 3/4'' crack on the neck of the converter. By the time I figured out that the converter was junk, the tranny was now in need of a rebuild too.

[02WS6dream]

thank you 02blkws6-another vote for cracked TC. Where in IL you from? I grew up in Emington (pop: 150 :) ). Was right between Bloomington/Normal and Joliet on I55--hour either way.

[02WS6dream]

ok--cars back and 9hrs (only about 10 miles) into no more leaking!!! You guys rock--They replaced TORQUE CONVERTOR. Garage owner said trans. shop supposedly pressure tested tc when it was there first time having all this sealing done, but had a skeptical tone/look too. Long ass time to get it figured out---but hey--got it back today (75 degrees!) with t-tops off!!!! You guys know how great that is! but back to 55 high tomorrow...got it in the nick of time--for 10 miles...

[Spikito]

heck yeah, i was sittin at the redlight at the loop and broadway today, started to look for your car at fridays but figured it was in the shop, were planning on working on my car on the 10th or 11th, probably the later.

[02WS6dream]

cool spikito! yeh--got it back for now (crossed fingers!) Looking for a nice day to get it cleaned up--got nasty at the shop--and trans fluid all over the bottom and exhaust makes for an unpleasant smell! And, again, not sure if i'll be free; no set plans, but if i'm not doing anything it would be fun to lend ya a hand over break!

[02blkws6]

Edwardsville, it is northeast of STL by about 20 minutes.

thank you 02blkws6-another vote for cracked TC. Where in IL you from? I grew up in Emington (pop: 150 :) ). Was right between Bloomington/Normal and Joliet on I55--hour either way.