Trouble at the dealership...

[tlocus]

Greetings,

Well I went to the dealer today to get a tranny flush and filter change and the tech said he couldn't do it because there was a whinning sound coming from either the front diff., the transfer case or the rear diff.

(And at the time he thought it could be the tranny so for liability issues he couldn't flush/filter job)

 

They checked the tranny fluid color etc... and they said it looked good. The rear diff. was good too(I recently dropped the cover and added a new gasket and fluid).

 

Soo, he said it's either the front diff. or the transfer case. Needs to be removed checked/rebuilt etc... They couldn't pinpoint it to one or the other.

 

The truck drives fine, shifts fine, 4wd-fine. I didn't even notice the noise.

 

He did say the front diff. fluid needed changing and so they changed that.

 

What should I do?

Just drive it until something happens-try another dealer?

 

btw, truck has 160,000 on the ODO.

[whmayhew]

I would run it.

[c4cruiser]

The "tech" couldn't tell where the noise was coming from?? It sounds like this guy was nothing more than the oil change guy.

 

A GM-trained or ASE-Certified technician would have found the noise and recommended the necessary repair or replacement of the component.

 

Find a reputable auto repair shop that will treat you right.

[Dragon Slayer]

I would run it.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Take it to another dealer..

[radill]

 

Just like going to the Doctor, go get a second opinion....maybe even a third.

[Rolandd]

If the tranny is giving you no issues, leave it alone unless you push it hard (towing, regularly hauling heavy loads, etc.). At this point in the tranny's life changing the fluid can spell the death of it. All the asbestos from the clutches is in suspension in the oil and the oil is less slick. Changing the oil gets rid of additional friction material for the clutches and the new oil means the clutches have to work harder to grab--all increasing the odds that the clutches will slip and overheat, burning up the tranny. Many cars are now going to sealed trannys so at least some manufacturers (BMW, Mercedes, and a few high end Japanese cars) believe that their systems will last the life of the car.

[svensk]

What does a powertrain flush cost at the dealer?

[fossil]

Go to another dealer. Obviously this guy is incompetent and the dealership questionable for having him on staff. Any qualified tech will give you a proper diagnosis and repair.

[tlocus]

Thanks for all of your replies.

 

I guess I might try and get a second opinion.

 

What does a powertrain flush cost at the dealer?

 

When I first arrived he said $300 for flush and filter change, I did get him to come down some on the price... At another dealer they asked $ 230-250.

 

The invoice (for the only work done there) said:

Front diff. fluid service

Front diff. service with synthetic fluid

 

Fluid was $80.91

Labor was $86.00

 

Total came to $174.32