Auto Transmission Work/Shops Recommendations - Help

[pgrahmm]

I live in the Chiang Mai area - although will travel anywhere to get this taken care of. I have a Pajero with an automatic transmission.....this unit (V4AW3) is used in Mitsubishi, Toyota, Izusu, Volvo, General Motors, Jeep , Dodge vehicles + a few more. So, it is a common transmission application.

The concern/symptom is - intermittent OD/4th gear engagement. Worked (see below) 70% of the time.....

The OD is controlled by elec solenoids/senders/switches/etc for engagement and based on the various forums around the world 99% of the time it's an electrical malfunction or adjustment that creates the problem - not something that would warrant transmission replacement. There are tell tale signs when it's an internal problem (replacement) and it does not fit my vehicle's performance.

I recently went on a two week holiday and a buddy of mine suggested while gone I have him take the vehicle in for maintenance and get the transmission checked - fixed.....well he took it from shop to shop upon recommendations and the car was checked out. NOW I don't have to worry about intermittant OD because I have NO - OD after "adjustments" were made and electric control systems "checked".

The shop that sent it to another shop (the one that check elec function and completely crippled it) said that the transmission itself needed to be replaced - which - if fixed is fine by me (23,000TB). But - I don't want the box replaced and have the same problem.....

Anyone have experience with a shop that can diagnose & repair an automatic transmission???????

I know that there were threads a few years back asking for shop recommendations but am hoping that some places have been found since then that can be of help........whether independent or dealer level I don't care - I just want to get the work done and OD down the road again......

Thanks in advance.....

Edited July 14, 2013 by pgrahmm

[NanLaew]

To be honest, in all my years in Thailand, I don't recall ever seeing a specialist, transmission-only shop of the type that is common in the US. Now, I am not saying that is an empirical as there's a whole lot of the country and Bangkok that I have never explored. But the sheer generic nature of A/T's in LOS where one model is common across multiple brands leads me to believe that the most common approach to A/T problems that can't be resolved by doing some manufacturer recommended tests is to just replace the whole thing. To be honest 23,000 baht for a new transmission and peace of mind is peanuts compared to what a US transmission specialist would charge for a strip, repair and rebuild.

My experience with A/T's in the US was that both the problems I experienced (2 different makes/models) were internal to the transmission and nothing to do with external sensors or the electricals since they are very easy to test. Mind you, I did have an intermittent engine management systems problem that had the mechanics scratching their heads until 8 months later when the A/T noisily gave up in the car park at Olive Garden. When I mentioned this to the engine mechanics on the next truck service (after the A/T repair) they mentioned that the 'ghost' engine problem was probably due to the A/T being about to die. Go figure!

[chiang mai]

I have to agree, I searched high and low for a transmission shop in CM and couldn't find one, there doesn't seem to be anywhere that specialises in trans other than the dealers. I ended up doing what most others do and I had the trans replaced on an older Misoo Lancer, a junk yard replacement that cost 20k installed and guaranteed for seven days!

[pgrahmm]

To be honest, in all my years in Thailand, I don't recall ever seeing a specialist, transmission-only shop of the type that is common in the US. Now, I am not saying that is an empirical as there's a whole lot of the country and Bangkok that I have never explored. But the sheer generic nature of A/T's in LOS where one model is common across multiple brands leads me to believe that the most common approach to A/T problems that can't be resolved by doing some manufacturer recommended tests is to just replace the whole thing. To be honest 23,000 baht for a new transmission and peace of mind is peanuts compared to what a US transmission specialist would charge for a strip, repair and rebuild.

My experience with A/T's in the US was that both the problems I experienced (2 different makes/models) were internal to the transmission and nothing to do with external sensors or the electricals since they are very easy to test. Mind you, I did have an intermittent engine management systems problem that had the mechanics scratching their heads until 8 months later when the A/T noisily gave up in the car park at Olive Garden. When I mentioned this to the engine mechanics on the next truck service (after the A/T repair) they mentioned that the 'ghost' engine problem was probably due to the A/T being about to die. Go figure!

I don't mind the 23,000TB (but as I'm retired from the auto industry/service side - managerial) I traced the symptoms (online through various sources) and they do point to controllers versus internal. What I don;t want to do is replace the transmission and drive out with the same problem leaving the repair shop with my 23,000TB and a ? still.....with no peace of mind to be found.

The Thai's are quick on the draw of replacement but slow on diagnostics - I went from a 70% OD functional to a 0% functional OD system just by having them "check" the controllers......

From what I can find the difference in internal failure in OD is about a 200 RPM difference between 3 & OD when the pressure is lost - I still had a healthy 800 RPM difference so internally it would have seemd to be OK.

I really don't care the cost - I just want it done correctly.......