Transfer case issues, when it rains it pours!!! Options

[SCCA Stang]

here's what went down..... the transfer case is fine.... but the transmission is screwed.... slopny pulled the trani only to find the trani has no fluid in it and the gears are cooked... I filled it with 3 quarts of GM Syncro mesh before driving it, but the transmission developed a hole in the side of the case (cause unknown) and the fluid came out and the gears fried... thanks to NCgalant for hooking me up with a trani real quick-like my car will likely hit the streets again tomorrow.... thanks Nathan....
what would cause a hole like that to happen in the side of the case right above the crossmember
I used a wood block and everything when jacking on the trani... I am stumped,
according to slopny the transmission shows no signs of penetration of the case inside or outside.... could it have been heat (its been suggested) but why would it have got that hot to crack a 2 1/2" X 1" hole in the case when the fluid was still in it???

any suggestions????

[SCCA Stang]

I found out that the cause of the hole (not a heat crack) was a result of metal parts flying out of the transmission due to the faulty rebuild.... thus the fluid spilled out everywhere.... thus the transmission got hot and the gears practically welded themselves together and the trani locked up...

after talking this matter over with Josh from SloPny, he denied liability for the transmission and now I have $280 in the initial rebuild, $300 in a used transmission, and $100 for an install = $680 for a used transmission

it seems that there is nothing that I can do except for not returning to SloPny!!!


meanwhile, the transmission that ncgalant sold me works perfect and I couldn't ask for a better shifting transmission.... Thanks ncgalant!!!!!!!

[ncgalant]

Glad to hear it shifts nice You'll have to give me a ride in that beast. How's she running now? Boost ok?

[awd4kicks]

I'm sorry to hear of your trouble with the transmission ben. Although I have no business ties with SloPny at this time, I would have to say Slo Pny is not at fault on this one though.

I viewed your transmission and the underside of your car while it was at SloPny the other day. It appears that there was no fluid in the trans, because there are no traces of fluid on the trans, around the hole in the trans, in the trans it's self or on the bottom of the car. Transmission fluid does not evaporate in any obvious manner so it is very improbably that it spilled out. having no trans fluid would lead to everything getting overheated and something finally breaking which would result in popping a hole in the trans if caught between a gear and the case.

It's pretty tough to put together a trans pourly enough that a part will break off with no other cause. If it is not due to lack of fluid, my guess would be a fatigued/used gear or a flaw in the manufaturing of a new part.

Like I said I'm not standing up for myself on this one, but I did see the results of this very unfortunate problem. That's why it's good to have a group of people like we do at DSMCentral to help each other out. Good job NCGalant!

There are no other business in the local area with such a good track record for building the DSM transmissions. And there is no one that I know of that is as affordable. Sometimes 'stuff' happens...my car is a prime example.

[SCCA Stang]

I viewed your transmission and the underside of your car while it was at SloPny the other day. It appears that there was no fluid in the trans, because there are no traces of fluid on the trans, around the hole in the trans, in the trans it's self or on the bottom of the car. Transmission fluid does not evaporate in any obvious manner so it is very improbably that it spilled out. having no trans fluid would lead to everything getting overheated and something finally breaking which would result in popping a hole in the trans if caught between a gear and the case.

I know this incident is unfortunate, however..... I DID without a doubt put fluid in the transmission (3 quarts of GM syncromesh) I physically poured the fluid while my friend (also very competent with cars) held the tube to the trans fill hole, I also had 4 other people standing right there while this procedure was being done.

also... the car drove 150 miles before it locked up and would not have gone that far with out fluid... so any and all claims that SloPny is making that I neglected to put trans fluid in the car before driving is invalid

That being said, Ben. You your self admitted to your "buddy" stating that he ragged on it while driving it back from (somewhere) I think you said slopny actually.

Now him beating on it, before it being properly broke in may and most likely did cause some sort of mechanical failure, or binding. Transmissions need time to have all the parts seat, become lubricated and so on.

So if he did infact, pound a couple of gears "while the car was cold" I personally aint suprised it failed.

my friend did rip through first, however only once the car was in motion and was solidly in gear... no launching going on.... he did not "slam" second gear either

Glad to hear it shifts nice  You'll have to give me a ride in that beast. How's she running now? Boost ok?

thanks nathan!!!!! No the car is not boosting right... I haven't had a chance to adjust the MAF translator... tomorrow I will look at it (no time tonight, and I don't know what I am doing with a translator) I will call you after I get off work

[Justincredible]

granted you may have poured the fluid in how can you be sure that it did not leak out again? I think what kicks is trying to say is that while you may have put fluid in it either A.) drained out defied physics and logic and evaporated at an increased rate.

[ICGerms]

I know this incident is unfortunate, however..... I DID without a doubt put fluid in the transmission (3 quarts of GM syncromesh) I physically poured the fluid while my friend (also very competent with cars) held the tube to the trans fill hole, I also had 4 other people standing right there while this procedure was being done.

also... the car drove 150 miles before it locked up and would not have gone that far with out fluid... so any and all claims that SloPny is making that I neglected to put trans fluid in the car before driving is invalid

Not to cause problems, but where did you find the puddle of tranny fluid. I'm not being an pooper, but you ARE calling into question the reliability and workmanship of a very established, local DSM tranny shop...and wrench-monkeys (myself included, naturally ) do make mistakes on our own cars, no matter how meticulous we think we're being. Was it OBVIOUS that ALL of the tranny fluid came out of the hole in the tranny, or could SOME have come out after you filled it, to the point that there wasn't enough to properly lubricate it causing the malfunction that lead to the hole that spilled out the remainder of fluid (sorry 'bout the run-on sentence...it was sorta a matter of train-of-thought and stream-of-consciousness )?

Oh, and instead of using the GM Syncromesh, next time try Penzoil Syncromesh from Autozone...it's MUCH cheaper .

Joe

[SCCA Stang]

I know this incident is unfortunate, however..... I DID without a doubt put fluid in the transmission (3 quarts of GM syncromesh) I physically poured the fluid while my friend (also very competent with cars) held the tube to the trans fill hole, I also had 4 other people standing right there while this procedure was being done.

also... the car drove 150 miles before it locked up and would not have gone that far with out fluid... so any and all claims that SloPny is making that I neglected to put trans fluid in the car before driving is invalid

Not to cause problems, but where did you find the puddle of tranny fluid. I'm not being an pooper, but you ARE calling into question the reliability and workmanship of a very established, local DSM tranny shop...and wrench-monkeys (myself included, naturally ) do make mistakes on our own cars, no matter how meticulous we think we're being. Was it OBVIOUS that ALL of the tranny fluid came out of the hole in the tranny, or could SOME have come out after you filled it, to the point that there wasn't enough to properly lubricate it causing the malfunction that lead to the hole that spilled out the remainder of fluid (sorry 'bout the run-on sentence...it was sorta a matter of train-of-thought and stream-of-consciousness )?

Oh, and instead of using the GM Syncromesh, next time try Penzoil Syncromesh from Autozone...it's MUCH cheaper .

Joe

to your first question..... I did not find a puddle of trani fluid

to your comment.... I understand that people make mistakes (including myself, I have made a few)

as far as my fill.... a DSM trani holds 3 quarts of fluid, I put in 3 quarts and spilled "virtually" none (maybe a few drops)

and as far as GM syncromesh vs. Penzoil.... I personally don't like Penzoil and for $2.50 a quart more I am willing to pay it, but thanks for the suggestion anyway... to me it's just personal preference

[natedogg]

Okay. So if you are sure you poured all the tranny oil into the case, it is gone now, and there wasn't a puddle under the car, where did the oil go?

On a side note, Slopny has rebuilt 2 dsm transmissions for me and they have both worked wonderfully. As far as I'm concerned Josh is the man when it comes to rebuilding manual transmissions, DSM and otherwise.

[SCCA Stang]

Not to discredit your friends fine since of judgement, but how do you know for sure what happend while he was driving it?

He didnt tell you right away that he ragged on it, so are you certain that he didnt launch, pound a few gears and left it out?

Why would someone leave that out, oh I dont know... Because its a highdollar breakable item?

well, your right... I wasn't there, but all I have is my friends word..... although I do believe that getting on it once wouldn't hurt it catastrofically, i think that this part is a mute point anyway.

The hole, does it show signs that it was pierced from the inside out, or outside in? The disappearing gear lube is an enigma. Short of someone litterally draining your tranny, which is unlikely, it had to of gone somewhere.

it shows signs that something inside the trani went through the case.... the metal is bent outward

BTW isnt penzoil synchroshift and gm syncroshift bottles filled at the same plant?

I don't know.... but I just have a personal preference against Penzoil

I know that GM Syncromesh works good, so thats probably what I will stick with

Okay. So if you are sure you poured all the tranny oil into the case, it is gone now, and there wasn't a puddle under the car, where did the oil go?

I don't know where it went... but there is still some fluid on the insides of the case.... which proves that there was fluid in it at one point in time... the gears are dry, but that is probably just because they got hot after the fluid came out of the hole

On a side note, Slopny has rebuilt 2 dsm transmissions for me and they have both worked wonderfully. As far as I'm concerned Josh is the man when it comes to rebuilding manual transmissions, DSM and otherwise.

I don't doubt that Josh has done some excelent work in the past.... I have heard numerous people vouch for that..... thats why I went there
all that I am saying is that he made some mistakes when rebuilding mine.... remember, everyone makes mistakes, its just that I think that when a mistake is made it needs to be fixed, and the customer shouldn't have to pay for it when the shop makes the mistakes..... I have talked to a couple of shop owners about this and they agree that if this happened in there shop, I would have been taken care of....
I know that they may just be saying that to "buy" my business, but that is what they say (and yes, one of them did see the trani after it came out of my car)

the two above shops will remain anominous

I am unhappy, however, I don't doubt that Josh has done quality work in the past, and I am sure he is one heck of a guy, however I just think he should have taken responsability for the work done here.... I beleive I have the right to feel that way, and will continue to feel that way until I am taken care of or until I have proof given to me that I messed something up..... and so far it has not been delivered.

I am not asking for much I would consider myself "taken care of" if I were refunded the $280 that I was charged for the rebuild.... and I have no problem paying for the used transmission, and I also have no problem with the fact that I payed $100 for the install (thats a heck of a good price)

[natedogg]

well, your right... I wasn't there, but all I have is my friends word..... although I do believe that getting on it once wouldn't hurt it catastrofically, i think that this part is a mute point anyway.

It's not a moot point if your friend was the one who broke the tranny by puttin' the hurt on it before it was broken in correctly. IMO, it was a bad decision to let anyone else drive your project that you put so much time and effort in to anyway.

I don't know.... but I just have a personal preference against Penzoil

I know that GM Syncromesh works good, so thats probably what I will stick with

Just fyi, Pennzoil syncromesh and GM syncromesh are chemically identical.

I am unhappy, however, I don't doubt that Josh has done quality work in the past, and I am sure he is one heck of a guy, however I just think he should have taken responsability for the work done here.... I beleive I have the right to feel that way, and will continue to feel that way until I am taken care of or until I have proof given to me that I messed something up..... and so far it has not been delivered.

So you want him to take responsibility for something that you or your friend may have screwed up? How can you ask for proof that you messed up when you don't have any proof that it was Slopny that messed up? As a matter of fact, I do see proof that you may have messed up, not Slopny. The fact that your friend pounded on the car not 5 miles after the xmsn was rebuilt. The fact that you can't find any traces of oil leaking out, yet nevertheless there is no oil in the case. If something like this went to court, you'd lose and you'd eat the cost guaranteed as there is evidence against you, not Slopny. This may seem harsh, but its the truth. As many on here know, I've never been very good at mincing words.

Just as a side note, you've chosen the wrong board to badmouth Slopny. All of us on here have been treated well by Josh and his business. If you have a problem with Slopny you need to take it to Josh, not the internet. This public business bashing never ends good.

[natedogg]

Not necessarily. Publicly bashing a business in ways which are not or may not be true in written or typed form is defined as libel which isn't covered under the right to freedom of speech, in fact its against civil law. I personally don't think that gsxracer has taken it that far. I just don't want to see it get there.

[mitsu90]

What BOGEL'S blink.gif my mind about the hole thing watching the tranny being taken out of the car is were did the fluid go then?

is it at all possible that someone a slopny could have drained the tranny and for got to refill it? I'm not treing to blame anyone just wondering if it could of happened?

[SCCA Stang]

it seesm to me that the only evidence against me, is the opinion of some people that I failed to perform my duties (put trani fluid in the trani), but it is not true (I have witnesses, and I personnally poured the fluid in the car and if anyone disputes that, too bad, cause I did)
the other is speculation that my friend beat on my car
which can not be true, because the car wouldn't even build boost in second.... and my freind even mentioned that too me....
I do not feel that building 10 or so lbs of boost in first, once, is beating on the car
he only drove it a block or two (to my place)
after that I drove it to Pekin and back (went to work) and I did not get on it at all

plus that the car had more than 5 or so miles (it had probably close to 50) maybe not broke in, but it did have some significant mileage

lets also mention the fact that I have been with my friend when he has driven cars that did not belong to him (and also not mine) and he drives them with the utmost respect.... also he spent almost as much time on this project as I did, and he knows how much this car means to me (any cars that I have ever owned were always "more that just a car" to me)

[Justincredible]

I think its less people saying you didnt put fluid un but more people saying where did it go?

[SCCA Stang]

I think its less people saying you didnt put fluid un but more people saying where did it go?

and unfornunately, nobody has an answer, including myself