Chevrolet Repair: 1991 Chevy Camaro transmission repair, chevy camaro, water intrusion

Question
QUESTION: I just had the transmission rebuilt on my son's 1991 chevy camaro on August 10, 2007......It recently started slipping again and got to the point where the car would not even go over 20 mph.  We took the car back to the repair shop because the transmission had a 1 year or 12,000 mile warranty.  The repair shop is telling me that the transmission needs to be completely rebuilt (including a new core) because the radiator cracked on the inside.  They said it has caused the transmission to completely rust.  According to the repair shop the radiator was not messed up prior to leaving their shop and they are refusing to cover the transmission.....they want to charge me 1700 dollars to rebuild the transmission and another 500 for the radiator. Also, we were told that the radiator did not have transmission fluid in it but the transmission pan was full of water.  Is this possible and if so would it cause that much damage in a matter of 6 months?  one more thing after rebuilding the transmission they forgot to put the motor mount on......could that have caused a problem...we had to take the car back a month later for them to fix the motor mount once we realized that it was messed up.

ANSWER: hmmmmm,

 Thats a tough call.  Thats where experience comes in to play and most specifically honesty.  The big question is why does it need a case.  If water intrusion was the only problem it should have just deteriorated the clutches.  There is the possibility that a sprag or roller clutch seized and took out the case but only the re builder is going to know that.  I can't see someone up selling a case if thats the story as they surely would have known how delicate the situation was and try and work iwth you on the repair a bit.
 The big problem is that the history quality of repair is now hypothetical.  An experienced transmission shop puts in aftermarket coolers and inline filters in the right scenario.  That vehicle has a plastic welled aluminum core rad and should be inspected very closely.  The cooler is an intricate part of the transmission and although it is the radiator it could arguably be called part of the transmission because the cooler is a closed loop fluid system.  Considering the vehicle is going on 18 years old an external cooler would have been a good suggestion when the tranny was rr'd.  They typically work better and provide better cooling and most of all provide insurance.  Hindsight is always 2020.  I would ask them about it though. And no, a motor mount will not adversely affect the trans


w

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If the repair shop noticed that the pan under the transmission had water would they need to take the entire transmission apart to figure out if the radiator had cracked and leaked?  I am having a major issue with the place that rebuilt my son's transmission and the stories are just getting bigger.  After a quote of 2300 dollars in damage we decided to just have them flush the transmission and get the radiator repaired.....all of a sudden they are refusing to put the transmission back together....why did they take it apart in the first place?  We just requested that they find out what the problem was....we never agreed to them fixing the transmission......would that be common practice?

Answer
First off I don't know what your rules are where you are but in Ontario Canada there is the consumer protection act for automotive service and repair.  We have to provide a written estimate before we so much as look at a bolt on the car unless we are willing to work for free.  You did not authorize someone to dismantle your vehicle then expect it back in the same condition you dropped it off.  UNLESS the inspection facility explained this to you.  If they didn't ask or inform you that your vehicle was going to be dismantled they can't really do that.  Thats like asking an electrician for an estimate for a panel and they come over and knock a wall out before pricing the job or telling you they would.
 It would be very unusual for a facility to do that without authorization.  I sure as hell wouldn't.  Especially since they built the tranny in the first place.  Do they have absolutely no heart whatsoever? You would think that considering you trusted them in the first place they would reciprocate the favor and return you your vehicle to a state of assembly. Besides.  At this point its going to cost you more to have someone else do it.  If someone brings crap taken apart to my shop the rules change. Doesn't sound like they have any sympathy for the situation at all.  You could flush the tranny and just put an after market cooler on it and put fittings in where the tranny lines go.
 I don't understand why they would refuse to put it back together unless they can't because someone isn't being truthful.
 On the other hand maybe they went as far as they could to diagnose the problem and the rad just split with no warning.  They may have many hours involved in removing the transmission to identify the defects and extent of damage.  You can't do many trans repairs without removal and complete disassembly especially if there is water contamination.  YOu would have to flush it for a day or so and use a huge amount of trans fluid.

sorry

Wayne