Ford had identified a problem with the solenoids and were recommending a complete transmission replacement for $9k. That's a cost higher than they would give me in trade in value so I came to JL Automatic Transmissions for a second opinion. He gave me two options; replace transmission for $6k or replace solenoids and recondition torque converter for $2.5k. My husband didn't get a good feeling about him so we got a third opinion and that company quoted me $3.5k for the solenoids and torque converter work.
I came back to JL Auto based on price.
What a mistake.
He waited until my transmission was on his workshop floor to push the starting price out to $4.5k and then tell me the torque converter was shot and whilst his subbie would attempt to recondition it if he couldn't and I needed a new one it was a further $2.5k. So all up my costs might push out from the initial $2.5k to more than $6k - more than the cost of a whole new transmission. My mistake was not insisting on a written quote, but when you meet this guy you will understand.
The torque converter isn't such an issue. I accept that risk was on me, but we certainly had a open and honest discussion about the increase in the starting price for no apparent reason. However, when I challenged the $4.5k his response was that I should speak to my husband! Yep, in 2023 that was an actual comment. At the time I was angry, now I think it's funny. Bless him.....
The next day, following discussions with various men in my life (!), in order to resolve the situation I asked what the firmed up cost of a new transmission would be. John told me to call Ford and get the price myself. When I noted that I wasn't comfortable to do that because the price they would give me and the price they give him would be different he started yelling about not dropping his price and putting my car on a tow truck to send it back to me and hung up on me.
So, in summary; this guy is all the cliches of a dodgy mechanic. Dishonourable, misogynistic and unreasonable.
Clearly this is going to cost waaaay more than the initial price, but lets see just how much.....to be continued! read more