Very disappointed ☹️.
First, despite telling me my transmission was NO GOOD and that it would cost me $3600 for a new one, in the MIDST of telling me this he INSISTED I pay a $50 fee for the diagnosis (ie read the codes which I could do for free at O'Reilly's; & test drive ) .
A reputable place tells you UP FRONT if there is a so-called "diagnostic fee". I could have LEGALLY OBJECTED to paying anything at all since they didn't tell me up front but they have their whole FREAKIN FAMILY in the office ready to pounce on you . My feeling is that this place is top-heavy with excessive workers making them DESPERATE for every penny. Beware of a desperate mechanic shop.
Second, it's looking more and more like all I really needed was some fresh transmission fluid. I'm still in the verification process but that's what it's looking like.
And I was literally on the verge of going to this place he recommended that buys cars and selling it for a low price thinking the repair cost is more than the vehicle is worth. He spoke with such bombastic blustering confidence saying he doubted I would even make it to Shoshoni, let alone Jackson blah blah blah.
The truth is there were some codes indicating problems with the transmission- that is true- but that's because the transmission fluid was so hot and burned out (in conjunction with the extreme weather 🌡️ heat).
I even asked to try a transmission fluid change & he scoffed and again said " that might help you get to Shoshoni but that's about it". He seemed fixated on Shoshone.
Fact is that same night I drove through the night through Shoshone to Thermopolis and there I took care of things.
Furthermore, during all of this he started acting like an interrogator: when I mentioned the problems first starting in Colby Kansas he said suspiciously
" I thought you were coming from Laramie.."
Yes, I was coming from Laramie yesterday, but prior to that I was coming from Denver and prior to Denver I was coming from Kansas City & Colby Kansas is in between.
And prior to Kansas City I was in Pittsburgh and prior to Pittsburgh I was in Buffalo prior to Buffalo I was in Cleveland etc etc. Did he think I was going to tell him my life story?
Fact is I've been driving across the country since May from California to New York and now back to CA. But my plan was to stop in Jackson for a few days WHERE I USED TO LIVE on the way back to CA . And no, I am not a Californian. I grew up in Michigan & Iowa and have since lived in Hawaii, Spain,Costa Rica, & California among other places.
Anyways, instead of selling my car for half of what it's worth or paying for a new transmission for twice what my car is worth, I have been in the process of doing a gradual transmission fluid change & and it seems to be working, for less than $100.
A good transmission place would have taken a sample of my transmission fluid and seen that it was BURNT and BLACK. And the first thing to try should be a GRADUAL transmission fluid change. I figured that out on my own without any mechanical training. I take out a Quart from the top, and put in a quart from the top. Then I drive & let it mix . And repeat. Until I've replaced about 8 quarts at least.
There's only two reasons why a transmission shop wouldn't suggest this: either 1) they're obtuse , or 2) this isn't very profitable for them ( nonetheless you got to take the good with the bad as a for-profit Enterprise . You can't mislead customers just because you think you can get away with it. That's called dishonesty. And it's illegal to recommend something a customer doesn't really need.
