Allison 5sp: Nightmare in Idaho, Built 5spd killing Transfer Cases

Mike L.

Got Sheep?
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Aug 12, 2006
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Sure is a lot of flaky shops trying to do transmission rebuilds out there. I've been getting a lot of tech calls lately. Most of these shops think a clutch pack replacement is the end all be all. A lot of horror stories out there too.:(
 

BoiseRob

Active member
Oct 12, 2007
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Sure is a lot of flaky shops trying to do transmission rebuilds out there. I've been getting a lot of tech calls lately. Most of these shops think a clutch pack replacement is the end all be all. A lot of horror stories out there too.:(

Mike, maybe we should rename the thread “My Bad Choices in Idaho” and use it as a learning experience for others? Not that there are already hundreds/thousands of similar posts on numerous forums and people STILL don’t listen. It might be an “Ah Ha” moment for the next guy...
 

zakkb787

<that’s not me...
Sep 29, 2014
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Granite Falls NC
My question is this. If they were to put an core trans in that happened to be good, and you did not have the same issue, how could a company not own their sh!t and fix it. That right there is PROOF that they are the issue
 

2004LB7

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Dec 15, 2010
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^^ 2x

Have them put the core in then show them it works just fine which proves it was their transmission all along. Then have them refund all of the prior expenses. If they dont then take them to small claims court
 

TheBac

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Apr 19, 2008
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Based on the costs associated with these transmissions, I think we're wayyyy past "small" claims court.
 

raceghost

Animal
Sep 28, 2018
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Based on the costs associated with these transmissions, I think we're wayyyy past "small" claims court.

I am 16K out of pocket on this job already. This does not include any refunds, though there will be hopefully.
 

2004LB7

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Racegoast, If I was in your shoes I would give Steve Lehto a call or send hem an email. He is perhaps the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to this kind of situation. He specializes in lemon laws but should be more then qualified to give you directions on what to do

Law Office of Steve Lehto
LEMON LAW ATTORNEY
17200 W. Ten Mile Rd, Suite 200
Southfield MI 48075
Fax: 248-556-4456
Call: 248-546-6626
Email: [email protected]

He also has a YouTube channel where he talks about the various laws and court cases, etc. Seems like a really cool guy. While he is most likely not in your state he likely knows enough to point you in the right direction
 

Ne-max

I like turtles
Nov 15, 2011
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Certified Transmission is not a fly by the night shop. Many of them in the midwest. Not saying they are the best but are a decent factory power replacement or small tuned truck. The ones around here dont rebuild your trans. Just swap it out. Thet have a facility that is for rebuilding them. Sounds like the location is lacking the diagnostics side.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
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Apr 19, 2008
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Mid Michigan
Certified Transmission is not a fly by the night shop. Many of them in the midwest. Not saying they are the best but are a decent factory power replacement or small tuned truck. The ones around here dont rebuild your trans. Just swap it out. Thet have a facility that is for rebuilding them. Sounds like the location is lacking the diagnostics side.
This may be, and they may have a stellar reputation with stock transmission rebuilding, but in this case they seem to not know the first thing about Allison performance builds. We all know how costly a mistake (or not knowing what you're doing) can be when building one of these transmissions.
 

coalminer

New member
Nov 23, 2011
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Do you have any codes from when all this started? or any codes currently? It sounds like no good trouble shooting was done, only parts thrown.
 

raceghost

Animal
Sep 28, 2018
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Out West
Back to MikeL, and Boise Rob, and anyone else who may know: Can a bad TCM do this? Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know?

To the OP: are you able to verify by the data plate on the trans case that they did in fact just replace the trans?

Short answer, yes.

Certified Transmission is not a fly by the night shop. Many of them in the midwest. Not saying they are the best but are a decent factory power replacement or small tuned truck. The ones around here dont rebuild your trans. Just swap it out. Thet have a facility that is for rebuilding them. Sounds like the location is lacking the diagnostics side.

Two transmission's (Road Ripper 3000's) from the factory in Omaha with same issue, output shaft never stops spinning in neutral... Shop wants me to replace the TCM now... Prior to service work, electronics all worked fine. I had mechanical issues with the transfer case, 4th and 5th were slipping in the transmission and the TC was not locking like it should. But transmission was shifting like it should and transfer case was shifting like it should.

I need to know if a bad TCM, however unlikely, could cause the output shaft on the transmission to not stop spinning when it is up to operating temp.
 

raceghost

Animal
Sep 28, 2018
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Out West
x2, this should be a very easy diagnostic for the shops. The Allison has a (very basic) hydraulic failsafe mode when the rear connector is unplugged.

Ok, for clarity, what should this do or not do?
 

2004LB7

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If it continues rotating then it is a mechanical issue. If it stops then it is a TCM issue