'94 Tracker tranny rebuild cost

deeptexas · 10-10-2008, 06:01 PM

Hi. I've got a '94 Tracker 4X4 with about 70K miles. The auto tranny has never shifted right (won't change gear until warmed up). I finally took it to a local reputable shop. They tore it down and want $1700 to rebuild it with a years warranty. Said it's so high because it's really badly damaged and they need to replace a pump and torque converter. Does anyone think I should do this? First I said forget it but now I'm thinking it might be worth it. I only paid fiften hundred for the car and have a couple hundred more in it for a new timing belt. It runs well other than the tranny though. I know I can get a used ebay trans for a few hundred but no real guarantees there so I hate to do that since this slipping is pretty common amongst older Trackers. What do y'all think?

Deeptexas
Brazoria, TX

Evil-Erik · 10-11-2008, 06:00 AM

i haven't priced it out yet but i plan on getting a junkyard tranny (the 3 spd auto) and having it rebuilt and swapped in or if i have time and a place to do it (not allowed to rebuild an engine or transmission in a college dorm room i checked)i was going to rebuild an engine and tranny to swap in. it might be cheaper to buy another trans than have yours fixed. just my 2 cents i never really deal with a shop im not a big fan of the ones in the area so i usually do it myself with the hellp of some buddies

jtgh · 10-11-2008, 09:44 PM

whole car for $1400

1995 suzuki sidekick/geo tracker

whole tranny $200
89-98 Geo Tracker,Sidekick 3spd Automatic Tranny 4X4

i love craigs.

jtgh · 10-11-2008, 09:54 PM

you never said 4 sp or 3 sp , big diff there.

Suzuki Automatic Transmissions - Search @ Car Parts Retail

3sp is $1k

rickf · 10-12-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtgh

Suzuki Automatic Transmissions - Search @ Car Parts Retail

3sp is $1k

Plus installation and shipping 2 ways~core

Sorry, but this is what it cost to do a rebuild of any brand late auto trans(all the electronics). Only you can say if it is worth it or not.70K is not a lot of miles on a kick
rickf

jtgh · 10-12-2008, 01:43 PM

its a 94, buy one that runs for less than the cost of the tranny!

then use the old one for parts.
or
or sell the old one as is , and bingo , you just had some one buy 1/2 your tranny.
I see bad tranny kicks go for $500 all the time.

lots of choices. even more....

that shipping costs? find a local supplier. call up your local auto stores and ask them
who the major tranny rebuilders are , shortest distance from you.
then buy one have it delivered to your mech. (ask him if that is ok ,many make money on the parts and the labor. blush)
That LINK was just one supplier, there are many across the N American continent. Just a example supplier.

1K unit, shipping, labor. warranttees can stack (the supplier and the installer)

there are many cars sitting in yards, with dead slush pumps , they are everywhere.
for the reasons you say.

as stated by others , only you can say what the car is worth to you.?
if you wanted a kick and not a 5sp stick, I'd go buy a 4sp now ( and forget the 3sp)

you never said what yours is ? 3sp or 4?
the 4sp is vastly better automatic and will increase the MPG quite a bit.
it might even pay for itself , in the near future.

when the recession ends, the cost of fuel will step up again. (ask OPEC)

deeptexas · 10-13-2008, 06:56 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll tow it home for now and think about it. Is installing a 3 speed (which is what it is) pretty simple? Any gotchas?

aquanaut20 · 10-13-2008, 12:33 PM

for what it is worth, and if you are a wrencher.

A master kit to rebuild is $107.00 at Rockauto, RockAuto Parts Catalog

A 5% discount code is available.

They are fairly straight forward to work on, just takes time and patience.

Buy the rebuild manual as well, about $25-30.

When you are finished you can say "I did this myself"

I was scared the first time I ripped into an auto, but it is still churning out the miles, (148k on an A4ld, 92 Ford Exploder)

CodyJ · 10-13-2008, 08:24 PM

A buddy of mine had a 91' Mazda MPV that has 172k on it. The tranny started slipping in 4th then got to 3rd. It was as simple as the clutches to replace and the gaskets, which totaled to be under $140. He drove it for some time and has now parked it due to him buying a 89' Mustang GT... but I am sure it still works as intended if the battery was still in it!

Were in Texas do you live? I can find you a decent tracker to maybe rip a tranny from at a local junkyard here in Killeen/Waco for cheaper price than what you were stated.