My son's 99 Lexus is having transmission problems - anyone know of a good transmission shop in Hollywood area? He took it to the nearest Pep Boys and they estimated $1900. We're still looking. Thanks, John
Good luck. that may be as close as he can get. Even an older Chevy 700R4 rebuilt tranny is over $1500. Add fluid and installation and it ain't cheap for any of them.
Excellent reviews in Yelp for this shop: Integrity Auto Services (now co-located with the New Seoul Auto Center) 2224 W. Temple St, Los Angeles 90026 Tel: 213-568-9287 Owner: John Yi Yelp reviews: http://www.yelp.com/biz/integrity-auto-services-los-angeles#query:Transmission Repair .......................................................... Also: Sunset Transmission 411 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 Neighborhood: Westlake (213) 483-8092 Yelp reviews: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sunset-transmission-los-angeles#query:Transmission Repair
I don't know about where you live, but where I lived all the mechanics that no one else would hire ended up at Pep Boys. Maybe things have changed since then.
Do you feel up to it? One of the guys is going to do his own, using a rebuild kit ($190) and a DVD tutorial (bottom of the first page): http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29352
I would not even THINK about a do it yourself on the Lexus transmission! It is a fairly complex unit, and the electronics make it a 'thinker', which in my world rhymes with "stinker", but that is just me. $1,900 for the re and re plus rebuild is cheap for one of those transmissions. My boss had to redo the transmission in his Infinity G-20, and the transmission alone was $3,000, parts and labour. Then there was the rotted out radiator support that broke when they went to pull the transmission, plus the rad that broke when it hit the floor, plus, plus. By the time he was done, the bill was almost $6,000! For a car that had 250,000 miles on the clock then! It is up to 301,000 now, and still going strong.
Well, we ended up going to Aamco - the boy is learning an expensive lesson about maintaining your vehicle...$1400 estimate from them but who knows what they'll find when they tear into it. He'll get the bill next week -stay tuned.
Good luck and hope they do it right! And so much for maintaining a transmission. The one in this THING I drive is not serviceable, and there is no way to check the level. Drive til it drops then rebuild. UGH. Still, 458,000 km, or over 280,000 miles, and still going strong!
