I'd love to see these businesses set up ...maybe a GoPro camera and take video or sequencial pics of the rebuild taking place and supply the customer a DVD of the whole rebuild on completion.
I went through the process of trying to decide whether to rebuild my '01 TD5 Disco transmission myself, go through the Ashcroft ordeal or use a local.
I ended up using a local (supposed) specialist transmission place in Perth to do the job which cost $5000.
It was an exchange transmission which was supposed to have been rebuilt ... using old original components if they were ok and replacement of any faulty parts as required.
They did the exchange and after picking the vehicle up and taking it for a test drive (at the end of the day just before dark), I found that the engine revs were much higher, the TC was not locking up and transmission temperature went through the roof. And that was without my caravan attached!!
I looked under the car and the first thing I noticed was that the transmission housing was covered in what appeared to be corrosion ... and, without being cleaned, had been sprayed with silver paint.
On returning to the 'transmission specialist' I got into them over the dodgy 'rebuild' stating that it looked to me like the transmission had just been pulled out of a wreck and installed into mine without anything else being done. They apologised profusely making a range of excuses and had the transmission removed and replaced again, having a couple of 'mechanics' work through the night to 'rebuild' it. As it turned out, the transmission now in the vehicle was my own original unit (I know it was my original because it was spotlessly clean and I had maked it).
I drove the vehicle again and it seemed to be OK but was left with a very sour taste in my mouth as to whether anything much had actually been done for my $5000!!
I was given a 1 year/ 20,000km warranty and thought to myself .... if I'd pulled a tranny out of a wrecked Disco.... I'd probably have gotten 20,000km out of it anyhow.
I didn't get it rebuilt to get 20,000km out of it ... I got it done to last another 250,000km and to be able to RELY on it when out in the middle of nowhere.
Needless to say, I have been reluctant to go remote and don't have the confidence in the vehicle that I used to have .... which really ****es me off!!
As I mentioned in my opening paragraph ... evidence of what you are paying for as opposed to what has ACTUALLY been done would go a long way to ensuring a level of trust in the industry. After all, this is not a cheap job and one needs to be fairly confident that if you go bush ... your not going to be stuck out there because of some 'shonky' mechanic trying to make a quick buck at someone elses expense .... and possible life.
Anyone wanting to know the so called 'specialists' I used in Perth .... feel free to send me a PM.
PS... I was initially reluctant to use this crowd but after quite a bit of research and a number of recommendations from members on this forum as well, I decided to use them.
In hindsight I later thought to myself, many of those recommending this crowd may well not have had much mechanical knowledge themselves ... something we on this
forum take for granted.
2001 Disco 2 - EU3 TD5 Auto
(Build Date: 08/01)
Mods: 2" Lift, HD Springs, Rear Bags,
ECU upgrade, IC, Silicone Pipes, EGR, De-web,
Digital EGT, Boost & Trans, 160W Spots,
12000lb Winch, Icom UHF & Codan NGT HF
245 75R16 Toyo 'Open Country' M/T's
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