Ideas on buying used van rebuilt transmission?

[SHELK]

Several of the better deals I see on Craigslist show a rebuilt or new replaced transmission. 


Mechanics out there... does this just show potential future engine issues?

Some of these vans appear to be pretty great deals with fairly low miles and some come with warranty on the new tranny. 

Is this a deal to look for? Or avoid?

Seems to me if the replacement worked well you would choose to keep the van not sell for a potential loss? 

Just curious about your take.

 

[Gary68]

if they rebuilt it in the shed,walk away

if they dont have paperwork its just heresay

if they have paperwork/warranty from a proper transmission shop,thats a good thing

 

[SHELK]

Okay cool, thanks for that!!!

 

[Ballenxj]

if they rebuilt it in the shed,walk away

if they dont have paperwork its just heresay

if they have paperwork/warranty from a proper transmission shop,thats a good thing

This is what I would say as well. I bought a van that needed a transmission right off the bat. I paid $1700. for that trans rebuild.
They're not cheap, and if somebody really did have one rebuilt in a proper shop, I don't think they would just throw the receipt away.
When I sold that van, the paperwork went with it.

 

[djkeev]

I find it humorous? That in the general world of "mechanics" that they are basically regarded as money grabbing greedy incompetent "necessities" of modern Life and that if you want it done correctly and affordably, do the repair yourself!

......... Until............

One utters the word "transmission".

Suddenly these greedy lowlifes transform into wonderous capable and infallible demi-gods demanding and getting huge sums of money to fix the mysterious magic box that propels us forward.

Give me a break! They're the same people! They are removing worn parts and installing new parts. No magic here folks.
I wonder how the auto transmission repair industry created this illusion?
They deserve a lot of praise for their ingenious marketing of complexity and fear.

Dave

 

[LeeRevell]

Why buy a rebuilt transmission? Buy a good van instead. Similar price and save time and labor costs.

 

[djkeev]

Why buy a rebuilt transmission?  Buy a good van instead.  Similar price and save time and labor costs.

???????  Please explain what you mean? 
Mamy people purchase a unit thinking it's just fine and a few thousand miles later...... It needs a transmission. 

Do you have a secret about buying a used Van and KNOWING that it will never need expensive transmission repairs? 

Dave

 

[LeeRevell]

Just that most folks don't really want to deal with buying a rebuilt tranny. Then you have to find a good mech to swap it. Hard, that.
Better to get a better vehicle up front, if you can afford it. Buy older, it's even odds.
But, it's all about personal preferences.

 

[ArtW]

I tried rebuilding an automatic transmission once
It is complex
So, after tearing it down and getting confused, I bought a 'rebuilt' on from a transmission shop
3 months later, it failed
So I bought on out of a junk yard
never had another trans problem with that car'Now INSTALLING a transmission, that's not complex at all, anyone can pull that off

 

[SternWake]

Depends on the vehicle and transmission.

If the owner has paperwork from a reputable shop then I'd consider it. If not, then no freaking way.

Having my a-500/42re transmission rebuilt, cost 2600$.

NO problems with it in the subsequent 80K miles though.

Engine rebuilt 40K miles after transmission was. It could have gone longer for sure with just a new head.

 

[SHELK]

Yep. All stuff that I have been pondering.
Like why would a dude pay $2500 on a rebuilt tranny and sell a month later for $3600?

The one I am looking at is really nice for a 96.
He doesn't speak English well at all but has paper work.

It's a dang good deal On many levels and of course that has me wondering why he is selling at this price when most in our market are $1000 higher or more.

 

[GrayWhale]

I don't think there's an exact formula for any of this. Rebuilt tranny with paperwork is great. Although a shoddy rebuild is not that great, ie. like AAMCO.

Buying a junk yard tranny is a crap shoot. If it doesn't work or last long, you'd have to pay again to have it taken out, lug it back to the junk yard with another vehicle to get an exchange (rarely a refund) if you're still under the junk yard's 30-90 day warranty. Then you'd have to lug the replacement tranny back to your mechanic and pay to have it installed. What if it fails again?

If someone says it's a rebuilt tranny and he's selling it at about the same price as similar vans (similar year, mileage, condition, etc.) that are on their original tranny, then I would consider that a bonus, even if they don't have a receipt. He really didn't need to tell you that it was a rebuilt tranny for the extra hassle of having to prove it.

Trannies are known to fail after certain number of miles, especially in these vans that usually tow stuff. Now if they're asking a decent amount more money due to the rebuilt, then yes, I'd ask to see the receipts.

 

[SHELK]

So I found out more. He speaks good english, just doesnt write emails well.

He is a mechanic and has done 90% of the work on the van. Water pump,brakes, ignition coil, he didn't trust himself on the tranny tho. He pulled it and brought it to ABC transmission. They rebuilt it and he put it back. So the paperwork is on the rebuild. And has a 5 year 50k warranty.

He seems way cool, he is fine with me taking it to a shop for inspection.

Gonna see it Saturday. Fingers crossed! It seems great for what I want.
Only 111k miles on it.

Thanks for all the help!!!!

 

[Ballenxj]

So I found out more.  He speaks good english, just doesnt write emails well.
<-----snip---->
Gonna see it Saturday. Fingers crossed! It seems great for what I want.
Only 111k miles on it.

Sounds good if that's everything he said. Good Luck.

 

[ArtW]

Sounds like a winner, maybe

 

[Ballenxj]

Sounds like a winner, maybe

That does sound like a positive maybe?

 

[GrayWhale]

What kind of van, year, mileage, condition, motor, etc.? And how much is he asking for it?

 

[SHELK]

What kind of van, year, mileage, condition, motor, etc.?  And how much is he asking for it?

1996 Dodge Ram van b250 conversion with 111k in great condition, asking $3600. 

In seattle that's about $1400 cheaper then all the others with similar year and conditions. 

I see it Saturday if it doesn't sell. Taking it to a shop for inspection. 

Fingers crossed.

 

[SHELK]

Crazy thing is that the seattle market is so over inflated that people are selling old cargo vans with 250k miles for 5-6 grand. I saw one that finally had low miles, 117k a 99 that was so beat up with paint chips dents and still $4500. So it really appears the best way to go in this area is pay for the conversion van (they seem to be about the same price or lower with less miles) and then pull the seats out to build a bed and living space.

My total budget at this time is about $5500 tops. But that includes tax and license.

 

[GrayWhale]

Crazy thing is that the seattle market is so over inflated that people are selling old cargo vans with 250k miles for 5-6 grand. I saw one that finally had low miles, 117k a 99 that was so beat up with paint chips dents and still $4500. So it really appears the best way to go in this area is pay for the conversion van (they seem to be about the same price or lower with less miles) and then pull the seats out to build a bed and living space.

My total budget at this time is about $5500 tops. But that includes tax and license.

I think in general, used Cargo/Work vans sells for about the same as the loaded Passenger vans or the even more loaded, Conversion vans with high tops.

Used cargo vans can be yucky and dirty. I would never want to live in someone's work van, especially a plumber's. You're talking about a high chance of nasty toilet juice all over that van, because you know they don't clean that toilet snake often, let alone sanitize it. Even if you figured out what kind of business you're buying the van from, say, that's not that gross; but what if that business bought the van used from a plumbing biz?

Another one is to check for a towing hitch and signs of it being used often. My van had a hitch and wires for towing lights, so a bad sign for the transmission. But it was only $1600 for a 2000 Dodge B1500 Conversion van, 150k miles (average price for the same was $2500-3000).  This would have sold within 3-4 days if I didn't act fast.  I had it State Inspected first ($72) and paid $50 more for an overall inspection. It looked like some church or transport type use due to lots of wear & tear on the interior. But seemed well maintained (pretty dry underneath) and maybe a rebuilt transmission, which is always good in my book.

$5-6 grand, will get you an awesome van in my area of the DC/Baltimore area. Not sure why they're so much cheaper around here.