Thread: Update on TCI transmission

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Just got off the phone with TCI to find out what is up with my Son's transmission. They say the front pump went out, which in turn fried the torque converter and front clutches. They have agreed to fix it under warranty (only has 200 miles tops on it) but we have to pay the freight back too. We already paid $100 to get it to them, now it's $100 more.

I called Summit to let them know we are a little put out about a brand new transmission failing, especially since we thought we were buying a quality brand, and they have agreed to kick in another $ 25 gift certificate in addition to the first $ 50 gift certificate to help with shipping. I think that is very fair of Summit but a little disappointed in TCI. I know this will be the last transmission we ever buy from them. I just hope it works right when they do it this time.

Don

I realize any company can turn out a bad one every so often, it just happens. But what separates the good companies from the not so hot ones is how they react to make the customer whole.

They tried saying they were being generous because the transmission was purchased outside their 90 day warranty period, but I told them if they know anything about building a car, we seldom get to actually use those parts for a year or maybe longer while the car is being completed.

Just upsetting that it is something we didn't do and yet it cost us freight 3 times, once when we bought it, and twice to send it and get it back from them. There is an old adage in business that if you please a customer they will tell another person, but if you don't please them they will tell 5 people. So many companies win the battle and lose the war by being short sighted.

Don

Don wrote:

I realize any company can turn out a bad one every so often, it just happens.

The way I have heard it, it's happened more then "every so often".
And I am also sure that problems exist at other companies as well, maybe just not as frequent. Engines and transmissions, both have a lot of parts and the more parts the more chance of problems.

I hope the rebuilt one lasts a lifetime, yours, not it's.

Did you pay by credit card?????if so take it up with the credit card people

That's a good thought on the CC, but it was purchased a year ago, but not put into service until November. Since then it only has a few miles on it, but the time thing is the problem putting in a claim.

I guess we have to trust they will do it right this time and go from there if it isn't.

Don

there are very few venders i buy from anymore. this bs of us having to pay shipping for returns is industry wide now. . we've had our share of tci problems. mostly converters. when it comes to trans i buy local. i get a better box and if i have a problem it is easy to take care of. believe me they know you will have it setting around for a year and wont have to warranty it. they'll just say it was your fault anyway.

I agree Shine. I am not overly impressed with them. They were not very apologetic about their transmission failing after 200 miles.

Don

Some of you will remember that's the same situation I had with Gibbon Fiberglass. When the body wouldn't fit the enging/trans combo it had been designed for, they said: "No problem. Just bring it back and we'll fix it."

Taking it back involved borrowing a trailer, driving 650 miles round trip, and a night in a motel. I had to do that twice. Once to deliver, once to pick it up. Oh . . . and it still didn't fit. I had to re-work it.

Gibbon is now out of business.

Don I'm glad to hear they are fixing it. Would be nice if they covered the shipping back to you tho. We used to have a "Fairbanks" trans shop local here years ago. They did all my C6 rebuilds back in the day. Long gone now but they were THE shop here at the time for anything automatic. Wish they were still around. For the Cougar's C6 I'll use Broader for the rebuild. They have a pretty good rep. Anyway best of luck and hope yer back on the road soon.

Glenn.

Jack, I remember the problems you had with Gibbons. That was another name that I always considered to be quality simply because of hearing about them and seeing their ads so much. I guess the change in ownership did them in?

Glenn, yep, Fairbanks was one of the big guns some time ago and I never heard anything bad about them. Good luck with the C6 you are having done. I have a C6 sitting on my shop floor that I bought from Jackson Racing Transmissions. The one in my T came from them, as did the TH350 in my Sons '29. They seem to do a pretty good job too.

Don

Don
Because of this thread, I went local for my c6 rebuild. At first I was floored by the price, and I quoted the company what I could get one from Summit for. But after reading the TCI problems, I talked with a local mechanic, to recogmend a local place. When Santa Rosa transmission rebuilt the c6, I pointed out it would not be not be running for about six months, they said thats ok, just bring it in after your driving it for a leak inspection. They also gave me a three year/ thirty thousand mile warrenty.
When you quoted the old addage of one happy customer tells one person, but an unhappy customer tells 5, it is true. I point this out to my coworkers on a daily basis. I have seen tight fisted places run into the ground, because they wouldn't stand behind stuff they sell.
One company that amazes me with the oposite of this, is Costco. You can buy anything there, break it ten years later, and most places will still take it back. I hope this works out for Don. He had a string of bad luck with that car, right from the get go! I truely feel for him, because I experienced the same thing, on my first car, 68 Mustang, when I was 16. I poured my heart into it, and the car fought me every step of the way. I finally sold it to get a plane ticket to the Florida Keys(one of the best moves of my life!)

There is something to be said for dealing with a local transmission shop, that's for sure Steve. The warranty alone is usually much better than the 90 days people like TCI are giving. (what's with THAT.......90 days!! ) They REALLY trust their transmissions to give a whole 90 days, don't they??

You are right about Don being discouraged about his T. Poor guy hasn't been able to use it one time when something hasn't gone wrong. It has gotten to the point where I have to keep after him to come to the shop and work on it, he's dumped all that money in it and can't even drive it. I know we are at the end of the tunnel because we have addressed every problem it has had, so it HAS to be getting better. It's just hard to convince him of that right now.

Isn't hot rodding FUN!!

Don

You almost make me want to pull out my TCI C4 and replace it with the one I rebuilt myself. The C4 is so simple, I can't see how they could mess it up though and I did have the pan off and did check it out thoroughly to make sure every thing was there. Regardless, I still have my spare, as well as my almost new stock converter JIC

Originally Posted by DennyW

It almost makes me want to go back in business....

Nah. You can't make enough on the new electronic transmissions

Ok since were talking transmissions. My rebuild came with an 1800 stall stock converter. With the mild 429 attached to my 48 f1 and a 9 inch f150 rear, will this work, or should I trade up? The transmission place will take this converter back, so cash isn't an issue.