Last Friday the wife my sons and grandchildren were on the road to Sioux Falls.
At about 9 pm my son calls and tell me that the Durango is acting up it will go about 30 mph and then start slipping and the RPMs will increase but the D won't move. He nurses it to the Mt Vernon a town that is near Mitchell SD. The also call my son from Sioux Falls to come and get them. (cell phones are great)
I go online and found Dales transmission shop in Mitchell with a 24 hr phone and a tow truck.
I call the number that is listed and talk to Devon he tells me that he will send the truck to get the D and well not let my family be stranded. The tow truck driver hooks up the D and tells my family get in we will save your son some miles to pick you all up. My wife had great praise for this driver.
Long story short my family makes it to Sioux Falls I rent a car to get them all back.
I call Dales and they say they will check out the transmission. I get a call from a very nice man named Darren I think it is Devon’s brother. He tells me that the torque converter is bad an that the clutches for third gear went out. I do not drought this. He tells me that they have the parts in stock and gave me a estimate of $2100. I tell him to do the repairs and that I'd like to pick it up the next Saturday.
Darren called Friday and told me the D was done and had check all the fluids levels even added engine oil because it was low.
For a rebuilt trans a new torque converter and electronics the bill was $2300 with a 2 year 24000 mile warranty.
I fill this is a fare price and the D made it home with no problems.
Just thought I'd let you all know there are some good shops and people around when you need them.
I have serviced this transmission and adjusted the bands regularly just goes to show some times **** happens.

 

Hey not far from you, been through Mitchell a couple of times. Nice to hear you found a nice local shop. I hear you on having a rebuild, just think if that would have happened 3-4 months from now when the high temp could only be -5 out.

 

Thank you for sharing the information. There still some good shops to deal with.

 

It's always good to hear something like this.I wish there were more shops of that quality near me,unfortunately this area is saturated with what I call "toxic mechanics"
Sorry to hear that your tranny went but this is a good read......

 

+1. Congrats dolittle.
Price was right. Service was excellent.

IndyD

 

Ya I here you I've been out working on semi trucks in the winter when the wind chill was 68 below. Two minutes at a time get back in the service truck for 5. Now I tell the boss just call the wrecker. You will never get the fuel to flow. You just can't build a big enough fire with a nippco heater and cardboard