A transmission “professional” who will quote prices for any repair over the telephone is not doing you a service, they are doing just the opposite.
First, even qualified automotive technicians who specialize in other areas of a vehicle seldom have the ability to observe, and then, tell all the necessary information to come to a conclusion related to your transmissions problem.
Second, when you try to tell this person there is the problem of conveying your observations in a manner to the transmission specialist. For example, will one's definition of the terms slip, squeak, grind, squeal, bump “or smells bad in hot weather” be the same as the transmission professional who is trying to interpret those terms? Think about it, the answer is—no.
Third, have all the diagnostic procedures been performed which are necessary to provide a correct and cost efficient repair recommendation? With today's electronically controlled transmissions, in many cases accurate diagnosis requires "high tech" diagnostic test equipment before even the professional can render a qualified opinion. When it has been determined which system(s) in the transmission have failed, then the extent of the internal damage must be determined before price can be discussed.
Short of performing these three diagnostic procedures, persons who quote prices over the telephone are guessing. With virtually thousands of variables, stating a price over the telephone which will have to be adjusted later when all the diagnostic data is obtained is not a service, it is just the opposite.Look at it this way, we could compare this situation to a patient who calls his doctor, describing chest pain under a given set of circumstances. Is the pain caused by a heartburn, indigestion or is this “the BIG one” ? The average patient would be less than confident if the doctor were to recommend Open Heart Surgery over the phone.
The same is true in transmission diagnosis. A meaningful diagnosis can only be rendered after a complete inspection is performed.
