Transmission stuffed after rebuild

[levymetal]

I'm asking this here because my mum needs some advice with a problem she's having. She drives an auto 97 hyundai lantra, and about 1 and a half years ago the transmission crapped itself (don't know much about transmissions, one of the gears broke, leaving metal shards throughout the wrong thing). She had it rebuilt, at a cost of $1600, and now 1 and a half years later the transmission has just crapped itself again. It's not changing gears properly and clunking like crazy. Problem is, the warranty was only for 1 year. She's getting it towed down to the place but we're not sure what they are going to say. Is there literally nothing she can do if it needs another rebuild? Surely the job wasn't done properly if it breaks 1 and a half years later...

[MasterOfReality]

I'd check up on consumer rights with regards to the exact wording of warranties.

I was reading in the paper the other week that a warranty does not automatically expire after the due date.

The paper used the example of someone buying a plasma/lcd for several thousands of dollars and only to have it shit itself not long after the warranty period expired.

The point that the article was making, and was backed up and verified by consumer rights groups, was that if the item does not perform for a 'reasonable' amount of time relative to its purchase price, then the buyer is legally entitled to a replacement even if the item fails outside the warranty period. Obviously a $50 toaster is one thing, but an expensive TV or in your case, a tranny rebuild, you could have a point to argue on.

[acarmody]

Take it back and make them fix it. Warranties are not the end all of consumer help. If you pay money that where someone would reasonably expect a quality of work and its not met then you are entitled to a replacement/repair.

Bah I'm crap at explaining this.

If there are two Clothes Iron on a shelf, both have 1 year warranty, but one cost $10 and another $100, if they both crap themselves 1 year and 1 months after purchase, they tough luck on the $10 you cheapskate. But someone could reasonably expect a $100 iron to last a lot longer than one year, so you can still demand a replacement.

[Ado]

How many KLMs has it done since the rebuild?

[danja]

I'm asking this here because my mum needs some advice with a problem she's having. She drives an auto 97 hyundai lantra.

I think you answered your question in the 2nd sentence

Being serious, what others have said is true, just because the manufacturers warranty is void you still have statutory rights. Check with your state consumer rights body for clarification on what those are in this case.

The problem will be, that you may have paid for them to rebuild the box and replace whatever karked it last time (a gear you said?) but its possible another gear (for example) has now died, it may be through no fault of the rebuild, as they won't usually replace every gear due to the cost involved and its not usually neccessary.

Without actually knowing the precise circumstances it's hard to say what the "right" course of action is. If they refuse to do the work under warranty, tell them you are taking it to another shop to do the work who may be able to tell you if the first shop was at fault (if they were you'll have more grounds to seek a refund).

[andyman]

could come to an arrangement cause your not going to get it fixed for free. is maybe pay for parts and labour free kind of thing

[wildss]

so the box shit itself within 18 months of being rebuilt and you still intend to take it to the same workshop?

find another place and cut your losses

[levymetal]

How many KLMs has it done since the rebuild?

around about 5000kms (my mum doesn't drive much)

so the box shit itself within 18 months of being rebuilt and you still intend to take it to the same workshop?

find another place and cut your losses

you might be made of money, but we're not. we can't afford to go spending $1600 on a transmission rebuild every 18 months or 5000kms (whichever comes first). that's not normal, and the point is it should have lasted longer, which is why i asked for advice here. and thanks to all who gave it, we're waiting to here what the shop says so we'll see what happens next

[Grennan]

Do you have receipts/proof of the Odometer at the time of the rebuild? If shes done ....under 10,000km, hell I would be pissed if it was 50,000km. Id ring up consumer affairs or similar and getting a clue on where you stand before you head to the workshop. Atleast then when you walk in, youre armed with knowledge.

[Rossbx]

It could something as simple as a faulty solenoid or a blocked hose causing the problem and may not need to be rebuilt...