ATS Stage V troubles finally solved!

[Don-T]

Back in November I had an ATS Stage V transmission installed in my truck by a local authorized installer in Houston. It lasted for two weeks then one of the bands failed (as I understand it) because a lock nut was not tightened correctly. Although the band could have been replaced and the transmission most likely would have been fine, ATS did the right thing and sent another transmission because they had to warrantee it for three years.

As luck would have it the second transmission was damaged by the shipper so it could not be used. My truck sat in the parking lot at the installer’s shop until another transmission could be built and sent to Houston.

When the replacement transmission arrived it was installed and checked out. When I got the truck back the transmission did not feel right but I took it thinking it was just me being paranoid. After driving it for a few days I realized it was not my imagination, the transmission was not right. It was not using second gear unless it was shifted manually. I brought the truck back to the installer several times in the next few months for diagnosis. The installer thought it may not be using second gear because there was not much load on the transmission. I was not going to buy that one. After a couple of talks with the installer and ATS it was decided to replace the valve body. This made no difference. Again the installer tried to half heartedly tried to convince me it was ok. They did not really think it was but they were not able to figure it out or give ATS enough information so ATS could figure it out. I was then sent to a dealer to run some diagnostics and the dealer found that the governor control pressure was bad. Along with the other symptoms ATS could not figure it out. Joel at ATS found a transmission tech in my area and asked me if I would be willing to let him take a look at the truck, and ATS would pay the charges. I accepted that as the last attempt to get it right. The tech found out that the governor solenoid and governor pressure sensor were bad. He spent about four hours testing it and replacing the bad parts and to my surprise the transmission now works exactly as ATS intended it to work.

During this whole ordeal ATS stood behind their product and did what they could to get it fixed short of sending another transmission (they were sure it was a minor problem in this one). The installer in Houston tried to fix it, but they are not transmission technicians and they did not have equipment to do the testing. I don’t think it was a matter of them being incompetent, as much as not educated on transmission internals. They are a good bunch of guys and I would let them work on a motor, they know what they are doing there. They specialize in high performance Fords. All I needed to do was have a transmission technician spend enough time on it to do a proper diagnosis. I am glad to say the neither ATS or the installer in Houston ever hinted that I would have to pay any more money since I bought the transmission in early November. The transmission Tech also did not charge me anything because ATS told him to bill them directly.

If anyone were to ask me if I would do any more business with ATS I would say yes because they did stand behind their product. I would also do business with the installer again, but not transmission trouble diagnosis. I guess the lesson learned here is to not hire a plumber to do an electrician’s job.