10-4 Magazine August 2024

The Veteran’s View: By Dennis Mitchell Wow, it’s hot… as it should be in August. Summer is full on and some of us don’t have air conditioning. Normally we only have a few days per year where the thermostat reaches 95 degrees or more, and today is one of those days, and I’m really feeling the heat. Probably not a great time for an equipment failure, with or without a warranty. You guessed it, I’m having yet another transmission issue, and the dealershiphasmore excuses than a teenager on prom night. I just got a text that said, “I will check with the shop and get back to you.” I would hope so! It’s 11:00 AMMonday, and I was in your shop last Thursday for the diagnosis. The truck is still here at my place some 89 miles away, so that means even if we get a green light for repairs, the earliest I could get in will be tomorrow – if there is even room in the shop. Time is money, and if the wheels are not turning, you are not earning. In hard times, we often need to remember to take a breath and step back, because stress doesn’t help anyone. Let me set the stage for you. Last year I rebuilt the engine in my old 379 after it got tired and needed a freshening up. Along with the engine I replaced the transmission, clutch, bell housing, and one drive axle. While I was at it, I did the best I could do to find quality and dependability in the replacement parts I used, including a fully warranted reman transmission by Eaton, not a third party builder. When I bought this high dollar product in February last year, I met their basic requirements, and they issued me a three year unlimited mileage warranty on both the clutch and the transmission. But now, I’m beginning to think the guaranty is only good provided nothing breaks during that time-frame! If you have been following my exploits, you know I don’t drive that many miles a year. I have only put 58,000 miles on in almost 18 months. Not exactly burning up the highway or terrorizing my equipment. Most of those miles are at speeds under 63 mph on two lane roads, and many of them were empty miles. When you get paid for what you do, not how far you drive, it makes all the difference. In general, I’m not one to abuse my equipment, and you will have to go far to find a driver smoother on the shifter or fuel pedal. I don’t use the clutch except to start or stop, none of that double clutch nonsense, and I watch the transmission temp religiously. When this first appeared to be a problem, I finished my pre-arranged assignments and headed to the barn. Parked in the shop, I grabbed a dog bone (creeper) and then slid under to analyze a potential problem. No air leaks or fluid seepage from my transmission cooler. I use a fluid type trans cooler utilizing the radiator (antifreeze) instead of a forced air style cooler. Half of our year here in Michigan is cold, so I use it in the winter to warm the transmission. After a full inspection, I retired to the office (kitchen table) to research potential causes for grinding of the transmission between low/high range while shifting. This issue had the potential to be a pricey repair withmultiple possibilities. I may know a little about a lot of things, but I don’t always know everything about all things. When in doubt, use your lifeline and call a friend, to at least get a second opinion. I called a couple smart friends, and they all suggested a synchronizer failure most likely on the high side of the transmission. Once again, back to the internet, where most of the info lent itself to a bad synchronizer in the back box. This should not be the end of the world, as the part itself is only about $400, plus labor. However, that’s where my train ran off the rails. No one wants to pay for the labor, and they can’t give me a range of time needed to make the repair. I’ve said it before, this is not rocket science! A lot of the related book hours are available online, including instructions on how to do the repair. The more prepared a customer is in relationship to the trouble, the better they are to convey the need to repair it. I also contacted two major rebuild centers in our area to get a feel for possible oversight on my part when doing the diagnosis. None of us are infallible, and we can’t be responsible for knowing everything about trucks or trucking. I don’t say that to give myself an excuse, but to allow the possibility of thinking outside the box. Once I, the owner, had determined there was a legitimate problem, then it was up to me to find the solution. I can hear the guy in the back asking, “You said it was warranted, right?” It was, 50 10-4 Magazine / August 2024 WARRANTY OR NOT