Original review posted on 11/29/23:
Todd didn't seem interested in helping with an issue that I suspect is transmission related. In all fairness, there is a tiny chance that it may not be. Still yet to be determined for sure. The point here is that flathead transmission was my fourth or fifth call trying to get to the bottom of this. Todd didn't take the time to listen to my issue to the full extent before cutting me off and suggesting I put a code reader on the vehicle. Which I did prior to calling. He then questioned the cost of my code reader and upon receiving the answer his response to me was to "take it to someone competent with a more expensive code reader." Will do, Todd. Thumbs up buddy. Right on their website it says they have computer controlled diagnostics. Not once did he suggest bringing it in to their facility to see if they could help. He even told me he has an expensive code reader and that he finds codes with his that other people don't with theirs. That said, maybe I should conclude that they're not competent, since he suggested that I go somewhere where someone is? I've read good and bad reviews about this business. They've even been around for a while and I know they likely will be. I decided to call and quickly understand the bad reviews. Maybe he was having a bad day. Maybe he's tired of doing what he does. Maybe it's both. Maybe it's a combination of many things. I don't know. I do know the customer service provided to me was garbage and that speaks volumes. This valley is growing rapidly. I strongly suggest looking elsewhere for transmission/diagnostics help. Based on my experience, Todd recommends the same!
Followup/update:
I failed to mention in my original review (experience) that Todd, the "transmission specialist", kept cutting me off telling me that he suspected I had an issue with my fuel filter... With the behavior of our truck, I had originally suspected this as a possible cause too. Or considered an issue with the AFM system. In fact, I didn't initially suspect the transmission being the primary cause at all. However, I'd already ruled these things out prior to making my call to them, but Todd didn't seem to care to hear that. My new suspicion was related to the TEHCM after more research. Besides the stalling (my fuel filter problem, according to Todd), the truck seemed to shift hard. As I mentioned, flathead "transmission specialist" was my fourth or fifth call, and turns out, the least help. When I suggested this to Todd, he was quite adamant about how the truck would not behave in the manner I described (as much as I could before being interrupted) if the issue was transmission related. He then proceeded to tell me how the truck would "act" if I was having an issue with the TEHCM, which was nothing at all close to the symptoms it was experiencing. Granted, this was all over the phone, but again, Todd had zero interest in assisting.
Well, I take the truck for a drive with a close friend of mine (who is also an owner of a local mechanic shop) with his scan tool and what do you know... 3 different pressure switch codes on the TEHCM in the transmission. With my suspicions confirmed, I ordered the part. This part is attached to the valve body in the transmission, if you don't know. It must come out and be separated from the valve body. I've never done this... prior to now. Guess what I find... at least 2 of the membranes on the pressure switches are obviously torn. There is a kit to repair these, but it wouldn't have addressed our issue of the stalling, hence the reason I opted for a new TEHCM. While I was at it, I did a fluid/filter change as well (obviously). I had the truck back on the road on 12/15/23 - after the dealer was able to program the TEHCM. It has never shifted better during our ownership - coming up on a year. Not too bad of a diagnosis and repair for an "incompetent" non-"specialist", IMO.
I'm not suggesting that I'm now suddenly an expert or "specialist" myself, by any means. But having a self-proclaimed "specialist" imply to me that I'm incompetent is just gross. That's how you treat a potential new customer, eh Todd? At the end of the day, I'm actually glad he did. I'm not so sure that he wouldn't have given me an incorrect diagnosis and overcharged for it on top.
Be weary of this business! I would strongly encourage anyone to look elsewhere first! read more