If you need a quality transmission rebuild, Valley will build it right. They're meticulous in their work and detailed in the execution. Every nut and bolt touched on the transmission is QA paint marked, and the transmission and peripherals are spotless, which is a huge compliment considering the 20 years of baked on diesel grime it went in with that a pressure washer and a can of GUNK wasn't able to touch. The truck drives great, the shifts are quick, but not jerky and harsh. I don't think It's ever driven this good. Caution be warned, however, they'll have your vehicle for an extended period of time (depending on the work needed, obviously). Paul told me they average 10-15 days for a rebuild. Dropped it off Mid November, expecting to not have it for a couple weeks. Got the truck back on December 23, more than a month later. Spent about $1500 in rental fees to rent a truck and $400 in batteries when they told me they were dead (when you let it sit for a month...). read more

Paul at Valley trans, diagnosed my truck. Him and his techs, finally found my differential was woun out. The bearings and gears were bad. Also the wheel bears were toast. They finally rebuild the differential. They did a awesome job, the trunk runs great. I don't hear any hummg or grinding of anything. My trunk alway humd. It runs Very smooth. Thanks Paul and your Awesome team of Master Mechanics. I now can hear my radio. Thanks again. read more

Valley Transmission - Auto Repair Near Me - El Cajon, California

Always reliable to get the job done and done right. Got my work truck in and out fast so I wouldn't have to rent a truck Thanks Paul! read more

Had valley transmission look at my truck which was having issues shifting. They recommended a complete transmission rebuild for $6500. No way I was going to spend that kind of money. Took it somewhere else for a second opinion and they said it was a bad air flow meter. Replaced that and now it runs great. Cost of replacing it was a fraction of the $6500 valley transmission tried to get from me. I would not recommend this business to anyone and the fact that they took $200+ from me for the initial diagnostic is frustrating. I'd recommend taking your business elsewhere. read more

Discovered Valley Transmission about 30 years ago. Nobody else gets nears my transmission. They are the best.

Very professional and honest. So glad I took my car here. Love this place and I've certainly spread the word around as well as passes Valley Transmissions card out to the 229 local Ironworkers... I can say that I will keep coming back.. This is a great shop. read more

Wife's Rav4 started making a stalling/slipping-gear feel while driving. My code reader gave a generic transmission solenoid error. Had it towed to Valley Transmission who told me that was usually NOT the actual cause of these types of problems, but they'd have to look at it to see. Cool. What they found was, my alternator was fried. Literally. It wasn't putting out the proper voltage to the battery and may have damaged the ECM. (Electronic computer module) I replaced the alternator and the ECM with the help of a friend and had Valley Transmission then check the car out again. No more gear slipping or error code! They did highly advise a complete transmission fluid and filter change which my friend agreed it really needed. Luckily the transmission wasn't damaged, and Valley Transmission did not try to rip me off and claim that it needed work. I've had plenty of places, including Toyota, tell me there were things wrong that my mechanic verified was complete BS. I salute VT's honesty and friendliness in working with me and helping me get this fixed without milking my wallet. They've been around since mid 80's and have a good rep from what my buddy told me. He trusts them, now i do too. read more

I only had the $140 dollar inspection there so take this as it is. If I was taking my Sunday hot rod or pride and joy there, then I'm sure I'd be happy paying for extra care and service and rebuilding the box belonging to the car the right way, the first way. Instead I got a diagnosis done on a rebuilt tranny 12 months ago. They said they would diagnose and find out what's wrong for the 140. Basically they checked the Ecu, dropped the oil and said the oil was old, crap in it l, so it would be 2200 to pull the box and inspect fully. For this kind of money, you can get a 545rfe rebuilt and delivered with and warranty online. He wanted another 2500 to rebuild and refit. After that, I took the car back to la where it was rebuilt, they replaced the torque converter and serviced the box and it's as good as new and they did it for free. My takeaway, if your car is your baby, take it here. If your car is the dirty mistress on the side, then order a rebuilt gearbox online and negotiate removal and install cost with a couple of mechanics. This places inspection costs were more than the cost of that option which comes with a parts warranty anyway. I feel bad writing this because the owner was really nice and easy to talk too, but I'd love it if this was shared so I knew what I was walking into with the basic 140 inspection. I.e. if you have an obd2 reader and common sense, it will be hit or miss to get more information out of him for the 140 inspection only. read more

I have an expensive custom car. G.M Turbo 350. Took to regular guy who has done my work before. 3 times and transmission still leaked. Paul had it for one time. One day to CORRECTLY diagnose leaks and one day to repair. No more leaks! Plus I had a small oil leak other guy couldn't find and it was trans related and also repaired. Paul also went over the top to keep my car clean and protected against damage. Very important with custom paint and interior. All my friends recommended these guys, now I have experienced why. read more

We are second generation customers and never thought about going anywhere else. The quality and service is unmatched!! Paul was so helpful over the years with our family and we appreciate his integrity. If you have transmission needs - don't hesitate and give Paul a call. Thank you for always taking care of us!! The McElligotts read more

having been in the automotive business all of my life,I could have gotten the repair cheaper. However i know that you get what you pay for ! So i bit the bullet and went for the best Valley Transmission the Value is in the quality of repair and service. Paul was detail oriented polite and very helpful i recommend Valley Transmission the are the bench mark in the industry Thank you read more

I dropped my car off on a Friday, I was told they would get to it asap? Well they didn't touch it the whole next week? So I decided to pick it up because they were not living up to their promise. When I got in my truck it was almost empty of gas? I had just put in over a half tank of gas? They apparently were using my truck to run around? Very displeased! And Paul their advisor is all about how great they are with this great reputation of over 50 years? Beware! read more

Valley Transmission is the very best! They always take excellent care of my Volvo including the problems that the other places can't seem to figure out. Very skillful here, and always helpful to keeping my car in tip-top shape. read more

Just got my Subaru BRZ back from my first time trying these guys out... I am naturally pretty skeptical of mechanics because of some bad experiences in the past but I'm super happy with Paul and the crew. My baby feels like brand new again, he took the time to show me the damaged part without me even asking, and paul even took some time to teach me a few things about clutches. Definitely will use them from now on, thanks so much for taking care of me and my Subie. read more

This is the ONLY place I trust with my cars. The guys here are honest, knowledgable, and prompt. They do quality work for a great price. I highly reccomend Valley Transmission! read more

I've been taking my cars to Valley Transmission for 11 years now. They've built a 700r4 for my El Camino twice now. The first time lasted 11 years with me beating on it and abusing it with drag racing and numerous long road trips. Once I wore it out, i took it right back to them. Their friendly, and professional staff disassembled my transmission, showed me what parts failed/wore out, and recommended parts needed to get my transmission working and suited for it's intended use (drag racing and road tripping). I also took my 5 speed manual transmission for my Datsun truck to them, they had it back and working flawlessly In few days. I couldn't be happier with my experience. Valley Transmission always delivers an outstanding product wether it's a regular service, or building a 700r4 capable of delivering 650hp to the rear wheels. read more

I have a special escalade not a scratch on it. 6.0 special engine LQ9. The transmission after toooo many miles went south. I did my research from most of the options. I considered top of the line remanufactured transmissions from on line suppliers. I wanted to know what was in my transmission with a description of every heavy duty part than was to be in my special car. I have been in my younger years a Racecar driver Trans Am and Pikes Peak for years. Years ago Valley helped me developed a 6 speed auto road racing transmission. A 3 year project. Finally with their help ended up with a super durable transmission. In fact so good that IMSA outlawed it. Said they only wanted to stop Ferrari. Jut affected me of course. The point I am trying to make it is the least expensive Transmission in the long run because of integrity and a list of all the special heavy duty parts put into this car. I am super grumpy and particular, this new trans, is like a swiss watch. The best and least expensive in the long run. They back up everything they service to the max. Five is not nearly high enough rating. Should be at least 37. The best and well worth it!!!! read more

As a newbie in town, with nothing but bad luck, I was referred to this shop (Paul, specifically), and was never let down. He kept it real with me, from start to finish. He understood that I knew the automotive repair world top to bottom. This means he knew he would have to price me fairly and that I would understand completely when prices were high for things that simply cost a lot. For that reason I never complained. I've been on both sides of the service desk, as well as having been a light duty tech in my past. As far as the repair work is concerned, I have zero complaints, and only total confidence. Electrical and mechanical issues are all working perfectly, per the repairs that were done. I was especially grateful when I heard that my Commander was actually in pretty good shape compared to most others they had seen. In ending, I WILL be going back for as much work as I can afford, and they can perform. read more

Valley Transmission - Auto Repair Near Me - El Cajon, California

Valley Transmission and the technicians that work there are top notch. Paul the manager is especially courteous and informative. They built an awesome transmission for my 5.9 cummins. It had a little hiccup and they fixed it for free! No charge to me. That is a stand up thing to do. Without question they made it right and that kind of service is very hard to come by these days. read more

Absolutely Outstanding! Friendly, prompt, timely, efficient and helpful! Called on a Monday and they got me in at 8:00 Tuesday morning. Got a flush and service and had the truck back early afternoon. They did everything they could to save me money. I highly recommend these guys! Look no further for your transmission needs! read more

Valley Transmission is grossly overrpriced, and cater to bigger fancy cars. We went there 3 years ago and they were close to double three other transmission places and the transmission work was done for $1500 less than their price. Our car has run like a gem for way less than what their man said was a low ball price estimate..HIGHLY INFLATED IN PROFIT. Shop around and get several estimates before you comitt to work anywhere.Some shops are very very good salesman and you might think you getting a good deal. Gook luck. read more

Outstanding and friendly service Greg is very knowledgable Quick turnaround. He has built transmissions for our daily drivers as well some hot rod transmission for us. One for our 48 Chevy with Corvette running gear. A 1985 El Camino, our Dodge Durango and a Volvo. We have been a customer for close to 30 years. Never over priced always fair. Greg Your new guy behind the counter is hurting your brand. After all your years of building your fine business I stoped in to ask about why the Durango was not up shifting at times after it was serviced by Valley Transmission. Your guy told me to "Just go out and drive it hard and beat on it" Well after some hard driving and getting on it for the past five or six weeks no change. I stoped by yesterday Friday 10/14/16 you where not in. I asked one of the guys in the shop if you where in? He told me to ask the offices I said I did not want to hear more BS and the guys in the shop all laughter That should tell you something Thank you for all your fine services over the last 35 years A friend of ours told me he was not coming back to Valley Transmission as he was not happy with your counter man. Also a long time customer. read more

Excellent customer service, these guys know transmissions. My family has had 6 rebuilt here over the past 15 years and we have never had a negative experience. read more

Took the ice cream truck there today. We've had our other truck there and the service is always good and the prices are fair. Today was no exception! I called yesterday to make an appointment and Paul suggested I come in at 7:00 am. Not exactly a time the Ice cream man is usually out and about. Anyway, took the truck in. Paul called about 10:30 to let me know the problem and the estimate. He was actually under the number I had in my head. (Woo-hoo! ) the truck was finished the same day and when I picked it up it was even less than the quote! Score #2! I am sure everything is as it should be, given my past experiences. All in all if you need a trustworthy transmission shop I suggest Greg and Paul at Valley Transmissions. read more

These are some of the nicest guys around who hooked my boyfriend and I up with some sweet military discounts! They are very knowledgeable about their work, have excellent customer service, and are very trustworthy; we wouldn't trust any old place to leave and handle a family gem like our '71 El Camino! Highly recommend them! read more

These guys are awesome. I stopped by to talk to Greg about a transmission line that was leaking. I knew I could buy the line on the internet myself and probably spend half the day fumbling through the job, but I wondered how much it would cost to have them do it. I was extremely satisfied with the honest pricing. Greg called his supplier and got a quote for the part over the phone and gave me a labor quote that I couldn't say no to. I made an appointment and dropped the truck off a couple days later. Paul was extremely helpful checking my vehicle in and didn't keep me waiting. He then called me a few hours later to let me know the job was complete and I could come pick up my truck anytime. Excellent experience at Valley Transmission. Thanks guys! read more

Best place ever!!! These guys are legit! Kindest guys around. We rolled into town with our 38' motorhome with a broken shifter cable and they had no issues accommodating us or the size of our rig! They did have to end up having a cable made (our Rv is older and parts are obsolete & discontinued) but they really made a huge effort to get the part we needed! I would recommend this shop and these guys any day of the week!!!! We looooove ya some Paul! (He's the guy you see when you first walk in & the last guy you see before you leave) he also made a huge effort to get us in and out without waiting for other jobs he had going in previous to our arrival! Paul you're the greatest abs we hope to see you again but on much better terms! Be good and stay sweet! read more

Took my -07 Mercury Mariner Hybrid to another mechanic to have the PTU rebuilt and the transmission serviced. He had it for two months. Two. Months. When I got it back, it was making a couple new, strange noises. After a couple days, it began shifting hard. I started to hear the old "siren in the distance" noise coming back from when the PTU had been bad. Not having the ability to be without my car for another two months and not having an iota of confidence that the first guy would actually be able to fix whatever was ailing it now, I got a referral to Valley Transmission and took the car in there. The difference between mechanics was like night and day. From the get-go, Paul was friendly, communicative, accomodating, and conscientious. And, you know, they do free whatever-you-call-its (sorry, not a cars girl)......like.... assessments of your car. To determine the problem. I've paid through the nose for this at the dealer before. Paul stresses that when they check your car out, they do it thoroughly. And thorough it was. They found that the previous guy had left me 3 1/2 quarts short of transmission fluid (?!?!), hence the hard shifting. All the seals on the PTU were bad, so it was leaking like before. They replaced those, stopping the leaking. A couple bolts were loose, causing the transfer case fluid to look grey. I had been worried it was the beginning of bearing disintegration again, or a sign that the supposedly new (to me) bearings inside the PTU were not, in fact new or good after all. So, they pulled my whole PTU, took it apart, inspected it, took pictures of what they found, and shared them with me. It was an enormous relief to find that, beyond the seals, my PTU actually appeared good and that once the loose bolts were tightened, the fluid stopped appearing grey. They cleaned up the PTU for me (it was a salvage part and had been installed looking like a "dirt ball," as Paul put it), checked and rechecked, test drove, kept the car overnight to check everything again, and basically solved all my issues. The one noise they couldn't get rid of, they evaluated and ruled out it being transmission-related, and then admitted that it was something beyond their area of specialty. I love that they didn't try to sell me on their ability to fix every single thing without, in fact, knowing what they were doing (as the previous guy had, which was why he ended up having to keep it so long). All of this work and time spent and actual problem-solving (amazing!) was done expeditiously and for a really reasonable price. I didn't feel like I was getting shafted. Paul communicated with me throughout the process. I never felt like my car was on the back burner or being ignored, even though they're busy guys. I felt like Paul was really honest with me. I would highly recommend these guys to anyone. And Paul out front is a champ. read more

This is the only place I would ever take a transmission to have it repaired or serviced. Paul is a great service manger and tells you exactly what is going to happen along the way. Better than new. My transmission decided to explode internally on my way home. Instead of dragging it down and selling a truck I have had for 18 years, I spoke with Paul who looked at the truck and told me the car was worth keeping and could run for a long while longer. They fixed my truck in the time stated and I swear it shifts better than when the vehicle was new 18 years ago. How did they do that? I have zero clue, but Paul did tell me they actually spend the time to learn how to improve on existing transmission designs and build in enhancements. By the look of the lot a lot of gear heads trust Valley Transmission with their cool old cars. These guys are honest and offer you excellent value for the dollars spent. The unexpected thank you gift was a nice touch as well. The owner has been in the same location for 41 years and still comes to work everyday. read more

Phenomenal care of our RV. Very professional and went above and beyond to make sure that the transmission in our RV worked correctly. Would highly recommend this place. read more

Here I am on my way for a big road trip in my RV. Day one the U joints start to fail and there a big racket coming from some where in the drive train. So I pull over and start making calls. It's my lucky day I contact Greg owner of Valley Transmission. He kindly gives me closet directions to limp to his shop and then he gets his mechanic to start diagnosis. Their goal is to get me out of there as fast as possible. I hear then working furiously on changing bearing then they discover one of the bearing is seized in a retainer housing. It's a special order part that could take two days to get, yet with their Biz contacts they get a used part within a hour. Back to work they go and jobs done. Greg and his team kept me in the loop each step of the way. The job was done right and at a fair price. I totally recommend them for transmission work!!! read more

Paul and his crew are the BEST!!!! Would highly recommend this place to anyone having issues with their vehicle! We have a giant 38' motorhome and they didn't even bat an eye at the job! Paul also made sure he got us in right away since this is our full time living! Super cool guys! They really could have told us anything was wrong but they didn't! Trust is a faded quality these days and this place id trust again in a heartbeat!!!! A new handcrafted shifter cable for an obsolete part and we're up and on our way! Thanks Paul!!!! Hope we meet again on better terms! read more

I would give this business 5 stars, except I didn't actually end up having work done there. Their customer service, however, was outstanding. I drove in on a whim because I was having issues (no appointment) and the guy there (Paul?) checked my transmission fluid, which did not show up on the universal dip stick (not every place had this magic wand) SO he gave me free transmission fluid to be on my way. I planned to take it back to him for a transmission check up but ended up getting rid of the car (it was a Dodge Journey anyway...) read more

After an extensive search for a knowledgeable, reliable, and competent shop to work on my Dodge Ram and my Jeep Liberty transmissions, both of which are used for trailer towing, I decided to award the work to Greg Boehm and his crew. Front man and tranny expert Paul and I, had a detailed discussion about the problem with the truck's transmission, which I knew from my research to be a minor problem which could have become a major problem if not repaired correctly. As I expected, the technique used for the repair was the correct one, and I went home a satisfied customer. That was in early 2019. A year and a half later it was finally time to discuss ongoing and annoying problems with the Jeep's transmission. Again, Paul and I had a detailed discussion about the problems and my goals for the vehicle, which included restoration. This time I wasn't so sure that the problems could be fixed with reasonable cost and was prepared to accept that a major overhaul using special aftermarket parts would be necessary to accomplish my goals for the car's drive-train. Greg employs an expert transmission diagnostician named Dave who examined the 45RFE and related systems in my Jeep and found the problem to be relatively minor and easy to fix, though not without some cost. It was not necessary to overhaul the tranny after all. After a thorough road test and examination, a failed transducer was found. All that remained after replacing the transducer, was normal servicing with new filters and fluid, and it was good to go! Needless to say, I was overjoyed to hear that! Instead of spending thousands, I only had to spend hundreds. These guys have earned my respect for their honesty, their competence, and their willingness to listen, discuss and advise about the best course of action to accomplish my goals. I see no reason to take my vehicles to any other shop when a transmission problem arises. I am reasonably certain that there is no better transmission repair shop in San Diego County. read more

WHERE to GO to get your classic car movin agin! These guys KNOW their stuff! HIGHEST recomendation -- read more

Had my 2003 Dodge Ram transmission rebuilt buy Valley Transmission. They were some of the most thorough places I've had work done on my truck. They actually saved me some money on the rebuild. Were straight forward and got the job done when hey said they would. For sure I would recommend them for rebuild or service done. read more

I don't usually write strong reviews but Valley Transmission was really spot one with my trans service. I have a pristine 2004 T-Bird with a touchy automatic transmission. One that requires expert technicians to properly service it. Automatic transmission have to be serviced by transmission shops not your neighborhood mechanic. Lots of searching later Valley Transmission made the grade. All my questions were properly answered by Paul the customer rep and I felt very comfortable leaving my car in his care. This is not the cheapest shop but it does provide the best value. A mistake here is thousands of dollars later and a possible breakdown in a remote area. These guys know transmissions. Use them. read more

This was a top notch referral from a friend who used them for several of his custom hot rod builds. I was seeking a smoother shifting transmission for my custom truck which has a carbureted motor. They educated me about how a 4L60E could make my rod shift smoother. Improved drivability is what I was after Quality work and great customer service is what I found at Valley Transmissions. I find that the best shops are not always a best fit for all customers. Automotive service specialty shops vary from lousy to fantastic. Greg, Paul and all team members knocked it out of the park for me. If you are a willing to learn about the process and understand what goes into building a custom transmission, see them first. read more

In November, I experienced loss of power and what I thought were transmission problems with my Jeep. At the recommendation of my mechanic, whom I've known for 14 years and trust implicitly, I took my Jeep to Valley Transmission. They kept my vehicle for approximately one week running diagnostics, after which they called me and said that my transmission needed maintenance, but did not require an overhaul. But that they needed to run more tests. A few days later, they said that it was in fact the transmission and that it required to be overhauled and that it would cost approximately $3500. I agreed to the work and was able to pick up my vehicle a few days later. Towards the middle of December, while driving the Jeep, I experienced the same exact problem. As the work was still under warranty, I took it back to Valley Transmission. They kept for 3 weeks trying to determine what the issue was. Eventually, they brought in a computer expert, which diagnosed the fault to be a blocked exhaust system, probably due to a failed catalytic converter. I questioned why had they recommend the transmission overhaul in the first place as the problem was exactly the same. They first tried to explain it by saying it was a different problem, then they blamed me for not describing the symptoms accurately and lastly they blamed my mechanic for not having diagnosed the problem initially. Add insult to injury, they would not release me vehicle until I paid an additional $150 for the computer expert. I requested to speak to the owner, but they refused, saying that if I wanted my car I had to pay. All in all, they had my Jeep for approximately 6 weeks and in that time they couldn't not determine what the issue was and so they recommended the transmission overhaul, which is what they do. The service manager was rude and condescending and based on their misdiagnosing my vehicles problem, I would say they are incompetent and untrustworthy. I took my Jeep to an exhaust system expert and they confirmed that it was in fact an exhaust problem, which cost me an additional $3700. I value customer service and trust overall and could have lived with the transmission overhaul. My vehicle is 17 years old and would have needed it eventually. Had they simply admit their mistake, I would have been ok with it. Instead, they chose to lie, to deceive me, blame others and forced me to pay additional fees. Apparently making an extra $150 is more important that customer satisfaction and return business.I do not recommend Valley Transmission and would caution other to use their service. read more

I have been dealing with Greg Bowman at Valley transmission for about 40 years and have always gotten a great job. The most recent was my 2001 f350 daully 7.3 engine, I'm pulling a 40 foot fifth wheel rv, before taking my truck in thr transmission seemed to be slipping and shifting strange. After they rebuilt it with heavy duty parts this thing pulls the trailer great. read more