FCA Canada voids transmission warranty for using AMSOIL.

[Gvsukids]

@LostWoods point is legitimate. The report on the fluid showed that the transmission was in a bad way, but that is specific to one transmission. How it was handled resulted in a situation that we can all learn from. With all the information you have now provided, it is clear that the best advice given was from the first Service Advisor that told you to drive it until it breaks. Changing the fluid only delayed the inevitable, and using a non-Jeep fluid screwed you when seeking warranty coverage.

The main takeaway from your unfortunate experience is to stick with the Factory recommended service guidelines, and use only Factory specified fluids during the warranty period.

And stay away from bad dealerships.
Wonder if the result would have been different in America?

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[Hootbro]

And stay away from bad dealerships.
Wonder if the result would have been different in America?

I think the probability of a better outcome would have been higher if he were in the USA. AMSOIL being based here would have better legal representation to show their fluid was not the fatal flaw or even a contributing factor on a transmission that was already on the way out from other contamination.

While it is easy in hindsight to dog pile on the OP of he should have done this or that, it is not a unreasonable understanding the action he took, most normal people also would have took. It is unnatural to have a problem and just ride it until it breaks without having to try and mitigate it with reasonable preventative service measures.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

@LostWoods point is legitimate. The report on the fluid showed that the transmission was in a bad way, but that is specific to one transmission. How it was handled resulted in a situation that we can all learn from. With all the information you have now provided, it is clear that the best advice given was from the first Service Advisor that told you to drive it until it breaks. Changing the fluid only delayed the inevitable, and using a non-Jeep fluid screwed you when seeking warranty coverage.

The main takeaway from your unfortunate experience is to stick with the Factory recommended service guidelines, and use only Factory specified fluids during the warranty period.

I agree.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

There is a bright side to this… the truck is leased for business tax reasons. A large portion of all business expenses are written off toward my taxes. The transmission is a write off and I’ve spent nothing on the truck in the last 6+ months so it’s a good thing the cost of the transmission is on me. There’s always a silver lining if you look hard enough. Now I feel better!

 

[Willys2Gladiator]

Just curious. What does a replacement transmission cost for the JT?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Just curious. What does a replacement transmission cost for the JT?

$11k cad all in. That’s having it done at the dealership and have a warranty. It’s much cheaper if you go to some transmission shop and they locate a used one or maybe even a near new one somewhere for a fraction of the cost but your warranty is limited to that shop.

 

[Willys2Gladiator]

$11k cad all in. That’s having it done at the dealership and have a warranty. It’s much cheaper if you go to some transmission shop and they locate a used one or maybe even a near new one somewhere for a fraction of the cost but your warranty is limited to that shop.

Oh my! That's about the 3rd of the cost I purchased my JT for. Crazy!!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

@LostWoods point is legitimate. The report on the fluid showed that the transmission was in a bad way, but that is specific to one transmission. How it was handled resulted in a situation that we can all learn from. With all the information you have now provided, it is clear that the best advice given was from the first Service Advisor that told you to drive it until it breaks. Changing the fluid only delayed the inevitable, and using a non-Jeep fluid screwed you when seeking warranty coverage.

The main takeaway from your unfortunate experience is to stick with the Factory recommended service guidelines, and use only Factory specified fluids during the warranty period.

Must you always be the point of reason and logic?

Yes, for transmissions, that's the way to go after all of this - it's got a problem, make THEM fix it and sit back.
There are so many tests they can simply connect and sit back and run, it's not like years ago when you couldn't scan for pressures or fill times and so on.
If under warranty - the take-away is drive it until it breaks bad enough they MUST fix it.

it is not a unreasonable understanding the action he took, most normal people also would have took. It is unnatural to have a problem and just ride it until it breaks without having to try and mitigate it with reasonable preventative service measures.

More logic. Have we landed on Vulcan or something?

And to your point - how many would have dug deeper into the "prove your fluid is 100% certified and approved by both ZF and FCA/Stellantis"?
You'd look at the marketing materials - and hey, it's ok for these.

You can't go by what I'd do as that varies with the thing, the circumstances and sometimes the day. I'm wired totally differently in thought processes and more.
On one day, I may say hey, this thing is goofy, and drive it right to the dealership and tell them to fix it and call and have my wife come and get me.
On another day, I may try to deal with it.
But usually, the "this damn thing has a warranty, we pay for these warranties in the cost of the vehicle, it ain't up to me to spend MY time and MY money fixing THEIR problem. THEY need to make it right, I ain't touching it." part takes control.
If it was something simple, I'd maybe go "I can do a much better job fixing this than 99% of all shops could do" and I'd fix it and be done.
So it depends.......

I am the sort that has done enough study on vehicle lubes and fluids, and have enough experience with same - especially if something is in warranty, I will stick with the OEM type fluids.
I don't go for the "name" thing. And I know that each "name" has some good, some bad.
The OEM has to warrant this stuff using their fluids so it's hard to imagine something it came with being inferior. Could there be better? Sure - but is is worth it?
I know guys will swear by Lucas, Royal Purple, AMSOIL and other big names - but why? Honestly, why? Because of the peers - hey, all my buddies use this and swear by it - really scientific.
IF I do use one of the "big names" products, it's only because I have independently done my homework and find it one of the better choices - and not because someone in another Jeep or AMC forum said so and now has 100 other people using it.

The deep research I've been trying to do for months on ATF tells me - I'll be using the MOPAR or ZF fluid - btw, the ZF fluid I've seen isn't red or pink...........

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Oh my! That's about the 3rd of the cost I purchased my JT for. Crazy!!

That would be about $8400 (USD). So a little better sounding LOL

 

[Rubiwoo]

Holy frijoles, what a mess... I wonder if an attorney would take this case on?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Holy frijoles, what a mess... I wonder if an attorney would take this case on?

He's already been that whole route. Been there, done that.
He COULD follow up - wait 2 years for a court date (you'd not believe the court backlogs from covid, etc.) and spend a lot of time with a truck sitting, unresolved, waiting for his court date and an uncertain outcome even at that. Or, cut his losses, learn and move on.

I might be stubborn and unreasonable - I think he's chosen a more sane path, and realizes that high blood pressure and heart meds aren't worth it.
Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. ;-)

 

[Maximus Gladius]

My head hurts. I think LostWoods is right when it comes to doing UOA just shows irrational behaviour. My troubles only began when I checked how the fluid was doing and saw glycol contamination and thought I could fix it, first with going to the dealership for help. I think the rational choice now is to not do UOA’s and watch all my problems go away.

 

[TimJohanson]

This is worth a look for anyone in the US, using any oil other than "dealer" oil. But unfortunately doesn't help our fellow Jeeper in Canada...
https://www.amsoil.com/about/guarantee/

 

[Willys2Gladiator]

That would be about $8400 (USD). So a little better sounding LOL

Damn that's right. He's in the Great White North. Still a lot of coin!

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I think the rational choice now is to not do UOA’s and watch all my problems go away.

"Ignorance is bliss..."

After reading the issue, I would have insisted that they replace when service manager said to let it fail. I drive it too much to have a potential safety issue of being stranded. But, I'm also in the U.S., where we have more consumer protections to call into play...

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