Repair
- Warranty
- In the shop
East side of Des Moines since 1994
Fix First. Rebuild Only When It's Worn Out.
Most of the time the fix is one part, not a whole transmission. We show you that part before you pay.
Repair, Rebuild or Replace?
Tell us about the car and what the shop found. You see all three paths side by side, with Des Moines prices, warranty and days in the shop.
Rebuild
- Warranty
- In the shop
Replace
- Warranty
- In the shop
Why One Part Can Save You a Rebuild
The clutches inside do the work, but the solenoids and the valve body tell them when and how hard to apply. When one of those sticks or wears, the transmission slips or slams like it is worn out.
Swap the solenoid or fix the valve body and the shifts come back. The pan comes off, the case stays in the car, and most of these are done the same day.
Two Bays, Two Kesslers, One Rule
"If I would not do it to my own truck, I will not sell it to you. Most weeks that means we talk people out of rebuilds."Dale Kessler, rebuilder for 32 years
Dale still does every rebuild himself at the bench by the back door. Megan came home from a dealer service lane in 2015. She reads the codes, drives the cars and explains what she found at the counter, old part in hand.
- You see the bad part before you pay for the new one.
- We test before we open the case.
- If the car is not worth fixing, we say so.
This Week at the Shop
Real sizes of real jobs. Swipe through, or tap a photo to see it big.
Sample jobs written for this demo. Your site shows your own week.
From Our Neighbors
4.9★★★★★268 Google reviews
The dealer wanted $5,800 for a new transmission. Megan found a bad solenoid and I paid $640.
Brenda T. Ankeny
Dale told me my old Buick was not worth a rebuild and found me a used unit instead. Honest to a fault.
Gary W. Altoona
They texted me photos of the burnt clutches before they ordered parts. No surprises on the bill.
Priya S. West Des Moines
Sample reviews written for this demo. Your site shows your real Google reviews, word for word.
Where Our Customers Drive In From
Des Moines, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Ankeny, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Johnston, Clive, Norwalk and Indianola. 2150 E Sample St, Des Moines, IA 50317. Open weekdays 7:30 to 5:30 and Saturday mornings.
Fair Questions
Why would another shop quote a rebuild when you say it's a solenoid?
A slipping or harsh shift can come from a worn clutch or from a part that controls the clutch. Both feel the same from the driver's seat. We test pressures and solenoids before we open the case, so we can tell which one it is.
What if the small fix does not work?
We tell you the odds before we start. If a solenoid or valve body repair does not cure it within 30 days, what you paid for it comes off the price of a rebuild.
Is a rebuild or a remanufactured transmission better?
Both are good when done right. A rebuild keeps your own case and costs less. A remanufactured unit carries a longer warranty that works at shops across the country, which matters if you travel or plan to keep the car a long time.
Is my car worth fixing?
We will tell you straight. If the repair costs more than the car is worth, we say so, and we can put in a low mile used unit instead or help you sell it as is.
Do you give written estimates?
Yes, every time. If we find something new once it is apart, we stop, call you with photos and wait for your OK before we do more.
Get a Second Opinion Before You Rebuild
Bring the other shop's quote. Megan will scan it, drive it and tell you what she finds. No charge to look.