A friend of mine has a 91 245, M47 (5 speed manual) transmission. 180K miles. His wife was complaining that it was getting hard to get into gear. He brought it to an independant shop they have been using for about 8 years. Shop says need a rebuilt transmission, syncros are shot. $2000 for the transmission, $1000 for labor and new clutch.

They did not have the work done, got the car back. I took it for a drive, got to the end of the driveway and realized that it was not syncros, it was the shift linkage. The reverse lockout gate was preventing the shift lever from going to the left enough to get into first and second. If I pulled up on the reverse lockout, I could get into first and second with no problem. The shift lever bushings are worn, which is why this is happening. I adjusted the gate a tad bit to the left, and it shifts fine. I happened to have a couple of bushings in my tool box, gave them to my friend with instructions on how to replace.

Slightly cheaper than $3000.

Not done yet.

Another friend bought an 86 240. Had same shop look it over. They said it needed a number of things, including a new brush/regulator pack for the alternator. He elected not to have them work on the car. I was visiting him, happened to have my meter with me, checked the output of the alternator. 14 volts. Does not seem to need that brush pack.

This place always seemed honest in the past. But these two diagnosis's are pretty off the mark.

Mistake or needs money for the boat payment?

-David