Sonnax Remanufactured Valve Body, Pump & TEHCM Returns FAQs

Sonnax strives to maintain the highest quality products for the automotive aftermarket. In the rare event a product is not performing to expectations, it may be necessary to make a return. While most of our products can be returned directly to our distributors, our remanufactured valve bodies, pumps and TEHCMs require an extra step to assure you are getting the best results possible. I will begin by outlining our warranty coverage on these items and then answering some frequently asked questions from transmission builders and DIYers.

What is the Sonnax warranty?

Our standard warranty is six months from the date of sale. This extends to our remanufactured TEHCMs as well. Our remanufactured valve bodies and pumps, however, are backed by a limited lifetime warranty. During the first year, defective valve bodies and pumps will be replaced at no charge. After the first year, these products may be returned for repair or replacement, with the only cost to the customer being shipping charges. See the complete Sonnax warranty policy here.

Sonnax Remanufactured TEHCMs

Standard Warranty

Sonnax Remanufactured Valve Bodies & Pumps
Limited Lifetime Warranty

What is required to make return?

Before calling your distributor about a Sonnax remanufactured valve body, pump or TEHCM, you must first reach out to Sonnax product support for a return goods authorization (RGA). To make the process easier, please have the following information ready prior to contacting us:

• Vehicle, year, make, model, engine type/displacement and transmission model
• Sonnax product number
• Distributor the product was purchased from
• Details on symptoms experienced
• Diagnostic details such codes stored, build history, modifications done to the vehicle, etc.

Why do I need to contact Sonnax?

No one knows our products better than we do. While a direct exchange with the distributor may seem more efficient than contacting us, there are many cases where outside factors may be involved and installing another replacement part leads can lead to the same results. While we will always warranty a defective product, our technicians can help pinpoint if it’s the cause and assist in getting the vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible.

Examples of issues that come from something other than a defective product:

• The wrong valve body, pump or TEHCM for the application. This happens more frequently than you might think and can cause a multitude of problems.
• Failure to perform an adaptive relearn can cause various issues such as bumps, flares, harsh engagements, etc. There can be cases where a specific scan tool or requirements are called for such as fuel level, engine operating temp, etc. to properly carry this process out.
• TTVA calibration for some Chrysler applications
• Not resetting VLP counters for some Chrysler applications
• Programming for TEHCMs
• Solenoid strategy updates
• Solenoid calibration. Some models with worn transmission internals may require adjustments if the window of normal operation has moved in the adaptive tables.
• The Ford 4R/5R units may require EPC calibration adjustments depending on which engine it’s equipped with.
• Manual valve adjustment. In some applications, this can cause low line pressure and engagement issues.
• Wiring or control module issues
• Internal damage that a valve body, pump or TEHCM can’t fix

Can I repair it myself?

This is strongly discouraged and may void your warranty. Any modifications — including “shift kits,” etc. — will also compromise our limited lifetime warranty coverage. Sonnax remanufactured valve bodies, pumps and TEHCMs go through a strict inspection and testing process, and we cannot guarantee proper operation if changes have been made to our build recipe.

I have a return goods authorization (RGA), what do I do with it?

Once you have an RGA, the next step is to contact your distributor. They will use this to provide you with a replacement product. Once the replacement is installed, we ask that you send the defect back to the distributor in the Sonnax box along, with a copy of the RGA. This will help us identify where it came from and what the problem was. Along with identification, we will also use this information in our failure analysis to help prevent repeated issues.

What happens if I call for an RGA after it’s been replaced?

You will still need to contact us, but calls to Sonnax after the fact will be labeled as “No Call” on the RGA. While some distributors may provide a replacement prior to receiving an RGA, this is not ideal and can result in restocking fees. It can also cause a variety of issues including:

• Repeat concerns if the cause was not our product
• Increased prices from additional processing and handling operations
• Reduced inventory for our distributors

In conclusion, our product support line should be considered the starting point if you have any questions or concerns about Sonnax remanufactured valve body, pump and TEHCM returns. See hours of operation and how to call or email Sonnax product support here.

Tory Royce is a Sonnax technical support engineer and product support specialist and a member of the Sonnax TASC Force (Technical Automotive Specialties Committee), a group of recognized industry technical specialists, transmission rebuilders and Sonnax technicians.