It can be as easy as replacing fluids or it can be a more than $5000 reconstruction. Minor transmission repairs involve replacing defective solenoids, re-sealing for leaks, replacing parts, and throttle cable adjustment. Major transmission repair requires disassembling, inspection, cleaning, and rebuilding.
If your transmission is in good condition, there are benefits to repairing it rather than scrapping it entirely. There's less environmental impact because it cuts down on the amount of metal thrown away. You'll also save on the cost of buying, registering, and insuring a new car.
Transmission repair is ideal for minor fixes. This type of repair can include fixing specific components, in-car repairs, various adjustments, and resealing jobs. Transmission repairs do not require the transmission to be rebuilt completely. This type of repair is not an option for transmissions with extensive damages.
The short answer to this question is no, you should not drive with a bad transmission.
It's good that you're asking this question, though, because driving with a bad transmission will cause damage to the engine if left unaddressed! If your transmission is failing, you may already be experiencing shifting issues like slipping and loud mechanical sounds that are difficult to discern.
Low Fluid – Low fluid level reduces the hydraulic pressure necessary to properly shift and operate the automatic transmission gear sets, which can cause the gears to slip or shift erratically. Dirty Filter – A dirty and/or clogged transmission filter can stop the normal flow of fluid, causing slipping of gears.
If you hear clunking, grinding, or whining sounds every time you shift gears, visit a mechanic for car repairs right away. These are all signs your transmission is going. This problem could be caused by a number of issues, ranging from insufficient transmission fluid to damaged or worn-down gears.
Grinding, Jerking, or Shaking
Shaking and jerking are good indicators of transmission trouble. Gear grinding is a common symptom in manual transmission vehicles. Automatic transmission failure often begins with some hesitation during gears shifting. Some might describe this a “slipping,” as well.
Work you do to fix up a classic car—from a new transmission to an EV conversion—is often well worth the investment. While you are unlikely to find a classic transmission, updating with newer parts will keep the vehicle drivable. Many drivers also find it worthwhile to fix up cars with sentimental value.
New transmissions can cost thousands of dollars more than rebuilt ones, and the down payment requirements for a new vehicle can be much more, depending on the vehicle you want. Rebuilt transmissions typically come with warranties, ensuring that you'll get your money's worth out of the unit.
Your vehicle's transmission eventually wears out, but you can make it last longer by taking care of it, including doing regular maintenance such as checking for leaks and changing the transmission fluid at the manufacturer's recommended intervals. Without the transmission, your vehicle isn't going to go anywhere.
Without service and maintenance, some transmissions can fail in as little as 100,000 miles. If you drive around 10-15,000 miles a year, your transmission could be down for the count in seven years! With care and service, transmissions can last 300,000 miles or more.
With proper maintenance, transmissions can last up to 300,000 miles or more. This includes changing the fluid in your transmission system and regular checkups. However, when you don't keep up with routine maintenance, your transmission might have problems at the 100,000-mile mark or even sooner.
Most repairs are fairly quick. Flushing the fluid, sealing, and recalibration can be done within a day. Replacing the shift solenoids takes a day or two. A full rebuild, however, is very time and labor-intensive and will typically take three to four days.
Luckily, transmission failure doesn't usually happen without warning. There are several warning signs that your transmission's going out.
Typically, when your transmission begins to fail you may start to notice some form of difficulty when changing gears. Occasionally you may hear or feel a clunk noise when you shift gear. Another sign of a rough shifting is difficulty in accelerating to the speed for the gear that it is in.
If your car suddenly starts giving off vibrations and strange noises like grinding or whining, the transmission is saying, “Drive me to a mechanic.” You'll also experience gears slipping – when the engine speeds up or revs, but your car doesn't accelerate very quickly, or move at all (that's a really bad sign).
If your vehicle's transmission is slipping but it has the correct amount of fluid, then there could be issues with the link that holds the gears in place. This should be looked at by a repair technician as soon as possible as this can be particularly dangerous while you are driving the vehicle.
Replacements can range from $1,800 to $3,400. Depending on the repair shop and technicians, labor charges can range from $500 to $1,200. Here's a quick overview of the average transmission replacement cost: Remanufactured transmission – $1,300 to $3,400.
If the sound resembles humming, buzzing, or clunking, you may be experiencing transmission failure. Bad automatic transmissions may emit humming, buzzing, or whining noises while manual transmissions have harsher “clunking” sounds.
Issues That Can Happen From Having a Bad Transmission
In some of the most extreme cases, you will not be able to give the car any gas, which means you may slow down and this can cause problems when trying to continue going, especially on a highway or major road.
Often (though not always) a faulty transmission will trigger an engine diagnostic code and trip the Check Engine Light to let you know. Same goes if your engine overheats because of a bad transmission. Problems with a solenoid, speed sensor, slippage, and more can cause the Check Engine Light to come on.
Bad habits such as parking without the handbrake, changing gears incorrectly, and shifting an automatic transmission before the car comes to a complete stop can cause your transmission to wear out prematurely.