Exactly how long they last depend on driving conditions, whether you're towing heavy loads and even outside temperatures. That said, with normal driving you could get as little as 5-7 years out of a gearbox/transmission, or it could last the lifespan of your vehicle depending on the maintenance.
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.
Standard transmissions usually don't need to be replaced during their entire lifetime, whereas some automatic transmissions need replacing around the 200-250,000 km mark. Overall, it is important to maintain regular servicing and maintenance for your transmission.
If the price of a new transmission is no more than 40% to 60% of your car's value, then it's probably worth the cost of repair. If your transmission is in good condition, there are benefits to repairing it rather than scrapping it entirely.
Automatic: Every 60,000 to 100,000 miles
It's important to change your transmission fluid, but the type of transmission you have affects your ideal changing interval. If you drive manual, most manufacturers will recommend changing your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
The transmission of a modern vehicle is not one solid piece but a jumble of several moving parts. This is the primary reason fixing a vehicle's transmission is more expensive. Other factors that influence the overall costs of replacing a transmission include: The age of the vehicle.
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.
Cost of Transmission Repair vs.
These factors include if it is automatic or manual, the age of the transmission and its parts, the extent of damage, and the type of vehicle. A transmission rebuild cost averages $3,000. In comparison, a transmission replacement cost averages $6,500.
A rebuilt transmission will extend the life of your vehicle, because when the worn parts are replaced, the transmission becomes “good as new”. Another benefit is that when it comes time to trade in your car, you'll get a higher price for it if the transmission is still in good shape.
Manual transmissions require less servicing to remain functional and don't need the same type of oil as an automatic transmission. Cars with a stick-shift usually last longer than an automatic of the same make and model.
Some transmissions can last just over 10,000 miles, while others will last over 200,000 miles. Generally though, regular vehicle maintenance is the number one factor effecting a transmission's lifespan, and good upkeep can help it last even longer.
Clunking, humming or whining sounds are signs of automatic transmission problems. Faulty manual transmissions will also give off loud machinelike sounds that seem to come out of nowhere. A clunking noise when you shift gears is a telltale transmission situation. Have a mechanic look it over.
The short answer to this question is no, you should not drive with a bad transmission.
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.
The exact transmission cost will vary, based on your particular vehicle and your service department of choice, but you can expect to pay in the ballpark of $1,800 and $3,400 for brand-new parts – and don't forget about the transmission labor costs, which can run between $79 and $189.
If you have a bad transmission it's only a matter of time before your vehicle literally won't be able to drive anywhere. Even if it is something as easy as running out of transmission fluid your car can be irreparably damaged. If you actually do run out of transmission fluid it's like running out of your engine oil.
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.
Transmission replacement is one of the most expensive jobs done by any mechanic. The average cost of transmission replacement ranges from $1800 to $3500. The labor to remove and replace a transmission ranges from $450 to $850 for 4 to 9 hours of billed time.
Automatic transmissions often fail between 80,000 and 150,000 miles. Manual transmissions can fail even sooner than that, especially when routine maintenance is neglected.
Park the vehicle, set the parking brake, then step on the clutch pedal, and put the transmission into first gear. Listen and feel for any grinding, or other noises when putting the shifter into gear, as that could indicate a potential problem with that particular gears' synchronizer.
Drivers reported rough shifting, clutch failure and even transmissions that had to be replaced twice in the first year of car ownership. Lexus and Toyota -- which rely on older transmissions in many of their models -- were the best-performing brands in the survey. Lexus or Toyota has topped the survey since 2011.