Is it cheaper to repair or replace a transmission? A transmission replacement is the more expensive option when fixing your transmission. In many cases it is referred to as “re-manufactured.” Put simply, the manufacturer will replace parts that have gone bad with modified parts.
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.
Although rebuilds are more extensive than repairs, they don't offer the same return to factory performance as replacements. While less expensive than a replacement, transmission rebuilds are much more costly than repairs.
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.
Transmission Repairs
Often with a transmission repair, you are only fixing one specific part of the transmission. This repair can take place without having to rebuild the entire transmission. This option typically costs less than a rebuild or a replacement.
Is driving with a faulty transmission okay? Short answer: no! The only thing you should do if you think you have a faulty transmission is go for a quick jaunt to your local mechanic. If you have a bad transmission it's only a matter of time before your vehicle literally won't be able to drive anywhere.
The short answer to this question is no, you should not drive with a bad transmission.
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.
Advantages of Used Transmissions
They often cost less than new or remanufactured transmissions, and they solve an immediate problem. Install one of these, and you can be back on the road under budget. You can find these parts advertised online by private parties or at auto salvage yards.
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.
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.
Intricate work , many new parts , transmission fluid costs a fortune .. but mainly labor .. it takes hours to pull out , clean , inspect , disassemble , inspect again , more cleaning ,evaluate and replace parts the reassemble. And that's not including removing and replacing the unit out and back in the vehicle ..
Transmission Mileage
One of the most important factors is the age and mileage of the transmission. Automatic transmissions often fail between 80,000 and 150,000 miles.
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 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.
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.
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.
With a bad transmission, your car isn't worth much. Even if you trade it in, you're probably looking at taking a loss on the vehicle you currently own. If the car wouldn't be worth much either way, or the repair job costs way more than the vehicle is worth, that might be alright.
So, rebuilding a transmission not only saves you money on upfront costs, but it also saves you money on your next car by providing a higher trade-in value. A second warranty guarantees quality. A warranty is great news because it means you'll get your money's worth from your rebuilt transmission.