How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Transmission Leak?
M5OD transmission by J.C. Fields — CC BY-SA 3.0
Your transmission is the powerhouse of your vehicle. It’s the only piece of machinery responsible for the movement from your engine to your wheels. Because it’s an important piece that gets you moving, you need to replace it when you have an issue.
If you’re wondering how much does it cost to fix a transmission leak, we’ve got that, plus a look at what you can do to replace it.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Transmission Leak?
You don’t start to think about how much does it cost to fix a transmission leak until you begin to have issues. When you first begin to have issues, you can make smaller and less costly repairs that will help to patch up the problem quickly. Other pieces are involved that help your transmission function properly that you can replace instead.
Though the cost varies for many reasons, the average price you can expect when you have issues with your transmission is around $150 to $200. If you have to replace your entire transmission, you’re looking at a much higher cost, plus labor, if you take it in to get fixed.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
Signs You May Have Transmission Leaks
Transmission leaks must be repaired as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll end up paying more for repairs. This highlights the importance of identifying signs of transmission leaks. Here are some of the most common symptoms that you have a transmission leak.
- Fluid puddles under your car - Check underneath your vehicle for puddles of transmission fluids. Dip your finger in the fluid, and if the color is red, brown, or rust-colored, you may be dealing with a transmission leak.
- Slow or rough transmission - If your fluid levels are low, your vehicle’s transmission may be slow to start or shift roughly. Slow starts and rough shifting may point to many different things, but it’s worth inspecting the transmission after experiencing this symptom.
- Low fluid levels - If you have a leak in the transmission system, your fluid levels will keep running low. You may use the old reliable dipstick for older cars to check your transmission fluid level. For new vehicles, you’ll see an electronic warning indication in the dashboard that you’re running low on fluids. If you notice you’re running low on transmission fluid a short while after topping it off, you may have a leak.
Causes of Transmission Leaks
Understanding why your transmission is leaking can save you from wasting time and money diagnosing everything. There are a few common causes of transmission leaks, a few of which we’ve listed below.
1. Crack in Fluid Lines
There are fluid lines in your car that do fundamental processes. One of them is transporting transmission fluid throughout your vehicle, which can heat up if you do a lot of driving. Over time, these lines can wear out and crack, which will cause transmission fluid to leak.
2. Pan Damage
If you’re experiencing transmission fluid leakage, damage to the pan gasket is likely the cause. This little gadget is in constant contact with transmission fluid, making it degrade over time. Your transmission fluid will leak if you have small holes from erosion in your pan gasket.
3. Transmission Pan
One of the most vulnerable areas on your vehicle is your transmission pan. This little pan is made out of pretty sturdy metal, but it can wear down when in contact with transmission fluid for an extended period. Damage to the pan is also typical on low cars, as it can get scratched and hit if you drive too fast over bumps and humps.
4. Seal Damage
All along your transmission lines and systems, there are seals. These seals help keep the pressure in the right place and can crack over time. They are in contact with high pressure and high heat, which can wear them down.
5. Torque Converter Issues
Your torque converter is needed to make your transmission work properly, and the fluid disperses to the right places during acceleration. When your torque convertor is messed up, this heavy piece of metal could need replacing, which can come with a high cost.
THE BEST SEDANS WITH HIGH GROUND CLEARANCE
There are plenty of vehicles on the market that let you tower over obstacles without losing the convenience of a compact car. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of our favorite new sedans with high ground clearance.
Repairing your Transmission Leak
When you think that your transmission is leaking, you can take steps to patch it up or replace it yourself. Of course, if you’re unfamiliar with parts of your car, you could get help from the pros and call it a day. However, if you like figuring things out on your own, here are a few things that you can do.
1. Keep a Look Out for Fluid
The first sign that something is going wrong with your transmission is the appearance of dark brown or black liquid under your car. You may notice puddles in your driveway or where you’ve parked.
2. Find the Spot
If you’re sure that your car is leaking fluid, you can check to see where the leak is coming from in a few ways. Before you do, you may need to clean the bottom of your car thoroughly. Then, take it for a quick drive and park it with a protective shield underneath (cardboard works great).
3. Make a Decision
If you see a small leak or know that it’s an issue that you can fix yourself, you can do so on your own. If it’s bigger or more severe than you expected, then you may need to head over to your mechanic and have them take a look.
4. Drain Fluid
If you decide to try it out for yourself, the first thing you’ll need to do is drain the fluid. Use your owner’s manual to determine how your transmission fluid is held to decide what kinds of tools you need. From here, you can likely repair several minor issues, including:
- Replacing fluid lines
- Replacing the gasket
- Updating the seals
- Adding in new bolts or plugs
5. Refill
Once you have the source of your leak patched up and ready to go, you should be prepared to get back to your regular driving habits. Test your work by repeating step one, and see if you have any fluid escaping from your car. Before you refill your transmission fluid, know which kind to use with your vehicle.
When you’re done replacing everything and have all your parts back in place, clean up your mess and get all the leaked fluid at the proper disposal.
WHAT TO DO IF A DEALER REFUSES TO CANCEL EXTENDED WARRANTY
Car buying can occasionally be frustrating, especially if you’re purchasing your vehicle through a dealership. We’re here to tell you how to navigate a situation in which a dealer refuses to cancel your extended warranty.
Catch It and Stop It Early
Your transmission is the heart of your car. To keep it pumping correctly, check for leaks often. Catching leaks early could help you avoid high charges for complete replacement of your transmission or allow you to patch up and go a little further before you replace the entire transmission.
When you start to notice issues, get them fixed fast so that you can keep your car as long as you want. Your transmission is one of those car parts that need extra TLC, so keep it healthy and away from leaking too heavily.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
