How Much Does It Cost To Repair a Transmission?
Automatic Transmission by Vestman —CC BY 2.0
One of the worst things you can hear from your mechanic/technician is, “the problem with your vehicle is the transmission.” It’s one of the most expensive parts of your vehicle to have repaired, rebuilt, or replaced. So it makes sense to know a little bit about the question “how much does it cost to repair a transmission?” before you commit to any particular service.
Can You Trust Your Mechanic/Technician?
You may hear things like you can trust your mechanic/technician about as much as you can trust your lawyer, but that’s just hogwash. Unless you go to a mechanic who does work on the side in his backyard with no certifications, there is no real reason for a true mechanic/technician to screw you over, it will only hurt themselves in the long run.
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What Is Your Transmission Repair Cost Going to Be?
If you have transmission problems and you don’t have a warranty, you should be prepared for a bill that’s going to be quite costly. Unfortunately, labor can cost as much as parts do. This isn’t because you’re getting screwed, it’s because the big heavy component usually has to be removed for repair actions to take place.
A Break Down on Some of the Most Common Repairs
All Prices Are Estimated
● Transmission Leak: $200
● Fluid Flush, Fill, and Filter: $200
● Linkage Repair: $150 - $250
● Solenoid Replacement: $200 - $500
● Transmission Rebuild: $1,500 - $2,000
● Installing a Replacement Transmission: $1,500 - $3,000
● Reverse Gear Repair: External Repair - $300 Internal - $650 - $1050
If you have a CVT transmission, you should be prepared to pay quite a bit more money for repairs. CVT repair cost could be anywhere from $3,500 - $8,000
5 Transmission Repair Questions You Should Ask About Pricing
When you’re at the dealership or shop and the diagnosis is settled and now you know you are going to need more done to your transmission than just a couple of turns of the wrench, when that question is popped, “how much does it cost to repair a transmission?” Here are some pricing questions you should ask to find out what the best route is to take:
● How much does it cost for a rebuild?
● How much would it cost to have a manufacturer replacement?
● How much would it cost to have a used transmission replacement?
● How much is labor?
● What are my warranty options?
Current Warranty
First things first, by most accounts, your warranty stipulations will be in your dealership’s computer, but if they fail to find it or mention it, make sure you’re not missing out on any warranties. Both you and the service department should know what is covered and what isn’t.
Rebuild vs. Replacement
If there are no warranties to help you out, find out what your options are and how much it cost for labor between a rebuild and a replacement. Depending on the severity of the problem and the type of transmission that’s in the vehicle, sometimes a whole new replacement transmission makes sense. If getting a whole new transmission only costs a few hundred bucks more, then this might be your best route.
Used Replacement vs. Remanufactured Replacement
A used transmission that worked fine in another vehicle could save you some money in the long run. But if you really want to save some money, you should go with a remanufacturer rebuild. These replacement transmissions will be a little more than a used transmission, but they will come straight from the factory with a factory warranty. That is good for you and a great selling point for when you sell the vehicle.
New Warranty
As mentioned above, a remanufactured replacement comes with a warranty from the factory. For the warranty or protection on a rebuilt transmission or used replacement transmission will be up to the dealership or shop of which performs the repair. What they offer and how much the protection cost and what is protected will have to be discussed.
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Do Not Let Transmission Problems Linger
Unfortunately, transmission problems are not something that will go away, instead, they will just get worse. And the worse they get, the more money it will cost to repair.
For instance: You have a leak, but you choose not to pay any attention to it. A leak could be just a bad seal or gasket that could cost $100 or $200. But as that fluid keeps leaking out, your losing one of the most valuable components the transmission needs to run, transmission fluid. In time, the fluid will all leak out and the internal parts of the transmission will damage, and instead of a gasket/seal fix, you’re looking at a complete rebuild or replacement.
What Transmissions Cost More to Repair
As stated above, the answer to the question, “how much does it cost to repair a transmission?” varies depending on the vehicle. CVT and heavy-duty transmission will always cost more, followed by luxury transmissions, imports transmission, and commercial transmissions.
You may think that imports would include Toyota or Honda, but that’s wrong. They may be foreign companies for say, but most of their vehicles, along with a lot of other foreign brands have factories right here in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Vehicles that are built overseas are where you come to have a problem. The shipping cost on parts is high and shipping takes a long time. And not only that, but you have to have a special mechanic/technician to work on your vehicle.
Manual vs. Automatic Transmission Repair Cost
When it comes to manual transmissions vs. automatics, a manual transmission will always be a little cheaper to have fixed or replaced. But don’t confuse your SelectShift or any other transmission that allows you to choose between shifting or not shifting as a manual. Transmissions with those setups are automatics, and instead of being cheaper to have fixed, they might cost you more.
Signs You Might Have a Transmission Problem
There are signs, sounds, and movements your vehicle will exhibit when the transmission requires maintenance. Now, like most people, if you’re not a transmission expert or an automotive expert in general, you probably won’t be able to tell if your transmission is acting up, or engine, rear-end, suspension, and so on. The rule of thumb should always be if you hear, smell, or notice your vehicle acting out of the ordinary, take it in to have it looked at. These problems never get better.
Significant Signs to Look Out For:
● A sweet burning odor coming from the front half of the vehicle.
● Clunking or grinding noises coming from the front half of the vehicle.
● Lunging RPMs of the engine.
● Feels like the vehicle goes in and out of gears.
● Stange sounds and feeling when shifting gears.
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So How Much Does it Cost to Repair a Transmission?
If you’re lucky and your vehicle is under warranty, hopefully nothing. This type of repair could be anything from just normal maintenance which could be about $150 - $200, or you might have a bigger problem that can cost upwards to $1,500, $5,000, $8,000 or more.
The best way to avoid unwanted bigger problems is to follow the owner’s manual recommendation on all general maintenance scheduling. Even if you have a full warranty, the longer you wait to check something out, the bigger the problem will become, and the bigger the problem, the longer it will have to sit in the shop.
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