Transmission Repairs Are a Mystery to Many
Your transmission is a complicated, intricate, elaborate puzzle with hundreds of pieces that are all required to allow your vehicle to function. Of course, everything in your vehicle is necessary, but no other part of your vehicle is as complicated and complex as your transmission. Transmissions are responsible for shifting gears in order to dynamically change the speed-torque ratio so that the power being distributed to the wheels is appropriate based on the speed of the vehicle. Engines produce high rotational speed which cannot be used for low speeds or when starting the vehicle, so by using gear ratios a transmission is able to reduce this rotational speed and increase the power (or torque) to the wheels.
Understanding Your Options
When dealing with a damaged transmission that needs to be repaired, or even be rebuilt, there are a few options available to you.
A Full Transmission Replacement
Replacing your transmission is an expensive procedure. An inherent issue with replacing your transmission is that there aren’t typically brand new transmissions available on the market. These are usually reserved for the production of new vehicles, so you would likely be purchasing a refurbished or remanufactured transmission. These remanufactured transmissions go through the exact same process as a rebuild, except that it is done in a controlled, factory setting. This is the best option for a quick fix since these have been prebuilt to manufacturer specifications. If you opt to take this route, ask your mechanic to confirm the year the transmission was built so that it has the most recent parts and fixes.
Repairing the Transmission
A transmission repair is the process of finding a specific damaged component and replacing that. An example would be if the input shaft has broken, or a solenoid has failed, these parts can be replaced without the transmission needing to be rebuilt. This would also include instances when the transmission is leaking fluid. Typically, with a repair, only the component that was replaced will be under warranty which can be problematic if you’ve already spent a significant amount of money on a repair and then later have something fail that is unrelated to the initial repair. This is a cost-effective option, but has some element of risk.
Rebuild the Transmission
This process has several names in the industry. Should you ever hear someone say the transmission is “refurbished, reconditioned, or overhauled” they are referring to a rebuilt transmission. Rebuilding a transmission is when the transmission is completely disassembled and inspected. All the worn or damaged parts are replaced (affectionately referred to as the “hard parts”) and then reassembled to factory specifications along with new gaskets, seals, clutches, and bands (the “soft parts”). A specialist will remove the transmission, inspect and replace each part, and then reinstall it in your car. If you are considering rebuilding your transmission, take a look at our current specials for a money saving offer.
How Long Does Transmission Work Take?
First thing you should do when working with a mechanic to get transmission work completed is to request a time quote. This will immediately give you some idea of how long your mechanic expects the job to take. Although it could take a little as a couple of days, it will realistically take longer. Even the most basic of transmissions are comprised of hundreds of tiny pieces that all must be present. The diagnosis process alone can take more than a day to accurately pinpoint problems areas in the transmission – if an electrical problem is found while diagnosing the transmission, this may need to be repaired before any work is done to the transmission. Even the most common transmissions are not simple and labor alone on a common unit can take a day, but when working on an exotic or European transmission, it can take days due to their complexities.
If an automatic transmission rebuild is covered under an extended warranty program, then the length of time the rebuild will take is extremely difficult to predict. These types of jobs may not even receive a time quote because when a warranty company is involved, they essentially act as a middle man in the process. These companies must approve a repair after the diagnosis has been made and then decide if the repair is covered under the warranty program. This involves a lot of back and forth discussion prior to work beginning. If the company approves this repair, they will then be involved in approving each step in the repair process. They may also opt to have a used transmission installed which may take several days to arrive at the shop.
Understanding your options is critical when deciding on the solution to your transmission troubles. Take the fear out of transmission repair and schedule an appointment today!