When this happens, you have some decisions to make. You can ignore it as a one-time event. You can call your mechanic and see what he says. Or you can take it to Advanced Transmission Center for a quick, but thorough evaluation.
If the news comes back that your transmission needs repair or replacement, you have some options to consider:
Repaired Transmission
A repaired transmission is done when a specific part is replaced or repaired. Examples of these instances could include a broken input shaft or a failed solenoid. A leak may also be repaired if only the external seals need replacing.
These are components that can be replaced without rebuilding the whole transmission and as a result are generally less expensive.
Used Transmission
A used transmission can be another option that at first appears to offer decent cost savings. Usually, they come with a limited warranty such as so many miles or time, whichever comes first, and may not cover labor. When you get a transmission from a junkyard, it’s hard to know what you are getting. You risk having it fail and going through the whole process again. Customers should know the quality of the installation is just as important as the quality of the transmission. Transmission specialists will often install a used unit for budget-constrained customers but the customer risks having to pay multiple times for the removal and installation of potentially bad used transmissions.
Rebuilt Transmission
A rebuilt transmission can go by other names such as remanufactured, refurbished or reconditioned. What it means if you choose this route is a transmission that is fully disassembled with all parts cleaned and inspected for wear. Those that are worn or damaged are replaced. The transmission is then put back together, filled with fluid and reinstalled. In some cases, the transmission may require special programming.
A benefit to rebuilding a transmission is the availability of new or updated components that can be installed. This can fix weak areas and make them less likely to fail again.
There is no way to tell if a shop did a good job or not since it’s all enclosed. This is why it’s important to choose a shop like Advanced Transmission Center, who can be trusted to do a thorough, honest repair at fair prices.
We have our own in-house rebuild department at each of our locations. By doing all the work ourselves, we control the quality of the rebuild and repair of every transmission, transfer case, and differential that leaves our shops. We make sure that only the highest quality parts are used.
Customers should do their research before choosing a transmission shop. Some shops may quote low prices to lure in customers or perform “spot repairs” that leave a transmission unreasonably vulnerable for additional failures. Evaluating customer reviews, warranty policies and credentials can all be helpful in picking the best shop for your transmission. After all, why would you spend your hard-earned money fixing a problem temporarily only for the issue to return?
Remanufactured Transmission
A remanufactured transmission is essentially the same as a rebuilt transmission, but in some cases, it is done in a factory by a team of specialists who each have a specific job similar to an assembly line. For instance, one might pull it apart and drain the fluid. The next might clean all the components, while the third checks them all for wear or damage, on down the line until it is reassembled and sold to a retail outlet. The quality of a remanufactured transmission varies greatly between brands and even within a factory, dozens of rebuilders are likely to have differing expertise. These factors reinforce our view that a locally rebuilt transmission by a team you can directly engage with is your best option.
New Transmission
Don’t be misled. Getting a transmission through your local car dealer is not new, it’s a rebuilt transmission bought directly from the OEM. New transmissions only come on new vehicles.
Buying a “new to you” or rebuilt transmission through a dealership is usually the most expensive option and should be compared, price-wise, with a remanufactured transmission through your chosen transmission repair shop. If for any reason you choose to buy a new transmission, there is significant savings in requesting a transmission shop complete the installation compared to the dealership, where labor rates can be sky-high.
Junk, Sell, or Trade Car In
Often, customers are faced with the decision to complete a costly repair or move on to another vehicle. Ultimately, each customer has to weigh the pros and cons relating to repairing an older vehicle that may have other outstanding issues. Due to the recently inflated price of new vehicles and a desire from customers to avoid monthly car payments, many customers choose to repair a transmission on an old or high mileage vehicle as long as there is not a long list of other repairs required for the vehicle.
Talk to Us!
Give us a call or stop by today, and let us give you all the information you need to decide which option is best for you. We will perform our free TrueTest Inspection, explain the problem, and give you a repair estimate.
Advanced Transmission Center is a Colorado-owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Denver / Lakewood and Westminster. ATC specializes in driveline issues such as automatic transmission repair, four wheel drive repair, clutch replacement, differentials, manual transmissions and CVT. As Colorado's first AAA approved shop our goal is to provide accurate, timely service with exceptional customer satisfaction. All of our technicians are certified in the latest makes and models and we are one of the few transmission repair shops with a nationwide warranty.
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