It is important to realize that the repair costs are determined by the sum total of a number of factors. We will go into more detail about each one, but generally, a transmission repair is rarely inexpensive. It is nice to have the peace of mind that all you have to do is change the solenoid or flush the fluid. The average cost for quality transmission replacements varies between $1,800 to $3,400. But not necessarily this is what you will pay for your transmission repair.
Going through this article we will describe key factors that impact transmission repair cost. This article covers: Transmission average repair cost and factors that have impact on the transmission repair price.
Transmission average repair cost
Estimated cost for a transmission repair is determined by many factors. Let us name some: number of gears, or speed, year of manufacture, kilometres driven, or miles, existence or lack of a warranty. It may well be that the wrong kind of gear oil has been put into the vehicle. Some other factors contribute to your estimated cost for transmission repairs: the manufacturer, how regularly you have had previous maintenance done on the gearbox, whether it is a light/medium/heavy application, what quality level you want for that specific repair, etc.
Let's start from the basics. A fluid change is going to be an 80-240 dollar expense. Fixing a leak in the fluid will set you back on average $150-$200, while the solenoid replacement process will be about $130-$390. Pretty basic repair jobs will begin at an average of $250. If the situation is severe, requiring large expenditures for parts, labor costs rise accordingly, so that it would be $1500, and above that, and frequently twice that, to $3000.
Interestingly, the highest that can be expected from manual transmissions is very rarely more than $1500. When considering the extensive restoration job, you may be wondering what a swap would cost. The average cost for quality transmission replacements varies between $1,800 to $3,400. A cheaper option is used/salvaged transmissions, which can cost anywhere between $800 to $1500. Rebuilt transmissions are $1100 to $2700, while remanufactured are $1400 to $3500.
If you think that is high, then a replacement of a transmission with a new one comes in the $4,000-$8,000 range. Remember, there is one other cost line item in replacement, and that is the labor cost to take out the transmission and replace it. A skilled professional will take between 4-5 hours to do this work, which if you are charging by the hour, would run between $500-$1200. As you might imagine, repairing could have costs just as large as replacement prices, given the scope of damage. Certainly, higher-end car transmissions are costlier to service and maintain, so one should expect higher checks.
Before you contact your local transmission shop check out these articles, they might help you save money:
Top 5 typical symptoms of a failing automatic transmission
Top 5 reasons for automatic transmission problems
How to choose a transmission repair shop
How not to be ripped off and avoid scams at transmission repair services
Typical transmission repair scams
If anyone is wondering what is the difference between reconstructed transmissions and rebuilt ones, here is the short answer. Rebuilding of transmissions (also called rebuilding of gearboxes, repairing gearboxes) involves the complete examination, cleaning, replacing parts, or repair of the gearbox that is removed from a car at the gearbox shops facility. Rebuilding the transmission is all about getting it up to a level similar to newly built products, returning it to stock standards. This is done at larger facilities than the drivetrain service shop -- serious volume on a daily basis, in factory-like areas, with massive staffing levels. Transmission fluid flushing services means taking out old transmission fluids and replacing them with fresh ATF.
To perform a complete flush, certain specialized tools are used for the flush. Shift solenoid replacement is another service task for the drivetrain which may be economical. This shift solenoid controls how much ATF flows through the drivetrain.
Replacing several transmission solenoid units will definitely raise your starting tally from $130 to $390. Replacing worn seals will usually solve a problem with leaky transmission fluid. Remember to spend a few bucks for specialty, professional-grade additives used to keep your seals in tact.
Prevention is better than the correction. It is vital that you keep some basic points in mind about identifying potential problems with your automatic transmission so that you can reduce your costs. Transmission repairs can really get expensive, so it is smart to check for any warning signs before you have a total meltdown.Once you have switched into Reverse, or Drive, from Park, you might notice a delay before gears are switched and the car starts moving. This is a gearbox issue that shows up as abrupt gear changes without any apparent reason while driving. A specific engine note usually follows such a shift.
This will save you money, which is marked up by this repair shop to purchase the replacement transmission. You might be interested in seeing what drivers recently paid or were quoted to replace their gearbox. Also, watch out for anyone looking to screw you over. We have provided the below guide on how to stop working with scammers. For everything going forward, make sure you are changing the gear oil and filters regularly, just like your cars manufacturer recommends.
As a driver of an automatic transmission vehicle, you shall watch out for these common transmission failure symptoms:
- Delays in engagement. Once you shift to “Reverse” or “Drive” from “Park”, you may notice a delay before the gear shifts and the vehicle starts moving.
- Transmission slippage. This is a transmission problem, which manifests itself in sudden gear changes for no obvious reason when driving. A particular engine sound typically follows this gear slippage.
- A burnt smell. Overheated transmission fluid, ATF used beyond its due date, low-level ATF will give away a distinctive smell and it will not be pleasant, so missing it is barely possible. Remember to monitor your transmission fluid level on the dashboard.
- Uncommon noises. Monitor any unusual sounds coming out of your vehicle - rattling, clenching or grinding in neutral gear, for instance - thus, you will notice it’s time to have certain worn-out parts replaced early on.
If the trouble is on and you need to deal with your transmission issues, you may consider buying a remanufactured transmission and ask a local transmission repair shop to reinstall it. This will save you funds that are marked up by this repair shop for the purchase of a replacement transmission.
What transmission does your car have?
How to save on transmission repair?
How not to be ripped off and avoid scams at transmission repair services?
Factors that have impact on the transmission repair price
| FACTOR |
NOTES |
IMPACT ON AVER. COST |
REASON |
|
Age (year of manufacture) |
- older vehicle repairs are usually less expensive than repairs for newer vintage cars,
|
- $1500-3000, for older - $4000, for newer |
- more complex transmission design, - more expensive parts and consumables, - more tech skill required to do the repair job, - expensive transmission control modules. |
| Mileage of the vehicle |
- high mileage rate usually signals for a higher grade of wear of the internal transmission parts,
|
using as many new parts as recommended after high mileage rises the cheque by 1,5 time but is advisable |
using as many new parts as recommended after high mileage rises the cheque but is advisable,
|
| Make |
- some brands are premium and are more costly by default,
- domestic and foreign brands nowadays are typically equal in terms of pricing. |
$1800-$3400 (non-premium class) |
- labor costs are always roughly 50% a transmission repair invoice,
|
| Type of automatic transmission |
- conventional automatic transmissions are often mixed with CVT’s (continuously variable transmissions) and DSG’s (direct-shift gearboxes),
|
- up to $7000 for Subaru CVT’s and VAG DGS’s - $5000 for Nissan and Toyota CVT’s |
- higher level of technical expertise is required, if compared against the manual transmissions, - specific issues with electronics in certain models, scarce availability of aftermarket parts. |
| Application (duty) |
- cheques for repairs of heavy-duty transmissions are roughly 2,5 times higher if compared to light-duty, - heavy-duty vehicles generate substantial heat in their operations and are susceptible to constant high load. |
- $4000, for light-duty
|
- scarce number of quality specialists and tools for heavy-duty applications,
|
| Regularity of previous maintenance |
- improper and / or irregular transmission maintenance leads to premature failing of the unit, - many drivers underestimate importance of regular engine oil and oil filter changes,
|
poor previous maintenance often doubles the repair cheque |
- more parts require replacement after a period of poor maintenance,
|
| Symptoms of the transmission failure and how long they were present | check out ‘top 5 typical symptoms of a failing automatic transmission’ above | disregard to the symptoms of a failing transmission 2x’s or even 3x’s the cost when it is too late to act in advance |
- it is always advised to act quickly once any sign of a transmission issue manifests itself,
|
| Desired level of quality for this repair job |
- looking for the lowest transmission repair offer is a bad strategy to go with,
|
- $1000-$2000 from ‘backyard’ technicians,
|
- skilled and professional transmission specialists, use of quality parts considerably elevate the repair cost, - when investing in the repair quality, ask yourself if you are determined to increase the longevity of your vehicle. |
| Type of an automotive repair shop and their location |
- general automotive shops often do not have the depth of expertise in specific jobs (for example, in valve body repairs or installation of a used or remanufactured unit),
|
Referring to a specialized transmission shop, in a medium-class area prevents from overpaying |
- if you have pinpointed the source of your transmission problems, consider referring to a specialized workshop (for example, torque converter repair specialists),
|