Is It Worth Fixing Automatic Gearbox? All You Need To Know

Let’s find the answer to Is It Worth Fixing Automatic Gearbox?  The automatic transmission is one of your car’s most intricate and challenging mechanical components.

If you maintain it regularly, it will function well and last for a long time—possibly the entire time you own the car. Of course, that would be fantastic, but for the most part, that isn’t the experience that most people have.

No matter how well an automatic transmission is constructed, problems can and do develop with time. This implies that you’ll have to choose between repairing, rebuilding, and replacing your automatic gearbox at some point.

The latter two items on that list, in particular, can put some people in a tough situation. In today’s blog, we’ll examine these possibilities, their implications, and the circumstances in which rebuilding the transmission might be advantageous (or not).

Is It Worth Fixing Automatic Gearbox?

Replacement of the transmission can be worthwhile even though it requires costly car repairs.

The lifespan of the other drive train components frequently exceeds 200,000 kilometers.

Therefore, repairing a gearbox instead of buying a new automobile may be more cost-effective if it fails after 100,000 miles.

Automatic Transmissions

The transmission distributes engine torque to the wheels to give the vehicle the best possible power to handle various driving situations.

This is accomplished in a manual transmission when the driver chooses the appropriate gear based on the road’s conditions.

Without the driver’s input, automatic transmissions choose the proper gear ratio. There is a fixed number of gear ratios provided by both manual and automated transmissions.

While a CVT offers a fixed range of gear ratios, it can offer an endless number.

A manual transmission needs upkeep, and it is examined during routine maintenance.

Additionally, it is simple to fix. However, most manufacturers claim that automatic transmissions and CVTs require little or no maintenance.

Does Maintaining An Automatic Transmission Have Any Benefits?

An automatic transmission should have a lifetime of 300,000 to 450,000 kilometers. Most manufacturers claim that automatic vehicles don’t require regular transmission fluid changes.

Theoretically, you should only change the fluid if you leak. Most automatic transmissions are not all that smooth.

After roughly 150,000 miles, unusual transmission-related symptoms appear in many automatic cars.

Experience has shown that servicing typically assists in preventing or resolving these issues.

Contrary to what most manufacturers claim, the vital characteristics of transmission fluid begin to deteriorate with time.

Signs Of Transmission Issues

When your automobile starts acting oddly, you know you have a gearbox issue. The smoothness of the gear shift decreases.

The car’s engine may occasionally rev, but the vehicle may not move. These symptoms might not be an issue initially, but they tend to deteriorate with time and eventually become significant causes for worry.

The transmission is stopped when the symptoms are quite severe. Such issues can be avoided, and you can avoid paying the high cost of a new transmission by fixing the transmission promptly.

The key is to stop the transmission before it reaches its breaking point.

Automatic Transmission Maintenance

Even if saving the transmission is simpler when it is still early on, there is no harm in trying a transmission fluid flush.

Even when the symptoms are severe, changing the transmission fluid can frequently greatly improve transmission performance.

Although there is no assurance, it frequently works and is a reliable and affordable solution to the problem.

Nearly 10 times as much goes into buying a new transmission as it does to change the fluid. It makes it logical to try the fix, then.

Even if the transmission might not fully recover, certain symptoms disappear, and others get less severe. It is far preferable to keep the transmission going early rather than take this chance.

Pros And Cons Of Transmission Rebuilding

Advantages

More Affordable Than Replacement

Even while there is still a significant amount of labor required, the overall cost is lower than replacement because you are only paying for the components you replace rather than buying a new transmission.

So it’s reasonable to claim that it’s less expensive than replacement, but let’s be clear that the procedure itself is not “cheap.”

It Is More Comprehensive Than Repairing

A repair is like applying a bandage to a serious transmission wound. It might get you back on the road faster and for less money, but it typically won’t take care of the transmission’s more serious issues.

Each component will be examined individually during rebuilding to decide which may be cleaned or restored and which requires complete replacement.

More Durable Results

In keeping with the prior argument, the more thorough nature of the rebuilding procedure results in outcomes that persist longer after the transmission is rebuilt and the customer receives their car.

With correct and timely maintenance going forward, you have a transmission that comes in a close second to being brand-new and will serve you for many years.

Disadvantages

Can Be Pricey

On the other hand, it is undeniable that rebuilding the transmission is an expensive process, as we noted in the first “Pro” point. It is not a “cheap” process, but less expensive than replacement.

The numerous hours of labor required to remove, disassemble, clean/restore, repair, and reassemble the transmission before putting it back are the main causes of the expense. It takes a lot of time to work.

An Unbalanced “Refresh”

Some also criticize the approach of paying for a replacement without replacing all the things that need replacing.

You end up with a gearbox that is partially new and partially used, which, despite having been cleaned and restored, is still a mixed bag of the two and is less dependable than a complete, pristine replacement.

Reasons To Replace The Transmission

More Affordable

If the cost of replacing the transmission is less than the vehicle’s value, you should nearly always do it. An older vehicle won’t be worthwhile because replacing a transmission is pricey.

However, there’s no justification for delaying the transmission replacement if your car costs $15,000. Even though you could sell the car, you wouldn’t earn close to its retail value if it had a broken transmission.

Depreciation Has Already Been In Place

There is less depreciation when your vehicle isn’t brand new. You will only lose a little more money off the value if you keep the car for another year or two.

However, the new car can lose value by almost 22% in the first year. A significant sum of money was lost.

Unprepared For A New Car

Perhaps you aren’t prepared for payments and a new car. That’s alright. By changing the transmission, you can extend your time.

Start putting money together for a down payment on a new car once the transmission has been replaced. In a year or two, you’ll be prepared.

Emotional Factors

The car’s resale value won’t mean much to you if you have an emotional tie to it. It’s possible that this was your first vehicle, that someone you love gave it to you, or that it fulfilled a long-held ambition.

In either case, you would have to say goodbye to this friend to whom you have grown accustomed if you purchased a new one. Go ahead and replace the transmission to keep it functioning.

Conclusion

To summarize, Is It Worth Fixing Automatic Gearbox? Fixing an automatic gearbox is worth it. It has some disadvantages, but it is still a fantastic alternative because it enables individuals with higher budgets to access more thorough repairs without having to go all the way and replace the entire transmission.

Many people find the cost of rebuilding tolerable because it is still significantly less than the price they would spend to purchase a new car. Therefore, it is unquestionably a wise choice and an investment in this regard.

However, if a mechanic advises changing the transmission would be the wisest course of action, one shouldn’t discount the idea.

It’s possible that changing the transmission is all it takes to get your car running like new again, making it more cost-effective to do so than to buy a brand-new automobile.

Ultimately, it’s crucial to pay attention to the counsel of one’s mechanic.

Frequently Asked Questions