Repair 7

Solutions for Transmission Slipping

As automobiles age over the years, they have audible and sometimes visual signs of showing it. One of these signs is a slipping transmission. However, even this can happen to fairly newer cars if certain problems arise. Taking the car to a mechanic seems like the obvious decision, but paying for that mechanic to fix a problem that may or may not be wrong with the car is another story.

Diagnosing Problems

There is no getting around it, replacing a transmission is an expensive option, costing $2,000 or more. But first, the exact problem must be diagnosed. This is where the owner should take the car to the nearest vehicle parts or service shop. Many today will hook the car up to their diagnosing computer system and locate the problem for free if the vehicles dealership will not.

Transmission Repairs

If in fact something is wrong with the transmission, replacing it would probably be too drastic, because a slipping transmission could mean only minor maintenance. How much maintenance needs to be done depends on the age and mileage of the car. If it is still under 80,000 miles, then it is recommended that the transmission fluid and internal filter be changed every 25,000 miles. Failure to do so could result in more transmission problems later in the cars life. If the car has run greater than 80,000 miles and the transmission is slipping or it is shifting erratically, then advice from a specialist could be needed. In this case, changing the transmission fluid would be a bad decision. Since the fluid has stayed in the car for such a long period of time, it is sustaining the car to a certain point and maintaining friction within the transmission. Replacing the fluid could just cause the transmission to slip even more.

Replacing Transmission

If the car has gotten to a certain point that the transmission is no longer pulling its weight, it might need to be replaced. But you cant buy a new transmission. Transmissions are built in the factory and installed in vehicles. The options are to rebuild the original transmission or purchasing a used transmission. Rebuilding the transmission can vary widely in price, based upon the year, make and model of the car and the type of transmission. Purchasing a used transmission can be problematic. There is a chance that the transmission may not work at all for the car. But for the cost of purchasing a used transmission that has been sitting in the junkyard for years, it might be worth the gamble.