How do you determine which transmission service to have done? Your mechanic’s recommendation, the urgency of repairs, and balancing a budget with repair costs can all impact your decision. To get a full understanding of what you’re paying for and which may be better for your circumstances, it’s important to consider a variety of information. Let’s look at what happens during each transmission repair and what determines the cost of either.
What Happens During a Transmission Rebuild?
A rebuild service starts with the removal and disassembly of the transmission from your vehicle. From there, your mechanic will carefully inspect components for wear or damage and replace any that aren’t operating properly. Once it’s determined which parts need to be replaced, your mechanic will find the correct new parts and install them.
Throughout this process, it’s important that your mechanic has an in-depth understanding of how your transmission operates and the role of each component. They’ll also be responsible for finding the right parts based on your vehicle, what’s available on the market, and your budget. Once any worn or damaged parts are replaced, the transmission will be re-assembled and re-installed in your vehicle.
What Happens During a Transmission Replacement?
During a replacement service, your car’s transmission is removed but not disassembled. Instead, your mechanic will get a remanufactured transmission and install it in your vehicle. These remanufactured transmissions are assembled in a factory setting. Essentially, it makes your transmission as good as new again.
The simplicity of removing one transmission and installing another makes this repair service much easier — however, the cost of parts also makes it much more expensive. Rather than paying for select individual components, you’ll have to pay for an entire system of parts. The upside to this immediate cost is that you shouldn’t deal with any other major transmission problems for years to come.
Which is Cheaper: Transmission Rebuild or Replacement?
The short answer is that a transmission rebuild is cheaper. However, there are a number of factors that go into determining the cost of either repair service, including the difficulty of diagnostic and repair work, the cost of parts, and the ultimate prevention of major repair costs down the road. Though a transmission rebuild may be cheaper upfront, if a full replacement would better solve all the issues with your vehicle, it’s ultimately going to cost you less.
Complexity of Diagnostic & Repair Work
Often, the more complex your repair, the more you’ll have to pay. While that’s not always the case, you can count on higher costs for services that require more attention from your mechanic. Whether it’s carrying out detailed diagnostics to understand which specific components in your transmission are faulty or simply having multiple parts to replace, your labor costs will go up the more time your mechanic spends with your vehicle.
Cost of Parts vs Labor
There’s a balance between paying for more expensive components or increased labor. While a transmission rebuild allows you to save on the cost of parts, your mechanic will have to charge more for the labor involved. On the other hand, while a transmission replacement is quicker and simpler for your mechanic to handle, the cost of a remanufactured transmission more than makes up the difference in cost.
Preventing Future Repair Costs
If it feels to you like nothing is cheap these days, you’re not alone. However, cutting costs isn’t always about simply choosing the cheaper option upfront. While the price tag on a transmission replacement may look intimidating, if it’s recommended by your mechanic based on the damage in your vehicle, it’s important to make that choice. Paying more for a transmission replacement can save you money in the long run.
Opting instead to just to a rebuild to replace the most urgent components may save you money now, but if other parts are at risk of wearing out soon, you’ll find yourself continuing to pay more for repairs. Often, it’s better to bite the bullet and have repairs done properly the first time — and then drive confident that you’re less likely to deal with surprise major repairs.
Trust the Transmission Experts at Your Local AAMCO Chester
Transmission trouble doesn’t have to be intimidating. The expert mechanics at your local AAMCO Chester are here to help answer your questions, carry out accurate diagnostics, advise you as to the best course of action for your vehicle, and efficiently handle necessary repairs. Schedule your appointment with us today!