Replacing Your Transmission When the Old One Fails

​

Your mode of transportation is one item that, when it comes to solving problems and making repairs, can’t wait.  Your trusted mechanic can quickly take care of many repairs to your automobile fairly affordably, but when significant damage to engines or transmissions occurs, the repair and the price can quickly grow to a size that forces you to consider replacing the entire system.  When transmissions get to the point of being beyond repair, people often choose to have either rebuilt transmissions or remanufactured transmissions installed to replace old ones.  Another option is a used transmission, but these usually represent the least reliable choice as any problems they had may not have been permanently addressed.  

Below, we outline the differences between rebuilt transmissions and remanufactured transmissions so that you’ll be well-informed when it comes to making the decision that’s right for you.

 

Rebuilt vs. Remanufactured Transmissions:  Basic Definitions

​

In order to rebuild a faulty transmission, the mechanic disassembles it and inspects all parts to diagnose all problems, then replaces any parts not working.  Remanufactured transmissions, also referred to as reman transmissions, involve inspecting all parts and replacing problematic ones with new or dealer-verified refurbished parts to bring all components back to the specifications of a new transmission.  

 

Quality

​

A properly rebuilt transmission will work, but used parts are often installed as long as they function, and they don’t have to be verified.  Parts that still meet manufacturer requirements of being acceptable are kept as is, and parts that see more wear and tear such as seals and o-rings, bands, and gaskets are replaced.  

Parts utilized in remanufactured transmissions must be either new or meet the same manufacturer specifications of new parts and come from verified sources.  Some parts may be modified based on the latest recall or updated standards.  Mechanics inspect and clean all components, checking metal parts and machining them back to new standards if needed, and electronic pieces such as solenoids are checked and replaced.  The reman transmission then passes through rigorous testing including extreme temperatures, pressure, torque, and power tests.  

 

Warranty

​

Rebuilt transmissions generally come with a 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty.  However, labor may or may not be included in coverage, and you will need to check whether the warranty requires the transmission to be repaired at specific shops.  The warranty on all transmissions usually lasts 3 years and often comes with no mileage limitations. https://reman-transmission.com/transmissions  Repairs can be made at any transmission shop, and the warranty can transfer to a new owner should the vehicle be sold. When considering either of these options in regards to warranty, those that offer coverage for longer than 3 years are unusual and could be fraudulent.  Reputable companies like Ford do not give warranties for remanufactured transmissions over 3 years.  

 

Price

​

Contrary to what you might think, there is often not a large price difference between remanufactured and rebuilt transmissions.  Cost typically depends on the car make and model and the parts needed.  In general you can expect to spend $1300-$3500 for either one.  One benefit of reman transmissions is knowing the price tag up front, whereas mechanics will only be able to estimate the cost for rebuilt transmissions until they disassemble it and inspect all parts, so some unforeseen costs may come up.  

To sum up, either rebuilt or reman transmissions can be made up of both old and new replacement parts.  The main distinction is that the components of a remanufactured transmission must meet factory standards of new parts, so the transmission is like new, and dyno testing helps catch any potential issues before it is installed in the vehicle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmission_(mechanics)