Have you ever been in a rather odd situation where you needed to solve a faulty transmission problem? If you're operating on a lean budget and your car's transmission is defective, you might find yourself trapped in the dilemma of deciding whether to do a transmission rebuild or buy a used one? If you are, then this post is for you.
What Does an Auto Transmission Do?
In case you didn’t know, a transmission is the part of your car that is mounted directly after the engine (on either side or behind) and helps drive the wheels by converting the engine’s combustion power to momentum. Without the transmission, you could generate power in your vehicle's engine, but your vehicle would never move. The transmission is, therefore, not one of those good-to-have car features. It’s a critical part!
What Does a Transmission Rebuild Process Involve?
Before we compare rebuilding the transmission and purchasing a used one, let me walk you through the transmission rebuilding process:
- The first step involves detaching the transmission from your vehicle and then dismantling it.
- The next step is to clean the transmission using chemicals or a special cleaning solution and a parts washer.
- Afterwards, faulty and misaligned parts are replaced.
- Any necessary electrical fixes are carried out.
- Recent software updates that have been made since you bought the car could also be installed.
- Lastly, the rebuilt transmission is fitted back into the vehicle.
Now, let’s consider which is better: a rebuilt transmission or a used transmission.
What Are the Advantages of Rebuilding a Transmission vs. Buying a Used Transmission?
We’ll consider the fors and againsts of transmission rebuilding over buying a used transmission under six points of comparison.
1. History
You may not know the history of the used transmission that you’re considering for your car. A used transmission with a questionable history could open a door to a new series of headaches, such as problems with shifting, contaminated fluid, cooling systems, and so on.
On the other hand, rebuilding your transmission with parts from verified shops or companies will give you the confidence that your transmission will work as good as new.
2. Warranty
A used transmission scarcely comes with a warranty or any form of protection. In other words, the burden of risk is entirely on you. If the transmission turns out to be a long-lasting one, then good for you! And if it doesn’t, you’re back to step 1.
Conversely, when you purchase new parts from a reputable shop for your transmission rebuild, you get some protection for the parts you bought.
3. Cost
Going for a used transmission is hands down the cheaper option of the two, at least initially. There’s a huge possibility that a used transmission that seemed to work fine when you drove out of the auto technicians shop would develop serious faults only a few months down the line. By purchasing a used transmission, you might be putting off your repair expenses for now, only to pick it up sometime in the near or far future. Nobody knows.
On the contrary, a rebuild may seem like the more expensive option at first, but at least there's lower risk and higher assurance of the value you’re getting for your money.
4. Car resale value
When trying to solve your transmission problem, ensure that you put your vehicle's resale value into consideration. The bulk of buyers aren’t looking to buy a car with a whole load of problems waiting for them to solve. This is why most buyers choose to discuss recent repairs before sealing any deal.
A used transmission will significantly lower your vehicle’s value because it suggests that the new owner may need to repair the transmission again shortly, unlike a rebuilt transmission. Rebuilding your transmission rather than purchasing a used transmission will help your car retain a higher value when you want to resell.
5. Professionalism
When you decide to purchase a used transmission from a junkyard or any other place, there is a chance that you will encounter unsatisfactory service conditions such as time-wasting and poor customer service. A faulty transmission can occur anytime, usually at the most inconvenient times. The last thing anyone needs in that kind of situation is to have their time wasted by unprofessionalism.
Getting the parts for a rebuild and rebuilding the transmission would take less than a day. Purchasing a used transmission, on the other hand, could take longer. The retailer may have to source the transmission from different parts of the country, depending on your vehicle type, and it may be a while before a perfect match for your vehicle is found.
6. Trust and safety
This is the bottom line. When dealing with used car parts, you need to be more cautious. It's challenging to verify how trustworthy the seller and how reliable the used part is. The parts you're considering could have been sourced from a stolen car, for all you know.
By now, you can tell that I have a bent for rebuilt transmissions. But that’s not to say that used transmissions are no good. You could also consider these used car parts when all you need is a temporary fix. Plus, if you're lucky enough to get a good one that would be a real steal. When buying used auto parts, it’s critical to buy only from reputable wreckers. Please see our Wreckamended Wreckers at Carpart.com.au.
How Many Kilometres Should a Rebuilt Transmission Last?
When appropriately managed, a well-rebuilt transmission should last for a long time. This is because a properly rebuilt transmission should function close to a brand-new unit and is expected to do a minimum of 65,000km. When well maintained, it can even reach up to 250,000km of mileage.
How Much Should a Transmission Rebuild Cost?
The cost of a transmission rebuild depends on factors such as your car's brand and model. It's challenging to provide a blanket price for the repair, but it’s safe to say that the cost of transmission rebuilding ranges from $1000 to $2000.
For More Auto Parts Info, Give CarPart.AU a Visit!
Do you need more information about getting a transmission rebuilt? CarPart.AU has got you covered on many ends. First, you can use our directory to search for reputable car part sellers and mechanics near you. Also, you can conveniently request your needed auto parts here. I’m not done yet! You can also learn more about car parts by reading our blog posts.
Talk about a one-stop solution for everything car-related. CarPartAU to the rescue!
Damilare Olasinde