How Much Does A Transmission Rebuild Cost?

Transmissions are complicated and a rebuild is even more so. This article will cover everything you need to know about rebuilding a transmission.

Your car’s transmission ensures that the right amount of power is sent to its wheels.

Unfortunately, the transmission can eventually stop working, which must be solved by either rebuilding it or replacing it with a new one.

Rebuilding a transmission will cost around $1500 to $3000 depending on the condition, labor, and more.

In this guide, we will look specifically at the cost to rebuild a transmission. We will also touch upon remanufactured transmissions.

Let’s get started with the guide!

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How Does A Transmission Get Rebuilt?

To understand the potentially high cost of a transmission rebuild, it is important to grasp everything that the process entails.

When an issue with your car has been confirmed to lie with the transmission, the first step is to remove it from the car and disassemble it.

A bad transmission can cause multiple signs and symptoms including grinding sounds, gear slippage, a burning smell, and more.

A transmission is a very sophisticated and complex part of the car. As a result, many steps must be taken to disassemble it.

These include draining the transmission oil and removing the cover, gears, bearings, and many other small but important parts.

What constitutes a rebuilt transmission depends on the mechanic who performs the task.

In most cases, a rebuild includes an inspection of the transmission, cleaning, and replacement of worn-out parts.

This means a rebuilt transmission will work with new and existing parts with no guarantee that the other parts will not also break soon.

How Much Does It Cost To Rebuild A Transmission?

Due to the complex process of removing and disassembling the transmission, many hours are needed.

This means a large percentage of the cost will be spent on labor.

The cost also depends on the extent of the damage and the parts that must be replaced.

Most rebuilds take between 8 to 15 hours, which is roughly $800 to $1500 in labor costs.

Total Cost Of A Transmission Rebuild

The most significant factor that influences the total cost of a transmission rebuild is the extent of damage to the transmission, and the location of the transmission.

On average, a transmission rebuild with both labor and parts will cost around $2000 to $3000.

This applies to extensive rebuilds but it is possible that the price will be higher or lower depending on what part is being rebuilt and the car model in question.

Location Of The Transmission

The location of the transmission plays a significant role in the labor cost as most cars that use a rear-wheel drivetrain have a more accessible transmission.

This is because most front-wheel-drive cars have a transaxle.

A transaxle consists of multiple components that are otherwise independent. These include the transmission, differential, and axle.

This means it is more time-consuming working with transaxles, which will ultimately result in a more expensive total cost.

What Is A Remanufactured Transmission?

People often confuse a remanufactured transmission for a rebuilt transmission.

While both processes include renovating the transmission, a remanufactured transmission has been fully restored by replacing every component, regardless of its condition.

A remanufactured transmission will therefore cost more, as additional work must be completed and more parts will be replaced.

What Is Best For Your Car?

Fixing a transmission is one of the most expensive car repairs.

When a transmission is due for replacement, you have three options: installing a new transmission, rebuilding your current one, or remanufacturing it.

Some stores have transmissions that they have already rebuilt or remanufactured independently, then offer them to car owners whose transmission does not work.

You should consider all three options as they each have advantages and disadvantages.

Installing A New Transmission

Buying and installing a brand-new transmission is the most expensive option of the three.

If you are skilled at working with cars and can spend a few hours replacing the transmission, you could save a lot of money by performing the work yourself.

The biggest advantage of installing a new transmission is that you will enjoy added peace of mind thanks to the warranty that comes with the purchase.

Rebuilding The Transmission

By reading this article, you should have gained a solid grasp of what rebuilding a transmission entails and the advantages and disadvantages that come with it.

The most meaningful advantage is that it is the cheapest option. This is because only the faulty parts are replaced.

On the other hand, you will not receive any warranty or assurance of how long the rest of the transmission will last as its parts are older.

Remanufacturing The Transmission

Somewhere between the two choices described above, there is a third option: remanufacturing the transmission.

This means the whole transmission is rebuilt, not only the faulty parts but also all the other replaceable parts.

Because all the parts are replaced with new ones simultaneously, most shops will offer an extensive warranty.

Just as this process is somewhere between the other two options, so is its cost, making it a great choice if you are struggling to decide.

Summary

Rebuilding a car’s transmission costs on average $1500 to $3000. However, this can vary considerably depending on factors such as the car model, drivetrain, damage, and labor cost.

When rebuilding a transmission, only the parts that are not working properly are replaced.

As a result, the cost will be closely linked to the condition of the transmission and the labor that must be put into the project.

Transmissions are complex and will require many hours to remove, disassemble and install. When added to the parts that must be replaced, the final cost will usually be at least $2000.

If buying a new transmission is not an option, remanufacturing it might be your best choice as it will come with a good warranty that will protect your investment.