Repairing a Transmission
Transmission Rebuild's are not cheap. Well, nothing is cheap in life now anyways ... So what's new. But, let me justify why a rebuild is going to cost you ... and we will go from there. Transmissions are big and bulky. They take a great deal of care and expertise to do the job right from beginning-to-end. They have a great deal of moving parts that need to work perfectly together like a watch ... and that even goes for a standard transmission, also. You would not try to "short-cut" putting a watch back together ... and then expect it to work properly. This especially goes for that heavy, complicated piece of machinery beneath the floorboard of your vehicle. You are really counting on it to do its' job everytime right ... and without fail.
Rebuild a transmission are really a great deal of work. They are not easy to get to. They require two specialized tools right off-the-bat ... to get the job done quickly and efficiently. A transmission jack and an automobile lift. These are basic ... and essential. As equipment goes they are not cheap. (Pictures can be seen below.) Please note: There should be several of both of these items at a good shop for a good shop to stay busy. A good shop will want to keep things moving in order for everyone to be making money ... and stay happy, etc. Why do I tell you this? So, you can see the very basics of a good operating shop and identify some things right away. There are more keys to this which I'll get to later on in the article. You don't want to pull into some "fly-by-night" operation ... or a "flat-rate" shop ... or a bunch of amateurs ... do you? I mean you might like the sound of the price they give you ... but what good does that do you if you find yourself back on the highway and stuck again after a month or two? Here are those pics below that I promised to show you in order for you to know what to start looking for as you enter the parking lot of the Transmission Shop. The first one that you have chosen. [Note: This is not a restaraunt ... that equates lots of cars as being a good place to eat or that they are always busy. Seeing that the Transmission Shop has a great many cars in the parking lot doesn't mean a thing. It might just mean that they are slow ... or incompetent. You don't want either ... trust me!]
Ok ... I'm educating you already on things that make up a good shop ... and how it should look. That way you can begin to recognize good shops. Ones who will work hard for you and do the job right. Not some "shady" company with one beat-up ol' lift inside a building that is barely standing ... and a few cats (and mice) making homes out of the vehicles left to be fixed ... someday! Or, an Old Dilapidated Place that sends out some "unskilled" worker with lift stands and a ratchet to crawl under your vehicle to pull the tranny out on his back. Not ... that there might be some good folks who make a living by pulling and rebuilding transmissions in a place like that ... mainly local "Shade-Tree" Mechanics. Just make sure that if you use them for your transmission job ... that they come highly-recommended from experience from a very good friend or family member ... and that the transmission that was built for them worked for them for a very long time after the job.
OK, moving on. Let me cover some other good things that make up a good shop. Things you should look for. Standards in the industry that you should get a feel for to make an informed decision. At least one or two brand new lifts (If they have been around for many years-then lifts wear out and eventually need replacing due to fatique from repeat useage over the years.) Some Employees in the Shop. Some Hustle and Bustle. Some ironed-starched uniforms, Cases and Cases of Huge Standing Tool Boxes (depending on Number of Employees in the Shop. Each is responsible to have their own tools. And they need lots of tools of all kinds to be proficient at their job), Organized parts area, An Organized Shop, Clean Floor with few spills, Professional Demeanor, Discouragement Sign of Some Kind from you just walking around the shop floor (which means they actually carry insurance!), At least: One guy studying and/or carefully assembling a Transmission, A Very Big Parts washer (looks and sounds like a big dishwasher), A Large Metal Press like-looking Machine, Visible Air Hose Connectors on the wall/Air lines / Rubber Air Hoses, Cars that have been rotated off the lifts for the most part (at least after several days. Note: Some cars can not be moved or are too much trouble to move once the Bottom Frame for the Front End has been removed), Large Storage tanks for new oil, Large Storage Tank for disposable oil, and a clean public office area. (Maybe even some nice reading matireal, clean chairs, and perhaps even fresh coffee made ... at least in the morning),
Also things to look for in the Public Office Area are: Mats / Welcome Mats, Pictures/Plaques of the Shop belonging to the community, Pictures of their favorite rebuilds, Transmission Rebuilders Trade Association Emblems, and some kind of poster promoting the products they use (means they do enough business to have sales reps of transmission related products to call on that particular shop to also make money in the sales that are generated from said shop). There should be some kind of basic information near the service desk bragging about their Shop, and Some kind of description of the Warranties they offer (because they offer a great warranty which can be compared with other leading shops in the area. And, they are proud of that warranty offer), and a Manager that is attentive to the fact that you just entered the Shop office area. These are all the makings of a professional Shop. Some are very minute' points ... but there is a reason behind each point.
Did I say that how much to rebuild a transmission business is highly-competitive and highly-sales driven? Let me tell you now ... in advance of your repair. Because, like I stated earlier. You probably haven't given it much thought until you needed a rebuild. Now it has happened to you ... and you pretty much just want a solution to a big problem. Make it a good solution to a big problem. These ingredients are key in the big picture of the Shop of your choosing. Don't use any one particular thing I mentioned, as a final judgement to leave a shop, as soon as you roll-in to the parking lot. You're there now, hear them out, and then make judgement call, after being informed. Also Note: A local independent shop will not have the kind of money a franchise can have for fancy floors, landscaping outside, and an espresso automatic coffee maker ... and that may be a good thing. Maybe, the independent shop just wants to work hard at impressing you with the kind of work they do ... and leave that kind of frilly stuff to the big franchises. Big Franchises who in turn will put all those frills back into your final bill. Oh ... and did I mention big advertising expense? Someone has to pay for the TV commercials or Full Page Ad in the paper. Independents don't usually have that kind of budget, but then they don't have that kind of overhead either. And, their price should reflect it! One way or another. We all get what we pay for!
We all want one thing when it comes time for any repair: The Bottom-Line. I can't give you that! Too many variables ... for one thing. There can not even really be an average price that a shop could throw out to you with an average number to help ease your concerns. Why? Look out at the road ... How many different vehicles do you see within the span of one block! Do you think all those vehicles were engineered exactly the same ... and have exactly the same problems when they go to the shop? However, I can help educate on the particulars to what you are paying for. I can say that there are literally a couple hundred of separate parts inside your transmission. Every single clutch, clutch plate, seal, and even check ball ... add up into a huge project to put together. Having it work in precision ... is a beautiful thing. Something you became quite accustomed to everytime that thing worked perfectly under your seat or hood (front-wheel drive fits under hood with engine) and shifted you down the road. Let's talk about the value of work done.