Your Vehicle's Transmission: Rebuild, Replace, Or Used?
When it comes to the transmission of your automobile, you have three choices. You can rebuild the transmission, you can replace the transmission with a new transmission, or you can replace the transmission with a used transmission. The question is – which option is most beneficial to you and your vehicle.
What About The Cost?
Regardless of if you purchase a used transmission or a new transmission or opt to rebuild the transmission, you need to be aware of the fact that transmission work is considered to be one of the most expensive auto repair work a mechanic can do. Here is an idea of the price range you can expect for each option:
- A New Transmission: Between $1,800 and $3,500
- A Used Transmission: Between $800 and $1,500
- A Rebuilt Transmission: Between $1,500 and $2,500
While the cheapest option is usually to purchase a used transmission, the price range varies pretty greatly between the three options. It is a common misconception that rebuilding a transmission is cheaper than a new transmission and better than a used transmission. If the transmission currently in your vehicle has a lot of damage, it can be just as – if not more – expensive to rebuild the transmission. Furthermore, you could find a used transmission in a junk yard with virtually nothing wrong with it. The junk yard may even offer a warranty on the transmission, guaranteeing it will work for a set period of time.
Can You Really Get a Decent Used Transmission At a Junk Yard?
The thought of purchasing a used transmission from a junk or salvage yard can be scary. Fortunately, insurance companies have made getting a decent transmission from a junk yard a realistic option. This is because it is not uncommon for an insurance company to consider a car totaled simply because the air bags went off in a small accident. It is possible for most of the vehicle to be in great condition and the mileage to be low, but the insurance company totals out the car anyway. This is the biggest recent why some decent cars with a few small problems end up at the junk yard.
Some junk yards and salvage yards will offer to pull parts for you. While this can sometimes raise the price of the part, some junk yards that do this will even test and/or inspect the part to make sure it isn't damaged. Furthermore, you can also talk to the junk yard about getting a warranty on the product. The warranty will either let you get your money back or pull another transmission out of the junk yard.