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You can think of your transmission as the conduit for energy from your engine to your wheels. It’s one of the biggest and most important components of your car, and when it fails, it can be an expensive fix. “How much is a transmission replacement?” is the worried question many of us pose after one fails.Here’s a close look at what your transmission does, signs that it’s having problems, and what it may cost to repair one.
What Does a Transmission Do?
Your engine operates at a rotational speed of anywhere from 600 to 7,000 revolutions per minute or RPMs. Your transmission is responsible for converting the power produced by your engine into something usable to power your car. It does so by using gears to convert engine power into a force known as torque. It transfers this force to the axles of your vehicle, which then rotate the wheels and make your car move forward or backward.Without your transmission, the power your engine produces would be useless, and your car would be unable to move.Recommended: Guide to Crankshaft Repair & Replacement Costs
How Much Does a New Transmission Cost?
The transmission replacement cost will vary widely depending on what type of car you drive and whether you drive a car with a standard or automatic transmission. On average, you will likely pay anywhere from $1,500 to about $5,000 for a new transmission.Recommended: Suspension Repair & Replacement Cost Guide
Transmission Repair Cost
“How much does it cost to fix a transmission?” you may be wondering. Repairing a transmission is a good option if it can be brought back to working condition with minimal parts and labor, especially given the price of replacing the part.The car transmission repair cost may vary by job, but a fluid change could cost as little as $80, while replacing a shift solenoid could be as much as $500. That said, repair costs could run you as much as $3,400. The cost of new transmission systems and transmission replacement, meanwhile, can cost thousands of dollars in parts and labor.
Preventative Care Tips for Your Transmission
Here are some preventative care tips for your transmission:
Changing Transmission Fluid
Changing your transmission fluid once every 60,000 miles traveled can help keep your transmission in good shape. Auto manufacturers generally recommend changing your transmission fluid once every 30,000 to 60,000 miles if you drive a manual transmission vehicle and once every 60,000 to 100,000 miles if you drive an automatic.
Shifting Smoothly
Whether you drive an automatic or manual transmission car, you can always pay attention to whether your gears shift smoothly. A transmission that fails to shift smoothly could be a sign of trouble. Changing your transmission fluid periodically, as highlighted above, can promote the smooth shifting of your transmission system.
Not Riding the Clutch
If you drive a manual transmission vehicle, you must use your clutch to shift gears. You may rest your foot on the clutch while driving, but this practice of “riding the clutch” is not necessarily good for your vehicle’s smooth operation. Minimizing the number of times you ride the clutch may help preserve the integrity of your clutch system.Recommended: Guide to Alternator Repair & Replacement Costs
What Are Signs Your Transmission Is Going Out?
There are quite a few signs that your vehicle’s transmission is in need of repair or potentially failing. Here’s what to look out for:
Leaky Fluids
Your transmission fluid is bright red, translucent, and has a sweet smell. Transmission leaks are located near the center of the underbelly of your car. If the fluid is pink, it’s a bad sign. It’s possible that engine coolant is leaking into your transmission, which might mean it needs to be replaced.
Whiny or Clunky Noise
Be mindful of any new noises that you hear coming from your transmission, whether it’s whining, humming, or clunking. These noises may be associated with vibrations or lurching.
Vibrating and Grinding
The transitions between gears on an automatic transmission should be seamless. You shouldn’t notice any shaking, vibrating, or grinding as your car is shifting gears if your transmission is healthy.
Vehicle Will Not Go Into Gear
It may be hard to get your car into gear if your transmission is failing. This might be most noticeable when you’re putting your car into park or reverse. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll need to replace the transmission, it may just mean your fluid is low or you’ve used the wrong type of fluid.
Popping In and Out of Gear
If your car is slipping in and out of gear, you may notice that the engine revs right before you lose power. As your engine slips out of gear, you are forced into neutral. A clunking noise may precede the engine engaging again as it slips back into gear.
Burning Smell
Burning smells coming from your car are always cause for alarm, as they can be precursors to fire. If transmission fluid is old or low, your transmission can begin to overheat, causing the smell.
Squishy Clutch Pedal
If you drive a standard vehicle with a stick shift, be conscious of changes to the feel of the clutch pedal. This may be one of the first places that you notice symptoms of a failing transmission. You may feel vibrations, for example, when you shift. Or the pedal may feel unusually soft or hard when you press it.
Check Engine Light Is On
If your automatic transmission is on the fritz, your “check engine light” will come on. Note, this light also alerts drivers to a number of other issues with their cars. Whenever it comes on, it’s important to have someone run a diagnostic to see what the problem is to help you avoid damaging any parts or alert you to replacements that are necessary.
Torque Converter
The torque converter is the coupling that transfers power between the engine and the transmission. A failing torque converter can produce many of the same symptoms as a failing transmission, including gearing slipping, shuddering, and overheating.
Solenoid Issues
Solenoids are small valves located inside your transmission. In automatic transmissions, they help ensure gears shift quickly and fully. When solenoids aren’t functioning properly, shifting may be delayed, your engine may not downshift as you brake, you may have difficulty shifting out of neutral, and gear shifts may be rough as you accelerate or decelerate.
Noisy When in Neutral
If you drive a stick and you notice that your transmission is producing humming, buzzing, or whining noises when you’re in neutral, this could be a sign that your transmission is failing.
Reverse and/or Forward Gear Failure
If you’re having trouble getting your car in reverse or forward gear, you may be having a number of transmission-related issues. For example, an issue with your solenoids could lead to gear slippage or there could even be issues with the computer that controls your transmission. When major components of your transmission are damaged, it is common that cars only drive in reverse.Recommended: Cylinder Head Replacement Cost Guide
5 Ways to Cover Transmission Replacement Cost
Below, we highlight five ways to cover transmission replacement costs:
1. Cash Savings
You may use cash savings to pay for a transmission replacement if you have enough cash on hand or sufficient funds in your bank account. Bankrolling car maintenance services can deplete your savings, but the upside to using cash is it completes a transaction without relying on a creditor.
2. Credit Cards
Consumers may use credit cards to pay for a transmission replacement. Some credit cards may offer a rewards program that provides cardholders with at least 1% cash back on all purchases. Credit cards may carry high interest rates, but borrowers can pay off their credit card debt on a flexible timeline with minimum monthly payments or greater.
3. Taking Out a Personal Loan
Borrowers may take out a car repair personal loan to help cover transmission replacement expenses. Personal loans can provide you with a lump sum of money and payment schedule for repaying the loan. Lenders may offer secured or unsecured personal loans. Secured personal loans require collateral, whereas unsecured personal loans have no collateral requirements. Pledging an asset as collateral reduces risk to the lender and may help you get approved for a better interest rate. Deposits in a savings account, motor vehicles, and single-family homes are among the assets that can serve as collateral on a loan.
4. Auto Loan Refinancing
Taking a vehicle in for a transmission replacement can be costly, but getting a cash out auto refinance may help you borrow money to cover such expenses. Refinancing your auto loan doesn’t eliminate your underlying burden of debt, but it may provide you with a lower monthly payment and lower interest rate. Refinancing for a lower monthly payment in some cases may extend your term, and extending your term can saddle you with more interest charges over the life of your loan. An auto loan refinance calculator can help you see whether a refinanced loan offering may increase or decrease your total interest costs.To qualify for auto loan refinancing, you may need to meet certain standards of creditworthiness, and your vehicle may need to meet certain standards of maintenance. If your vehicle has more than 125,000 miles on the odometer, it may be difficult to get a high mileage refinance.Before you refinance, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of refinancing. While lower interest rates can save you money, you may also be on the hook for a variety of new fees, including prepayment penalties.
5. Consolidating Repair Debt Into Your Auto Loan
If you have car loan debt and a faulty transmission that needs to be replaced, you may consider car loan consolidation.This is a debt consolidation method where you may borrow funds to finance your transmission replacement expenses and also to pay off your existing car loan. A borrower, for example, could take out a large personal loan to cover car maintenance expenses and also to pay off the remaining balance on a car loan.Recommended: How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Car Radiator?
The Takeaway
Replacing a transmission can be a significant expense, with costs typically ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 for most vehicles, depending on the make, model, and type of transmission. Labor costs and the choice between a new, rebuilt, or remanufactured transmission can also influence the total price.You can pay for a new transmission with cash, a credit card, a personal loan, or by refinancing your existing auto loan with a cash-out refinance.If you’re interested in refinancing your car, Lantern by SoFi can help. With just a single application, you’ll receive offers from our network of lenders, all with no obligation to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth replacing a transmission?
What are the signs your transmission is going out?
Is it better to fix or replace a transmission?
Why is transmission work so expensive?
Photo credit: iStock/Worayuth Kamonsuwan
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About the Author
Austin Kilham
Austin Kilham is a writer and journalist based in Los Angeles. He focuses on personal finance, retirement, business, and health care with an eye toward helping others understand complex topics.
