Repair And Fix it

Transmissions allow you to easily shift a vehicle into drive, park or reverse when it is working properly. Low fluid levels or even a bad solenoid cause problems that can be handled without the need to tear down the entire transmission. However, internal problems more serious than these can also occur, bringing about the need to have the transmission rebuilt.

Search

Many transmission shops use to do transmission rebuilding jobs. By replacing transmissions instead of rebuilding them, shops can earn more profits for themselves. Because of this, you may need to do a thorough search before you can find a shop willing to rebuild your transmission.

Cost

A good way to estimate what it will cost you to have your transmission rebuilt is by taking the cost of what the transmission would cost new and splitting that in half. For example, if your transmission cost $2,000 new, you can expect to pay about $1,000 to have it rebuilt.

Labor

The labor performed with rebuilding a transmission starts with a total disassembling of the transmission. Each part is then caully inspected to see whether cleaning is needed or total replacement of the part. Some parts are often replaced regardless of their condition, such as the torque converter.

Automobile jargon can be confusing to the layperson, especially when costly repairs or replacements are being considered to a vehicles engine. Understanding the different terms can help the consumer make an educated decision during a purchase.

Identification

A rebuilt engine is an engine that has portions that are repaired and cleaned, but also contains parts that are deemed satisfactory by the rebuilder, and allowed to function without cleaning or adjustment. A remanufactured engine is one that has been overhauled by the original manufacturer to meet their basic specifications, adjusting and cleaning the entire engine.

Considerations

Rebuilt engines tend to be less expensive, due to the fact that less labor was put into the item, and many repair shops recommend them so their repair estimates stay relatively low.

Helpful Tip

Choosing a remanufactured engine may cost more money upfront, but may save money in the long run, as they tend to be more reliable engines with longer lifespans.

Purchasing a rebuilt engine or having your car serviced with a tear-down and rebuild of its existing engine involves a significant outlay of money. However, the option is still cost-effective when compared to the price of a new car. Rebuilt engines dont just plug in and work reliably once purchased. Many parts and systems from the existing car need to be integrated with the rebuilt engine, and the process can introduce unexpected problems.

Quality is as Good as the Mechanic

Rebuilt engines depend significantly on the labor process. If the mechanic is knowledgeable about the engine, the likelihood is good the repair will be reliable. If its the mechanics first time with an unfamiliar engine, problems in assembly may occur.

Assembly replacement engines are built under factory specifications and are put together following set criteria on the assembly line. The error rate of a bad engine tends to be fairly small.

Part Issues

After-market replacement parts do not always have the same quality tolerances as the original parts. These inferior parts will break down faster, even in rebuilt engines.

Labor Costs

Rebuilt engines are not likely to work perfectly, but the owner bears the responsibility for the cost of the service and rebuild, even if the engine has problems later on.

Even without mechanical issues, a rebuilt engine is expensive. The average car mechanic labor cost runs between $80 to $100 per hour. This includes the complete tear-down and then rebuild, not to mention replacement parts.

Warranty Issues

Some rebuilt engines purchased as assemblies are only covered for up to 90 days on a warranty basis.

More common, shop warranties on service rebuilt engines tend to be three years or 36,000 miles, if all instructions are followed on care and maintenance. However, some shops will rebuild engines with warranties lasting in some cases as much as 100,000 miles.