subject: Choosing Between Automotive Transmission Repair or Automotive Transmission Replacement in Tampa [print this page] Never take your car for grantedNever take your car for granted. If you experience anything strange in its performance, including difficult handling, a lag in response time and weird noises, immediately take the car to your auto service mechanic for a diagnostic work up. Do not wait until your car stalls and you have to call for tow trucks and towing services. If your auto service mechanic says you need car repair, do not postpone it. Perhaps auto AC repair is elective and may just cost you your convenience, but more serious automotive issues like problems in the engine, brakes or transmission need immediate attention. When your mechanic says your transmission needs work, for example, the only thing you should ask is whether it needs repair or replacement. Listen to your Tampa mechanic for your own safety.
Actually, in such cases you have three options. Aside from transmission repair or replacement, you can also opt to sell the car and buy a new one. Given that you will be selling a car that is not in running condition, though, be prepared to spend a lot on this option.
If you think that transmission repair is your least costly option, you are still wrong, though. Transmission repair can actually be very costly and you may not even know the extent of expenses up front since the transmission system will have to be dismantled and inspected before a complete diagnosis and recommendations can be made. The car is placed on a lift and the entire transmission system is brought down. After disassembly, all parts with friction surfaces, such as the torque converter, seals, gaskets, clutch and bands, will be replaced. Other parts, especially those that are concealed, will be closely inspected for damage. Only then will you know which additional parts also need replacement. In addition to that, you may have to purchase an upgrade kit in case the vehicle manufacturer has since upgraded the same transmission model.
Transmission repair also takes longer to do as compared to transmission replacement. Whereas replacement can be finished in a day, repair can reach up to three to four days. Transmission repair is only recommended if you had recently bought your car brand new and the transmission is still the original, or if your transmission has previously been extensively customized and the expensive work done on it should not be wasted.
The third option is transmission replacement. You can do this with a brand new transmission, a remanufactured transmission or a used transmission. The most expensive choice is, of course, the brand new transmission which costs about two to three thousand dollars.
A used transmission is the cheapest option but is not the best. It may be working when you purchase it but you never know when it will give out. There may be hidden problems you do not know about. Even if the seller guarantees to replace it when a problem arises, you will still be risking your safety because the problems may arise on the road. You will also be wasting time if you need to have the transmission replaced again soon after.
A remanufactured transmission may be more expensive than a used transmission but it is cheaper than a brand new transmission. It is a used transmission that has been completely rebuilt to meet the required standards. Because of this, it comes with a warranty that usually exceeds a year. Even then, make sure you get a remanufactured transmission from a reputable source.
Whether you opt for automotive transmission repair or automotive transmission replacement, make sure you do it promptly and with a reputable auto service shop in Tampa with a reliable mechanic you can trust.
Choosing Between Automotive Transmission Repair or Automotive Transmission Replacement in Tampa
