Transmission repairs aren’t cheap. But neither is replacing a transmission. Depending on the type and complexity of the transmission, you may be able to fix a transmission without replacing it. Some repairable transmission problems include replacing a failed solenoid, repairing an electrical issue, replacing a sensor, replacing or repairing a valve body (in some cases), fixing a leak or replacing a failed component like a pump, gear sets or clutch pack. However if more serious transmission parts have failed, debris may have circulated throughout the rest of the transmission and cause much more serious damage. In which case, you will need to replace your transmission.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Solenoids, sensors & electrical problems
A transmission solenoid is essentially a little plunger that allows pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow into different chambers so different gears can activate. They’re turned on and off when the TCM sends an electrical current to a coil of wire that is wrapped around the plunger mechanism. Sensors like speed sensors and temperature sensors tell the TCM the data it needs to determine when to activate different components like a solenoid. And all of these various things are connected to the wiring harness. In many cases, these transmission problems can be repaired without even removing the transmission from the vehicle.
Valve body problems
The transmission valve body is like the brain of the transmission, and controls the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid that activates the different gears and clutches. On many transmissions, the valve body can be accessed by removing the transmission pan. If there is damage to the valve body like cracks, warping or scored valve bores, it’s usually best to replace the valve body with a remanufactured valve body. These are completely reconditioned and come with a very comprehensive warranty to protect you from the expense of future problems. To learn more about getting a reman valve body from a company like Street Smart Transmission, click here.
Failed hard parts
Hard parts are classified as the heavy metal components like gears, a transmission pump, the valve body etc. If there is a problem with one of these components, it’s very likely that small metal debris has circulated throughout the transmission, which can cause serious damage (like cracking and scoring) to other components. If this has happened, the entire transmission is slightly compromised to the point that transmission repairs will only offer (an expensive) temporary fix. Should this be the case, you may want to consider replacing the transmission with a high quality remanufactured transmission from a company like Street Smart Transmission. There completely reconditioned in a state-of-the-art factory, and come with a 3-year/unlimited mile nationwide warranty. To learn more, click here.
Why a remanufactured transmission might be a good option
While you can’t buy a brand-new transmission, a remanufactured transmission is a terrific alternative. These are completely reengineered and put together on a factory assembly line. They often contain a lots of upgrades over their stock form, which means many of the design flaws that result in premature failure of components can be eliminated. This can give a reman transmission a much longer service life than it originally had.
Remanufactured transmission companies like Street Smart Transmission put each of their reman transmissions through a rigorous build process that ensures a quality product every time. It starts with nearly 100 trained technicians that specialize in different aspects of the build process.
This remanufacturing process starts with the inspection team that test all of the critical components from the donor transmission to ensure that they meet the original equipment (OE) tolerances and specifications. The case, pumps, gears, shafts, valve body and torque converter are checked for hairline cracks, metal tensile strength, warping and other parameters. If any component fails to meet the required specifications, it’s discarded and replaced.
All the parts are then cleaned and sent to the appropriate stations on the assembly line for reassembly. Throughout the process, quality control managers inspect the build to ensure that it meets the desired specification. Any necessary modifications or upgrades that are needed to correct factory design flaws are also performed or added. The valve body is rebuilt and tested on a special dyno machine to ensure that it performs according to the specifications. All of the solenoids are also tested prior to installation.
Once the build is complete and passes its final quality control inspection, the newly remanufactured transmission is sent to the dyno room, where it’s tested on a special dyno machine using a proprietary software program called C.A.R.S. (Computer Aided Real-world Simulation). This cycles the transmission through a number of real-world driving situations, to ensure that it performs according to the factory specs. It also helps to break in all of the friction components, that way it’s completely tuned and ready to go once it’s installed.
Warranty – One of the benefits of buying a remanufactured transmission vs. a rebuilt transmission is the warranty. Street Smart Transmission for example, covers all of their reman transmissions with a 3 Year/Unlimited Mileage Nationwide Warranty (there is a mileage restriction for commercial vehicles). This covers parts and labor for transmission repairs performed by any licensed repair shop in the country. It’s also completely transferable if you ever decide to sell the vehicle. Compared to a mechanics warranty on a transmission rebuild, a remanufactured transmission warranty offers superior financial protection.
What Transmission Do I Have?
