Today's transmissions are much more complicated than they were in the past. There are hundreds of individual components inside transmissions. In order to properly repair your vehicle's transmission, these components must be dismantled, cleaned and inspected for wear to provide you with an accurate assessment of your transmission's tolerance levels. All worn and/or damaged parts are either repaired or replaced. After the parts are thoroughly inspected and repaired, they are reassembled, adjusted and tested for proper operation.

Some transmission repairs require only an adjustment that can be made without removing the entire transmission. Newer model cars that are computer controlled can sometimes have faulty sensors or bad connections. Once the source of the problem part is identified it can be replaced or repaired.

Older automobiles that are experiencing transmission problems may require adjustments to parts such as bands or throttle cables.

Repairs can also include a Reseal. If your vehicle is leaving spots on your driveway you may be leaking transmission fluid in which case a reseal job is needed. A technician will perform a lift inspection to determine where the leak is occurring and then perform the reseal job.
 

Common Repairs:

• Adjustments and In-Car Repairs
  There are several problems that can be resolved with an adjustment (A simple adjustment is one that can be made without removing the transmission from the vehicle.) or minor repair.
  
  If a late model transmission (computer-controlled transmissions started becoming popular in the early '90s) is not shifting properly, it is often the result of a computer sending incorrect signals due to a faulty sensor, or the transmission is not reacting to the computer command because of a bad connection or defective solenoid pack. These problems can be corrected while the transmission is in the car for considerably less money then a complete overhaul.
  
  If a non computer-controlled transmission is shifting too early or too late, it may require an adjustment to the throttle cable. Since throttle cables rarely go out of adjustment on their own or due to wear and tear, these mis-adjustments are usually due to other repair work or damage from an accident. If the vehicle has a vacuum modulator instead of a throttle cable, there is an adjustment that can be made using an adjustment screw in some modulator designs. In vehicles with modulators, however, it is very important that there are no vacuum leaks and the engine is running at peak efficiency. Engine vacuum is very sensitive to how well the engine is running. In fact, many technicians use a vacuum gauge to diagnose performance problems and state-of-tune. Many problems that seem to be transmission problems disappear after a tune-up or engine performance related repair was completed.
  
  In some older transmissions, bands can be adjusted to resolve "slipping" conditions. Slipping is when an engine races briefly when the transmission shifts from one gear to the next. There are no adjustments for clutch packs however.
   

• Reseal job
  A transmission is resealed in order to repair external transmission fluid leaks. If you see spots of red oil on the ground under the car, your transmission may be a candidate for a reseal job. In order to check a transmission for leaks, we will put the car on a lift and examine the unit for signs of oil leaks. If a leak is spotted at any of the external seals or gaskets and the transmission otherwise performs well, we will most likely recommend that the transmission be resealed.
  Most of the external seals can be replaced while the transmission is still in the car but, if the front seal must be replaced, the transmission must first be removed from the vehicle in order to gain access to it.
   

• Replace accessible parts
  There are a number of parts that are accessible without requiring the removal of the complete transmission. Many of the control parts including most of the electrical parts are serviceable by simply removing the oil pan. The parts that are accessible, however, vary from transmission to transmission. There are situations where we are not able to provide meaningful warrantees on external repairs for the simple reason that we cannot see if there are any additional internal problems in the components that are only accessible by transmission removal.
   

• Complete Overhaul or Rebuild
  In a complete overhaul (also known as rebuilding a transmission), the transmission is removed from the vehicle and completely disassembled with the parts laid out on a workbench. Each part is inspected for wear and damage and then either cleaned in a special cleaning solution, or replaced with another part depending on its condition. Parts that have friction surfaces, such as bands and clutches are replaced as are all seals and gaskets. The torque converter is also replaced, usually with a remanufactured one. Technical service bulletins are checked to see if the auto manufacturer recommends any modifications to correct design defects that were discovered after the transmission was built. Automobile manufacturers often make upgrade kits available to transmission shops to resolve these design defects.

Frequently asked questions:

Q: How much will a transmission repair cost?
Repair costs depend on first what is wrong with the transmission and second what parts may be required to correct the problem. Overall 60% of all repairs are minor ones that do not require a complete overhaul of the transmission. Today's transmissions are more sophisticated and require extensive testing to determine the reason for failure. Mr. Transmission offers a Free performance check to determine what, if anything is wrong with the vehicle's transmission.

Q: Do you offer towing?
Towing is free with a major repair within the local area of a participating Mr. Transmission.

Q: What is your warranty?
Mr. Transmission has standard 6 month/unlimited or 12 month/12,000 mile warranties as well as extended warranties. Please contact us for more information.

Q: Is my warranty good anywhere?
The warranty is good nationwide at any affiliate of Mr. Transmission, Multistate or Dr. Nick's.

Q: How long will the repair take?
The length of time depends on the type of repair, facility scheduling and availability of any necessary parts. The manager will keep the customer informed of when a time of completion can be expected.

Q: Will you be putting all new parts in my transmission?
Mr. Transmission uses both new and remanufactured parts where required and rebuilds the transmission back to (OEM) manufacturer specifications.

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