If you are struggling with a bad transmission it can be extremely frustrating. Your gears might slip or you might smell something burning. Overall it is a bad situation to be in. In this case, you might not want to spend the cost to have your transmission replaced or fixed.

How hard is it to rebuild a transmission? There are transmission hard parts, but you can actually reduce the cost quite significantly by doing it yourself, but it is not as easy as doing an oil change. It will actually require a lot more work on your part. It is not incredibly difficult to replace and remove a transmission, but the labor is usually very expensive. If you feel you are prepared and able to be safe following the instructions, then more power to you to try it out.

But how often to replace transmission fluid, and can you change transmission fluid yourself? You may also want to learn how to replace a clutch and how to replace transmission solenoid, or how to replace a front wheel drive transmission. If so, there are two things you need to know if you plan to do it yourself.

Rebuilding a Transmission at Home

Rebuilding a transmission is not the same as simply changing the oil. Although you may be able to do it yourself, it may be difficult even for a moderately good mechanic. If you have decided you want to take on this job, then you need to be careful. You should also be aware that you may damage it worse than before if you do not do it properly.

Whether you are looking to save money, or want to take on a project, it is possible to DIY a transmission repair. Be sure to grab the right tools, pay close attention, and listen to this advice.

Back to Basics - What is Wrong With Your Transmission?

Won’t Stay in Gear

If you go to shift your car, or simply press the pedal but it will not move, then you may have low transmission fuel. So how does an automatic transmission work? This problem in an automatic transmission can be due to a leak, in which then you will need to learn how to fix a transmission leak. It could also be an issue with the shifter cable. In this case, you may need to simply replace a part on the transmission rather than the entire thing. If you are willing to bring it into a shop, they can link it up to a computer and tell you what is wrong.

Missing Gears While Shifting

If you drive an automatic and your transmission seems to be missing gears, it could be because of a leak, contamination, or even water getting into the transmission. Sometimes this can happen when there is a lot of rain and you have a crack. Although this may not seem like a big deal, it can cause the transmission to overheat. This may have caused serious damage and might be an engine problem. The computer can then not allow the transmission to shift into higher gears.

Slipping

This condition can show itself as a revving engine as well, but essentially gear slipping is when the gears seem to go back and forth without changing the speed. So how can I fix my transmission from slipping? This is known to be caused by a low level of transmission fluid, contamination, or even wear on the internal parts. Most of the most common sign of this is engine revving. It can also be a sign that your clutch needs to be replaced, or something else inside the transmission is off.

Leaking Fluid

Your vehicle should never be leaking. If you see a leaking red fluid this is a bad sign and it means that you may have a transmission leak. Typically this will come from the cooler lines, a seal may be split or a broken gasket. This can be dangerous because if there is a leak it may cause your car to overheat.

Burning Smell

Any type of smell that is burnt is either the clutch or a leak. This is extremely dangerous! If you can catch this early then you may be able to save the transmission. Otherwise, you may be in for a very unpleasant surprise!

Clunking, Buzzing, Humming

Generally buzzing, clicking, or humming is coming from within the transmission and may be gear damage, or another problem within it. Buzzing can also be a poorly sealed surface or low transmission fluid.

No Power

If your car has no energy, but the engine works, it means that there may be an issue with the internal workings of the transmission. In this case, the computer in the vehicle may be limiting power because of another problem. It does this to protect itself, but you may need to have the codes ran to figure out what the problem is.

Check Engine Light

The check engine light relates to the entire car, and it can show you if you have trouble with other areas of your car as well. Despite this, overheating, problems with sensors, a slipping transmission, and other problems will show up on here. There is not a transmission slipping quick fix, but you should try to see which systems and circuits are displaying the issue, and then you can decide what you plan to do.

Manual Transmission

Issues If you choose to drive a manual transmission then you may notice a few extra issues as compared to an automatic transmission. The first is that your gears might grind while shifting. This is usually related to the clutch, and the rings inside of it. When these rings are worn down it can cause this problem.

Another issue that occurs in manual transmissions is that the clutch pedal may grab too high or too low. This is usually an issue with the hydraulic system. If the clutch pedal grabs too high, you can easily adjust this to fix the issue.

Repair, Rebuild, or Replacement?

When to Consider a Transmission Repair

The transmission in your car has various parts and every component works together to make the whole. Each part of a car's transmission can wear down, and become damaged alone without hurting the other parts. In some cases, you may only need a transmission repair to get your car running smoothly. The only concern is that repair may not actually solve the underlying issue. Eventually, there may be more issues and then another problem may arise.

Typically a repair is best when the issue is very obvious. If a technician needs to move parts around and disassemble the transmission, then it may take more time and cost more overall. So how much does it cost to rebuild a transmission yourself?

If you decide to do this yourself, then repairing may actually be the better option because it will be significantly cheaper. Even though it may take you more time, you will not be paying for the labor costs. The only issue is that you may not be able to diagnose the problem on your own.

When to Consider a Transmission Rebuild

When rebuilding a transmission, it involves a technician taking apart the entire transmission. If you decide to do this on your own, you will need to know how to inspect parts and look for damage, wear, and other issues. If you cannot do this, then you may not be able to rebuild a transmission on your own.

How hard is it to rebuild a transmission? If you were to have a technician do this, they would rebuild the transmission and reinstall it in your vehicle. This process is labor-intensive and will take hours of costly work. If there is too much damage you may not be able to rebuild and may need to replace the entire transmission instead.

Is it Worth Replacing a Transmission?

You may be wondering, is rebuilding a transmission worth it? Sometimes, replacing the transmission altogether is often the best option. This is because there is usually more than one problem when it comes to your transmission and it may require you to learn how to fix a car clutch. It is good to note that you usually will not be able to purchase a brand new transmission. Although sometimes this is possible, typically the availability is not 100%. You may be able to find one at a salvage yard, or even a repair shop. When to replace the clutch? In some cases, you may choose to simply purchase a new car, or go through a step-by-step clutch replacement.

Paying for a Transmission Repair

Although you may be considering how to put a transmission in yourself and do a DIY job if you decide this is not the best option, you should know how much it will cost to pay for a repair job. Transmission repair can vary widely in cost. It depends on the nature of your transmission problems, as well as other factors. You may be able to run into problems where minor repair costs end up being more expensive than a replacement. can you repair a clutch This is because transmissions are known to require technique, a lot of labor, and individual care.

But can you repair a clutch? If a repair is more than a rebuild, you should go with the rebuild. If it is the opposite, (meaning the replacement is less than the repair or rebuild) then you should replace it altogether.

How to Replace Your Transmission

If you have decided to go ahead with a DIY transmission repair project you should know how to replace it if need be.

Step 1: Remove the Transmission

When rebuilding a transmission you need to be extremely careful. This means that you have to know which parts you are touching and where they go if you remove them. Most of the parts look extremely similar which means that you can easily confuse them Very often you will need to remove the entire engine block from your vehicle. If you have an automatic car you will need to remove the torque converter. Does this still sound like something you want to attempt? If you are not sure if can you replace just the torque converter in a transmission, then it may not be the right choice for you.

Step 2: Prepping the Area

After removing the transmission you can take it to a different location that is easy for you to work on. Typically preparing a location means covering the area and ensuring that the environment is clean from dust.

This is essential because when you take apart the transmission, you need to have a clean environment. Next, you will need to drain all of the fluid out of the transmission which can get extremely messy. Have a pan or bucket to catch the fluid. Next, be sure to have space set aside to place the different parts of the transmission. This will make it a lot easier to reassemble the transmission once you are finished.

Step 3: Cleaning and Replacing the Parts

When you pull out the parts you may want to label them because finding transmission parts can be easy, but knowing where to put them back may be more difficult. After figuring this out you will need to place them back in.

After the parts are disassembled, you will most likely be able to see what the problem is. If you are not sure, you can ask for advice or watch YouTube videos for help. You might see obviously broken parts, dirt, objects, or out-of-place issues. Be sure to have a place for each part, and to clean them properly.

Step 4: Reassembling the Transmission

Reassembling your transmission is the hardest and most important part of rebuilding it. Even if the parts are all in working order, they cannot function if not put together properly. If you were organized and labeled your parts, then this will be evident at this point.

Every piece of your transmission has a spot and should go to the right place. After you have assembled the transmission, you will need to conduct tests as well. If you have any doubts, you should speak to a mechanic before trying to drive your vehicle because it could cause serious trouble.

Using a Transmission Rebuild Kit

One option is to use a transmission rebuild kit. These kits give you all the tools you need to rebuild your transmission. Try not to be too comfortable, because you can still make mistakes with the rebuild kit.

Is it Possible to Repair Your Own Transmission?

Rebuilding and repairing your own transmission is possible as a DIY project, or a DIY transmission flush, and you might feel very accomplished afterward. Despite this, it is also quite complicated. In some cases, it is better to sell your car for parts, or as a whole rather than try to rebuild.

At CashForCars.com you can sell your car for cash, and get a new car without all of the issues of your old vehicle. You want to get the most money for your car, so get a quote today. We can offer you a quote and help you compare if it is worth the sweat and tears of DIYing your own transmission repair.