Everyone will experience transmission issues at some point or another—the real dilemma is deciding whether to have your transmission repaired or replaced. Every time your transmission shifts gears, clutches and bands inside the transmission must apply and release for the shift to occur. This strain causes extensive wear on the transmission that often leads to major and even sometimes catastrophic transmission failure. But unless your transmission has failed completely, how do you know if a replacement transmission in Bethesda, MD is the right way to go? Here are some factors to consider and discuss with your Washington DC transmission shop to determine whether a transmission replacement is the best choice.
Transmission Mileage
One of the most important factors is the age and mileage of the transmission. Automatic transmissions often fail between 80,000 and 150,000 miles. Manual transmissions can fail even sooner than that, especially when routine maintenance is neglected. If you’ve logged more than 80,000 miles on your transmission, it may be in your best interest financially to buy a new transmission instead of spending hundreds of dollars every few months on repairs.
Repair History
Speaking of repairs, consider the transmission’s repair history when deciding whether to repair or replace. If your transmission is plagued by a chronic issue, it doesn’t make much sense to keep dumping money into a transmission that will only end up back in the shop a few months later. Another red flag is if your transmission has had multiple different issues in the past 12 months.
Overall Vehicle Condition
Lastly, consider the overall condition of the vehicle itself. If you have an older car or truck that has more than 150,000 miles on it and requires additional repairs and maintenance, you may not want to spend a few thousand dollars on a new transmission. On the other hand, if the transmission is the only thing giving you trouble and the rest of the vehicle is in great shape, investing in a new transmission can help you get even more mileage out of the car or truck you love so much.