Why does transmission repair cost
so much?
There’s no doubt about it: Transmission repairs
can be expensive. But it’s not so much money
when you consider what’s involved in the
repairs. Today’s automatic transmissions consist
of hundreds of individual components. During a
major repair, each one is removed, cleaned, and
inspected to exacting tolerances. Any worn or
damaged parts are repaired or replaced. Then
each part is put together into one of many
subassemblies. Each subassembly must be
adjusted, and tested for proper operation. Then
the subassemblies must be assembled into the
transmission case, where the adjustment and
testing procedure begins all over again.
Finally, once the transmission is completely
assembled, it has to be reinstalled. If that’s
not enough to justify the cost, there’s
something else to consider: Virtually all of
today’s automatic transmissions are computer
controlled. This means that the transmission’s
ability to operate depends on much more than the
condition of the transmission itself. Engine
problems now can have a dramatic effect on how
the transmission operates. All of which boils
down to one, inescapable conclusion: Sure,
transmission work can be expensive… but, dollar
for dollar, it’s one of the best values around.
How can I make sure a shop has
qualified technicians?
One of the first things you can look for is
technician certification. These are certificates
indicating that the technicians have passed
tests to prove a level of competence in one or
more areas of automotive repair. The most
common certifications are provided by the
National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence (ASE). These certifications cover
theory, diagnosis and repair procedures in
virtually every area of the vehicle. In
addition, many manufacturers and organizations
offer some type of certification program. And
while certification is no guarantee of
competence, it does indicate a certain level of
pride and professionalism. But no one offers a
more detailed or extensive certification program
than the one that ATRA offers its members. There
are three types of ATRA certification: R&R
Technician, Rebuilder and Diagnostician. ATRA’s
tests are extremely demanding: You can be
certain that any technician holding an ATRA
certification is qualified to work on your car
or truck.
How can I be sure I can trust
this shop?
There are a number of ways you can learn if a
repair shop is trustworthy or not. One way is to
ask for references from people who have been
there before. Another is to check with your
local consumer protection agency, to see whether
they have any records of misconduct by the
shop. In the case of a transmission shop, you
can also ask for recommendations from your
general repair shop: They’ll usually know a
nearby transmission shop they can recommend. But
one of the best ways to make sure you trust the
right shop with your transmission repairs is to
take your car to an ATRA-member repair center.
Because the ATRA logo is the symbol of
excellence and professionalism ATRA members are
required to maintain an ethical standard
unsurpassed in any service industry. These
standards require ATRA members to provide honest
diagnoses and repairs at a fair price.
