The cost for doing a transmission rebuild ranges from about $1500 to $2500, depending on such factors as the age, make and model of your vehicle, the extent of the damage to the transmission and your location. This is one of the reasons why it might be more tempting to complete the job yourself. Since a transmission rebuild kit can be had on the market for about $50 to $300, and additional costs might only take your total expenses to about $1,000, already you would be saving on your budget by DIYing.

However, here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding which is the best route to take for your transmission.

We're in the money

The transmission is one of the most technical areas of engine repair; therefore, you would need to have a reasonably good idea of what you are doing if you plan to take on the job of doing it yourself. This requires knowledge of how to remove the transmission, diagnose the problem, rebuild the damaged part and then put back the part so that it works. Having that kind of knowledge and experience, then, would save you money for labor and the cost for new parts that would likely be used by the mechanic. 

However, the flip side of this is that you might end up doing more harm than good and may ultimately have to spend the higher end of $60 to $90 per hour for labor costs. When you add another $800 to $1,500 for a salvaged transmission or a more high-end cost of $2,500 to $3,500 for a remanufactured one, it might be better to just go to the mechanic.  

Tools and technicalities

Unfortunately, the more modern transmissions are usually automatic and computerized. This means that without the proper computerized equipment, doing a rebuild will most likely be quite difficult. In addition, the tools that are used, such as linkage removal tools and those used for transmission spring compression, are usually expensive and are not worth buying for a single transmission rebuild. 

A transmission repair and rebuild professional will not only have the specific training and skills to complete your rebuild but will also have the necessary tools and equipment. Due to the technicalities associated with a transmission rebuild, a repair shop will usually offer 1 to 2 year warranties on your new rebuild. This luxury is not available when you DIY, as you will have to absorb the costs of any future transmission problems.  

Contact a company like Atomic Transmissions for more information.

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