The Most Common Transmission Repair Misconceptions

Have you ever been taken advantage of when you when you were in need of transmission repair? If you haven’t, do you fear that one day you will be taken advantage of? Whether you have been mistreated or not, a lot of people tend to share the fear of being taken advantage of at the auto shop. This is particularly true if you do not know how to properly identify the nature of your car problem, as is often the case. However, what doesn’t help matters is the constant spreading of falsehoods and unfortunate accounts in which car owners are in fact taken advantage of.

While there isn’t much that can be done about the circulation of unfortunate mishaps experienced by some, something can be done about the spreading of falsehoods. There are three common misconceptions regarding transmission repair that can be cleared up.

The first and perhaps most obvious transmission repair misconception is that you have to buy new parts. Simply not true. In fact, more often than not, all you may need is an adjustment to your transmission fluid. Specifically, you may need your entire fluid replaced due to corrosion or a seal replaced as a result of leaking fluid. In doing so, neither fluid replacement nor seal replacement require the full replacement of the entire transmission, which is a very costly procedure.

Another is that all auto shops are the same. Again, not true. Experience matters, so don’t let anyone tell you any different. While it is understandable that you wouldn’t want to go to a specialty shop for an oil change, you should go to an auto shop that specializes in transmissions, particularly one that has many years of experience with that kind of work. Inexperienced auto shops can lead you down the path of faulty workmanship and costly service.

The third misconception is that a price quote over the phone is accurate. Again, not true. Unlike a price quote for batteries, a price quote for the repair or replacement of a transmission involves many deciding factors. As a result, it is simply not possible for a reputable shop to just give a quote over the phone without having properly assessed your car situation. However, it is possible for them to give you a generic price range from the very basic and most inexpensive service possible, all the way to the most expensive full replacement costs. However, such information is guaranteed to do very little for you without a proper assessment.

Whether you have been taken advantage of at a repair shop in the past or not, chances are you have an underlying fear of being taken advantage of in the future. This is especially true if you are anticipating infrequent repairs such as transmission work. However, by keeping mindful of common transmission repair misconceptions that suggest you have to buy a new parts, all repair shops are the same and price quotes over the phone are accurate, will help you to avoid potential fraud or mishaps.