Signs Your Transmission Is Shot

Transmission work is one of the main reasons cars are considered too far gone to be fixed. Many times it has to be entirely removed from the vehicle in order to be repaired. Other times it needs to be replaced. In either case, it is a costly event. The cost will vary depending on the age of the car, whether it is an automatic or manual transmission, and the comparative costs in the area. According to CarHelper.com, a new transmission costs between $1,000 – $6.000. Because the work is so labor intensive, it is often labor costs that push those dollar signs up. In older cars, when a transmission goes, the replacement or rebuild will often cost much more than the car is worth. Couple that with the plethora of other issues an older car probably has, and you have to decide when is it time to ask: “Should I sell my junk car?”

Signs You Transmission Is in Trouble:

• Won’t stay in gear. If  the car pops out of gear as you are driving, that is a sign the transmission is going.
• There is a burning smell. Burning transmission fluid is an indicator that your transmission is not working properly.
• There are unusual sounds. This is especially true while the car idles in neutral.
• The clutch grinds when shifting. In this case, as you try to shift, the car will not go into the next gear and, instead, will make a grinding noise.
• Delay when changing gears. With this problem, you will be able to get the vehicle in gear but there will be a lag time between getting it in gear and the gear effectively working. You will notice the car is revving at a higher RPM than it should be for that gear; then it will suddenly click in and normalize.
• The check engine light is on. Of course this is always an indicator that something is malfunctioning with the vehicle. A mechanic can diagnose the problem the light is indicating.
• You notice shaking and shimmying. This is most common in automatic transmissions. A car will experience shaking as it shifts from one gear to another.

Of course getting your car checked out by a reputable mechanic is always the best bet before deciding whether a vehicle is worth fixing or not. Get a quote for the parts and labor and compare that to the Kelly Blue Book estimate on the value of your vehicle. If the cost of repairs outweigh the value of the vehicle, it may be time to sell your car for cash in Portland.

• Portland
• Vancouver, WA
• Beaverton

See also our cash for cars services in these nearby cities:

• Vancouver
• Portland
• Beaverton