3 Questions To Ask Before You Purchase A Used Transmission
Posted on: 3 December 2014
Does your car need transmission service?. It may be less expensive for to replace the transmission than fix it. One cost-effective solution is to buy a used transmission. You can usually find them at most salvage yards or auto parts stores. After you buy the transmission, you can hire a transmission mechanic to install it for you. If you've never bought a used auto part, you may not know what to look for.
Here are three good questions to ask to make sure you get the best transmission possible:
3. Is it used or rebuilt? This is an important distinction and it may not be readily obvious when you're looking at the transmission. A used transmission is one that was taken, intact, from another vehicle. They usually come from cars that were totaled or severely damaged in accidents. Rebuilt transmissions are essentially new transmissions built from parts taken from other transmissions.
The importance of this distinction is that you can get a vehicle history report on a used transmission and get insight into its mileage, repair history, and any damage it may have suffered. No such report is available on rebuilt transmissions because the parts came from multiple cars. That doesn't mean rebuilt transmissions are bad; it just means there will be less information available.
2. What is the warranty? Most salvage yards and auto part dealers will offer warranties on major parts like transmissions and engines, especially if they're the ones who refurbished or rebuilt them. It's worth paying more for a full warranty on a used part, especially if you think you may keep the car for a long time. Also, make sure you understand all of the warranty's requirements. The warranty may state that the transmission must be installed in a certain manner or by a certain transmission service provider. Read the warranty thoroughly so you don't inadvertently break it.
1. Can your mechanic look at it in advance? This is maybe the most important step you can take to make sure you buy a quality part. Your mechanic can test it to see if all of the gears work properly. They can also double check that it's the correct transmission for your make and model of car. The salvage yard or parts supplier may let you take the transmission off-site for a few hours or may allow your mechanic to come onsite to inspect the part.
Finding a good used transmission may take some work, but it could be worth it in the long run. Talk to your mechanic or a trusted parts supplier for more information on finding a used transmission. To learn more, contact a company like A Partsmart with any questions you have.
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