By Alvin Reyes

Copyright jalopnik

In addition to acquiring the advanced knowledge to disassemble and repair an automatic transmission, the process takes a lot of time. Unlike oil changes or tire rotations, which usually take 30 minutes to an hour, diagnosing and repairing an automatic transmission can take 2 to 5 days (or sometimes more), depending on the vehicle and the severity of the problem.

Moreover, modern automatic transmissions, such as DCTs and CVTs, have become increasingly complex, incorporating newer parts and technologies, most of which are unfamiliar to mechanics accustomed to older technology. The unfamiliarity leads to longer repair jobs, which in turn result in sky-high repair estimates.

Time is money in the auto repair world, and herein pops a dilemma, especially for older cars: Will the cost to repair or rebuild the automatic transmission surpass the value of the vehicle? If it does, is it worth saving the car rather than spending the money elsewhere, like on a newer, used car? CATI notes that longer repair jobs, such as fixing or rebuilding automatic transmissions, typically cost the client more in labor, lot space, rebuild kits, and spare parts, as there are no shortcuts to fixing a faulty automatic transmission.