Blown Transmition

[diaperedteenager]

Hey guys,

My friend has a Ford Escort 00' and well...the transmition is totally blown out. How much would it cost to fix this?

 

[Mesmerale]

Based on my minuscule experience with cars...

And the bits and pieces of conversation and explanation that I hear when my mother and the car-people are talking...

Isn't the transmission like, uber-expensive?

Correct me if I'm wrong car-people!

 

[Lil Snap]

Call a salvage yard, find a transmission from another Escort, and how much $, then find a mechanic friend and find out if he will install it and how much $.

Or call the dealership if money is no object.

 

[NEJay]

About $1450, installed at a Ford dealer, with a 1 year warranty. That is cheap for a dealer installed reman transmission.

For used, check out Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market, and locate a used box near you.

I've done a transaxle replacement in a late model Escort before, and it's very simple (for a trans replacement) and straightforward to do. If I remember correctly, the only special tools needed is a set of triple square bits (from Sears... $20ish) for the bolts that hold the axles to the differential. Aside for the axles, you have to remove the subframe, a trans mount, bellhousing bolts, and a TCM connector, and the tranny will drop out the bottom with a floor jack.

If your buddy has some mechanical knowledge and a place to do the job, he could probably be out less than $200 total.

 

[diaperedteenager]

no, she doesn't have any mech. experience.

 

[Nam Repaid]

Last Escort I did, a "93", cost $750 for a well warenteed used tranny from a transmission shop and another $50 or so for misc stuff. It took me two weekends to pull the doner trans, pull the bad trans and put it all back together. Seven out of ten on the difficulty scale, special tools to pull axles, support motor and lower tranny from above. Shop wanted $800 to do it.

Nam

 

[conatus]

your best bet is to take it to a shop that specializes in automatic transmissions because it could be something simple. before you do start the engine and check the transmission dip stick if the fluid is low add fluid until it is full. not having enough fluid will make the transmission stop working.

 

[WoXxY]

...And running it without enought fluid or burned out fluid for a long time could just as easily destroyed the internals. I'm assuming that nobody checked/changed the auto tranny fluid on a regular basis and it's probably already close to toast. Your average person easily neglects it.

Salvage yards usually have them. Check on Ebay, you might find a junk car or a tranny in the area for a lot less. (~200-300$)
It cost me 200 dollars (labor) to get a mechanic to put mine in at a garage. So it's not too bad if you can find the right parts & places.

 

[dogboy]

Used trannies are usually a bad deal in that they typically don't last very long. I'm thinking your transmission job may cost closer to $2000. if a dealer does it, but being an Escort, maybe it will be cheaper. Call around. Shops will give you a rough estimate.

 

[cation]

Used trannies are usually a bad deal in that they typically don't last very long. I'm thinking your transmission job may cost closer to $2000. if a dealer does it, but being an Escort, maybe it will be cheaper. Call around. Shops will give you a rough estimate.

True.

Also things may be wearing out on that car because it's got some mileage on it and while you're spending a hunk o cash on fixing the transmission that something else may be getting ready to go just because of age or use.

You may want to find out if you can get a newer car with less mileage for the price of repairing the transmission.

 

[WoXxY]

I was just saying that it was the cheapest route going used... not to mention you could get the used working trans and have it rebuilt for a total still much cheaper than 2 grand.

Being an 'old' car it wouldn't make sense to buy a brand new transmission.
I own cars from the 80's so 'new' parts for me are rarely an option.