I am posting this here for Walt:
HI; thanks for an informative article. My 1999 Chev S10 p/up has only 108,000 miles but the transmission seems to be acting up. Some time ago, maybe 10-12,000 miles I put in a Lucas fluid which solved the problem. Now it is back again. I just added another can of fluid in hopes it will correct. Question: this wasn’t covered in your comments. Since this make/model is so popular, should I investigate getting a replacement from a junkyard, perhaps from an accident victim? Might be risky but the cost should be within range. I’m a retired WWII veteran which means I’ve very little in finances. Thanks.
Read this article before buying a used transmission for sale:
One part of this article is really important:
It is highly recommended to check the online reviews of any company prior to purchasing through an Internet website or broker, especially reviews on how they handled warranty situations.
Pro Tip: Many listings who have fancy websites selling used transmissions on the Internet are running the company out of their house and brokering units from salvage yards. Buy a used transmission through your local repair shop or actual salvage yard and save yourself headaches later.
Legitimate used transmission suppliers:
-Have a street address listed on their website, and that address is not a residence. Google the full street address to know for sure. If there is no full street address listed on the website, or or if the address appears to be a mail forwarding address, or an address with no automotive company on premises, this is a red flag.
-Have a local telephone number and not just a toll-free 800 number. Legitimate companies have both toll-free and local numbers.
-Have no pattern of 1 star reviews on their Google Business listing, Yelp, Better Business Bureau profile. Google the name of the company.
-Handle warranty claims promptly and have a straightforward warranty policy.
The Gamble of used transmissions vs. remanufactured transmissions
You have roughly an 80% chance of success when going with a used transmission — However, used transmissions have roughly a 20% chance of failure or problem in the first 90 days, so it is important to have a warranty plan. Here is an example of how you can end up paying more for a used transmission than a remanufactured transmission:
Let’s say you find a used transmission at your local salvage yard that costs $850 with a 30 day warranty.
Let’s say a remanufactured transmission of the same model with a 3 year warranty costs $1370.
You purchase the used transmission for $850 and pay your repair shop $600 to install it for a total of $1450.
Let’s say the used transmission fails during the 30 day warranty period. The salvage yard gives you another used transmission under warranty.
You have to pay the repair shop again to swap them. The repair shop will typically charge the same amount for labor, $600, for now a total of $2050.
You are now on your 2nd used transmission, for a total of $2050, with a 30 day warranty. The remanufactured transmission would have cost $1970 installed and you would have a 3 year warranty.
This is a common situation where you can end up paying more for a used transmission, and getting less of a product and a warranty.
This situation is also a great reason why that if you are planning on buying a used transmission for sale, buy it through the repair shop who is installing it.
If you are installing a used transmission yourself, the nationwide search engine most commonly used to find a salvage yard transmission by repair shops and insurance companies is http://www.car-part.com which is connected to almost every salvage yard in the US.
Car-part.com uses the Hollander interchange system for searching the exact used transmission that will interchange with yours.
Pro Tip: Buy From A Salvage Yard That is Within Driving Distance From You When Possible! Always sort by distance and buy in your local area for the matching used transmission to save on the cost of shipping, if the matching unit is available locally. Also, if you have a warranty situation, it is much more difficult to have a warranty claim resolved if you purchase a used transmission from out of state.
Only licensed salvage yards can list auto parts on car-part.com so you can be assured that the companies listed are actual salvage yards.
