Transmission repair in Reno

The shop's own description is short: "We serve area drivers with the finest in transmission repair and services." Drivers come in with slipping, leaking, late shifting, a warning light or a vehicle that will not go into gear, and the first job is always the same: work out what is actually wrong. The shop works on cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs and 4x4s, foreign and domestic.

At a glance

• Every type of transmission: automatic, manual, CVT and dual-clutch
• Clutches and transfer cases
• Diagnosis first, then a plain explanation of what the vehicle needs
• Cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs and 4x4s, foreign and domestic
• In business in Reno since 1968

What counts as a transmission repair?

A transmission carries engine power to the wheels and changes the ratio as your speed changes. Repair is the umbrella word for everything done to keep that job working. Some repairs happen with the transmission still in the vehicle, such as fixing a leaking seal or pan gasket, replacing a failed speed sensor, or addressing a worn shift linkage. Others need the unit removed and opened up, which is the work described on the rebuilds and overhauls page.

The distinction matters because the size of the repair drives the size of the bill, and the symptoms alone rarely tell you which one you have. Slipping, for example, can come from low fluid, a leak, an electrical fault or worn clutches inside. Only a look at the vehicle separates them.

Repairs, from small to large

It helps to think of repair work as a ladder. At the bottom are the outside parts: fluid level and condition, the pan and its gasket, cooler lines, speed and range sensors, wiring and mounts. In the middle are the parts bolted to the case or sitting in the valve body area, such as solenoids and the filter. At the top is the hard internal work on clutch packs, bands, the pump and gear sets.

A good shop starts at the bottom and works up only as far as the evidence goes. That fits the shop's stated promise, "We will never try to sell you a service you don't need."

• Leaks: pan gasket, seals, cooler lines, fill tube
• Electrical: sensors, connectors, shift solenoids, wiring
• Fluid: level, condition and the correct type for your vehicle
• Internal wear: clutches, bands, pump, valve body, torque converter

Signs it is time to have it looked at

The common signs are an engine that revs without the vehicle speeding up, a pause or thump when you shift into Drive or Reverse, shifts that come late or hard, whining or grinding, red or brown fluid under the vehicle, a burning smell, and a check engine light with a transmission code. Each has its own page: start with transmission slipping, hard or late shifting, a fluid leak or a vehicle that will not go into gear.

These pages describe what a symptom usually means. They are information, not a diagnosis of your vehicle.

What the shop does first

Before any repair is chosen, the shop follows its own rule from the services page: "We will diagnose the situation to determine the kind of service you need." Read how that goes on the diagnosis page. Then the shop tells you what it found and what the vehicle needs, in plain words, so you can decide.

Which vehicles

Transmissions in pickups, SUVs, motorhomes and four-wheel-drive vehicles work harder than most in northern Nevada, with towing, mountain grades and summer heat. The shop repairs transmissions in cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs and 4x4s, foreign and domestic, and works on every type of transmission: automatic, manual, CVT and dual-clutch. Read what a CVT is if you are not sure which one your vehicle has. Call with the year, make, model and engine and the shop will tell you about your vehicle.

Cost, timing and warranty

Cost and timing depend on the vehicle, the parts and what the diagnosis finds, so the shop gives you those once it has looked. Ask about warranty coverage when you call. The guide on what affects the cost of transmission work explains the factors in general terms.