OEM auto transmission life mileage question

[TXHokie]

98 Honda Accord - 148k miles
Just gave my car a major service and the transmission is the one big ticket original equipment that may go next. I'd like to give it a paint job but would debate about spending 2-3k to replace the tranny if that goes since it's now an old car mileage wise. I do about 15k mi/yr and wonder if it'll last me 2-3 more years to make the paint job worthwhile. What's the highest mileage out there on your oem transmission?

 

[exdeath]

I see and hear commonly that crossing the 100k mark is time to at least start thinking about it, esp. with FWD autos. Thats a lot of moving parts in a small area with a lot of heat, and the fact that the differential is integral adds to it further. Some people will claim 200k+ on OEM auto transmission with no service, but thats the exception, not the rule.

In general I warn people looking for a cheap ride to be aware of buying used cars, esp. Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans. with over 100k on them with no auto transmission service, because it's coming soon, and it's expensive. Not a knock on the cars or recommendation against them, just the nature of the beast and something to be prepared for, because it can bite you when it comes out of nowhere. It's mostly due to the fact that you can get those cars used so cheaply and someone who just bought a $1500 Civic or Sentra with 150k miles looking for a deal isn't going to be pleased to spend $1000+ on transmission work a year later.

Manual FTW. Anyone can replace a clutch for $100.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Manual FTW. Anyone can replace a clutch for $100.

No... Not properly. Clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, throw-out bearing, flywheel bolts, and other miscellany must be replaced with a clutch to do the job properly and the flywheel itself, while it can be re-used, must be re-surfaced. A clutch change is $350-$500 in parts for a typical car.

As for transmission mileage, I had 207,000 miles on my '88 Accord when the transmission died. Most modern automatics should last 200,000 miles as long as you've been paying attention to the fluid change intervals. In the case of my old Accord, it was simply that, after 18 years and 207,000 miles, the clutch packs in the automatic transmission had worn out. I would expect similar service from a newer car.

ZV

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Anyone can replace a clutch for $100.

I can't.:laugh:

 

[Kaspian]

My wife's car '03 Hyundai Elantra has around 130,000 miles in it with the oem trans.
My '99 Dodge RAM had around the same milage (130,000) before it went bad. My mother-in-law was the cause of its death thought.

 

[j00fek]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Most modern automatics should last 200,000 miles as long as you've been paying attention to the fluid change intervals.

ZV[/quote]

 

[CptCrunch]

1996 Dodge Caravan 156k
1998 Dodge Dakota 145k

No transmission service on the caravan, not even a fluid flush. Had a flush on the dakota a few years ago... both still shifting and running strong (no engine maintenance on either, except a water pump for the Dakota at 122k)

EDIT: spelling mistakes

 

[Eos]

1996 Toyota Avalon - 145k

Last auto trans service was at 110k in December of 2004. This thread made me check, so I'm scheduling an appointment.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: exdeath
Manual FTW. Anyone can replace a clutch for $100.

No... Not properly. Clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, throw-out bearing, flywheel bolts, and other miscellany must be replaced with a clutch to do the job properly and the flywheel itself, while it can be re-used, must be re-surfaced. A clutch change is $350-$500 in parts for a typical car.

As for transmission mileage, I had 207,000 miles on my '88 Accord when the transmission died. Most modern automatics should last 200,000 miles as long as you've been paying attention to the fluid change intervals. In the case of my old Accord, it was simply that, after 18 years and 207,000 miles, the clutch packs in the automatic transmission had worn out. I would expect similar service from a newer car.

ZV

A OEM clutch kit for my Camry (disc, plate, bearing), wasn't significantly more than $100 IIRC.

Re surfacing or new bolts... I just inspect the flywheel and if its not scored or damaged don't worry about it. I'm sure radiator hose clamps have toque specs but I don't know any mechanics that put hose clamps and air filters on with torque wrenches or mic for surface tolerance.

*shrug*

 

[Hecubus28]

If I remember right, when I did the clutch on my mustang the kit for the Pressure plate, and clutch and throw out was around 100 dollars. Spent 15 getting the flywheel resurfaced.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Damn, Camry clutches are cheap. ~$220 in parts not including flywheel resurfacing.

Seems that $300 is about the most expensive a "normal" car's clutch is. I've got to stop driving European cars. $500-$600 in parts alone for a clutch.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Hecubus28
If I remember right, when I did the clutch on my mustang the kit for the Pressure plate, and clutch and throw out was around 100 dollars. Spent 15 getting the flywheel resurfaced.

Must've been the V6. Cheapest V8 kit I've seen was about $350.

ZV

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Damn, Camry clutches are cheap. ~$220 in parts not including flywheel resurfacing.

Seems that $300 is about the most expensive a "normal" car's clutch is. I've got to stop driving European cars. $500-$600 in parts alone for a clutch.

ZV

Ouch.

Yeah OEM 5SFE (2.2L) parts are dime a dozen. One of the more common, and widely used in just about any Toyota. Figure that most recently new cars with a manual and 100k miles is typically an economy car hence cheap clutches.

Still a lot cheaper than an automatic, and anyone comfortable with a wrench can do it. Most mechanics I know wont touch an automatic with a 10 foot pole and just get one from a bone yard or send it off to a transmission shop. FWD imports are big bucks.

 

[Eos]

Appointment scheduled for Friday. $89.95 plus tax.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Damn, Camry clutches are cheap. ~$220 in parts not including flywheel resurfacing.

Seems that $300 is about the most expensive a "normal" car's clutch is. I've got to stop driving European cars. $500-$600 in parts alone for a clutch.

ZV

I was going to say...I spent something like $250 for a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing on my MR2, and another $20 to get the flywheel resurfaced. It would have cost me $1000-1500 to get it done in a shop.:Q

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Damn, Camry clutches are cheap. ~$220 in parts not including flywheel resurfacing.

Seems that $300 is about the most expensive a "normal" car's clutch is. I've got to stop driving European cars. $500-$600 in parts alone for a clutch.

ZV

I was going to say...I spent something like $250 for a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing on my MR2, and another $20 to get the flywheel resurfaced. It would have cost me $1000-1500 to get it done in a shop.:Q

Was that Turbo or non? Non turbo should be cheap thats also the 5SFE. The 3SGTE stuff is usually more expensive because it's performance oriented. "Turbo" on a clutch is like "Xeon" on a CPU box even if it isn't necessarily a higher performance clutch.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Damn, Camry clutches are cheap. ~$220 in parts not including flywheel resurfacing.

Seems that $300 is about the most expensive a "normal" car's clutch is. I've got to stop driving European cars. $500-$600 in parts alone for a clutch.

ZV

I was going to say...I spent something like $250 for a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing on my MR2, and another $20 to get the flywheel resurfaced. It would have cost me $1000-1500 to get it done in a shop.:Q

Was that Turbo or non? Non turbo should be cheap thats also the 5SFE. The 3SGTE stuff is usually more expensive because it's performance oriented. "Turbo" on a clutch is like "Xeon" on a CPU box even if it isn't necessarily a higher performance clutch.

Nah, it's a mk1 NA.

Ended up dropping the engine at a friend's carport and doing the timing belt, waterpump etc. at the same time.

 

[steppinthrax]

Transmissions are not that expensive in comparison to the labor involved. You can get an overhauled transmission with a good warranty for an older car at about 1K at most. They are selling the transmission for my Altima for example for 350 with only 40K on it and 195 shipping. It's been steam cleaned and tested as working with a warranty.

If you spend a little more money you can get on with a long warranty.

Then you have to put this transmission in yourself which is easy said then done. I've done a transmission on a ford Taurus and a Saturn. You need a cherry picker. But your going to saving about another 1000 doing it this way. Since you really care for the car you can start doing other things to it like replacing the rear main seal because you really have access to the engine. It will run for another 100K

 

[FeuerFrei]

'93 Corolla with its original automatic transmission @ ~205K miles. Still shifting like it should, though it did act up for a few days once a while back.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
'93 Corolla with its original automatic transmission @ ~205K miles. Still shifting like it should, though it did act up for a few days once a while back.

Did you kick it to get things back to normal?

 

[TXHokie]

Guess I'll nix the paint job and save that $$$ toward my next car when the oem trans gives out. It would cost close to 50% blue book value to replace which makes it not worthwhile. Next car will be a manual and the wife will have to learn if she wants to drive my car .

 

[996GT2]

195k miles on a 96 Accord with absolutely zero issues. Drives like new and starts on the first try, every time. However, the car has been dealer serviced its entire life and it's been well cared for.

I heard that the automatic transmissions on the 6G (98+) Accords were weaker that the ones on the previous models...not sure of it's validity, just something I read on a Honda forum.

 

[FeuerFrei]

Originally posted by: eos

Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
'93 Corolla with its original automatic transmission @ ~205K miles. Still shifting like it should, though it did act up for a few days once a while back.

Did you kick it to get things back to normal?

Long road trip did the trick. A day of highway driving automagically fixed it and it's been no trouble since April. *shrug* I did get the transmission fluid changed after I got back home from vacation.

 

[TheSlamma]

139K 95 Prizm/Corolla

My old 79 K10 had a T-350 with 212K when I sold it.

My dad's Ford motorhome he drives around in his retirement with has a C6 with over 300K

 

[desy]

200K miles on 94 Chev Corsica
zero engine or tranny problems, flushed twice and tuned up twice