Automatic Transmission Repair
Slipping, hard shifts, delayed engagement or a warning light. SM Transmissions has repaired automatic transmissions in Irving, TX for more than 30 years, and most of them did not need a rebuild.
Automatic transmission repair for every make and model
Modern automatics are electronically controlled, so many “failed transmission” symptoms are really a solenoid, a valve body, a sensor or low fluid. Our technicians start every automatic transmission repair with a free diagnostic: computer scan for stored codes, fluid inspection, line-pressure test and a road test. Then we tell you what the transmission actually needs, in writing, before any work starts.
We repair conventional automatics from 4-speed domestic units through today’s 8-, 9- and 10-speed transmissions for Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, RAM, Jeep, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volkswagen. Dual-clutch (DCT) units and CVTs are handled at the same shop.
Signs your automatic transmission needs repair
Catch these early and the fix is usually a component, not a rebuild.
- Slipping: engine revs climb but the vehicle does not accelerate to match
- Delayed engagement when shifting from Park into Drive or Reverse
- Hard, harsh or erratic shifts between gears
- Red or brown fluid leaking where you park
- Burning smell or dark, burnt-smelling fluid
- Check engine or transmission warning light, or limp mode
- Grinding, whining or humming that changes with speed
- Shudder under light acceleration
Solenoid and valve body repair
Shift and pressure-control solenoids wear out and fail individually. A sticking valve body causes harsh, delayed or missed shifts. Both are repairable without removing the transmission on most vehicles, and both are common causes of the symptoms drivers assume mean a rebuild.
Torque converter replacement
A failing torque converter shows up as shudder at cruising speed, stalling in gear or overheating. We test lock-up clutch operation before recommending replacement, and replace the converter as part of any rebuild.
Transmission fluid leak repair
Pan gaskets, axle seals, front pump seals, cooler lines and dipstick tube seals are the usual leak points. Most leak repairs are completed the same day. Left alone, a leak drops the fluid level and turns a small job into internal damage. See our transmission repair and diagnostics page for the full list of repairs.
Sensors, wiring and control modules
Speed sensors, range sensors, temperature sensors and TCM software faults produce the same symptoms as mechanical failure. Our diagnostic isolates electrical causes first, because they are the least expensive to fix.
When an automatic needs a rebuild
Worn clutch packs, bands and hard parts cannot be repaired from the outside. When the diagnostic shows internal wear, we rebuild the unit in-house, replacing every soft part and any worn hard part and applying the factory updates for your model. Rebuilds start at $1,795 including parts, labor and installation.
Free diagnostic. Written estimate. No surprises.
Most transmission problems do not need a rebuild. We test first, then quote the repair the diagnostic actually calls for. In-house rebuilds from $1,795 when one is needed.
- Computer scan, fluid check, pressure and road test
- Free towing in DFW with repair
- Warranties up to unlimited-mileage lifetime on labor
- Se habla español
How an automatic transmission repair works
Free diagnostic
Scan, fluid inspection, pressure test and road test at our Irving shop.
Written estimate
Component repair, service or rebuild, with price and warranty on paper.
The repair
Performed in-house by the technician who diagnosed it, with updates by phone.
Road test and pickup
Every repair is road tested. Free towing applies if it could not be driven in.
Automatic transmission repair FAQs
What Irving drivers ask before booking an automatic transmission repair.
How much does automatic transmission repair cost?
It depends on the cause. Solenoid, sensor, seal and pan gasket repairs cost a fraction of a rebuild. When the diagnostic shows internal wear, in-house rebuilds start at $1,795 including parts, labor and installation. Diagnostics are free and you receive a written estimate first.
Can an automatic transmission be repaired without a rebuild?
Often, yes. Solenoids, valve bodies, torque converters, sensors, seals and cooler lines can be repaired or replaced individually when the internal clutches and hard parts check out.
Is it safe to drive with a slipping automatic transmission?
No. Slipping clutches generate heat and wear quickly, and a repairable problem becomes a rebuild. Towing is free anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex when we perform the repair.
Why does my transmission shift hard or late?
Common causes are low or burnt fluid, a sticking valve body, a failing solenoid or a sensor fault. Less often it is internal wear. The free diagnostic tells us which.
Do you repair 8-, 9- and 10-speed automatics?
Yes. Late-model multi-speed automatics from Ford, GM, RAM, Jeep, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and the European makes are repaired and rebuilt at our Irving shop.
What warranty comes with automatic transmission repair?
Warranties vary by the job, up to an unlimited-mileage lifetime warranty on labor. The terms for your repair are written on the estimate.
More transmission services
- Transmission Repair & Service: diagnostics, leak repair and every repair we offer
- Transmission Rebuild: in-house rebuilds from $1,795
- CVT Transmission Repair: Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mitsubishi
- Transmission Maintenance: fluid changes, flushes and filters
- Manual Transmission & Clutch Repair: clutches, synchros and gearboxes