We probably don’t have to sit here and tell you how important the transmission in your car is. Next to your car’s engine, the transmission is arguably the most important aspect of your entire car. But what you might not realize is that your transmission isn’t going to work properly if you don’t have a fully-functioning transmission control module in your vehicle. It plays a key role in your transmission’s well-being and allows your transmission to work in the way that it should at all times. So, what is a transmission control module and what is the transmission control module repair cost going to be if yours goes bad? Find out below.
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What Is a Transmission Control Module?
There are a bunch of different systems that are scattered throughout your car. All of these systems need to work together at one time to ensure your car runs right. The transmission control module, or TCM, is responsible for communicating with these systems so that it knows what settings that your transmission needs to use at any given time. It’s also responsible for keeping a close eye on your transmission to make sure that it’s working properly at all times.
As you might imagine, these are two very big responsibilities for your transmission control module. As a result, your transmission control module needs to be firing on all cylinders when you’re behind the wheel so that it’s able to take care of everything that it needs to do to keep your transmission in great shape. Even just a minor hiccup with your transmission control module could potentially lead to your transmission running inefficiently or sustaining damage. It’s why you need to check up on your transmission control module from time to time to see whether or not it might need to be repaired or replaced.
You’ll find transmission control modules in vehicles with both manual and automatic transmissions. But we should point out that they tend to play a bigger part in the operation of automatic transmissions as compared to manual ones. This means that those who drive cars with automatic transmissions should be extra careful about keeping their transmission control modules up and running all the time.
How Does a Transmission Control Module Work?
Now that you know what a transmission control module is, it’s time to talk a little bit more about how it works. You’ll gain a new appreciation for your car’s transmission control module once you see how difficult of a job that it has when you’re driving around in your car.
While you drive, your car’s transmission control module is constantly communicating with the other systems that exist in your vehicle. It’s then taking the information that it’s receiving from these systems and processing it so that it’s able to apply the right settings to your transmission. At the same time, it’s also communicating with your transmission and gathering information from it. This information is then used to let you know if there might be a problem with your transmission. You really can’t understate the importance of your transmission control module when it comes to transmission’s health.
Since your car’s transmission control module is doing so much at once, it’s not all that uncommon for it to go bad over time. You may need to find out the transmission control module repair cost so that you can fix it. You may also need to figure out what it’ll cost to replace your transmission control module, because once it starts to give out on you, there is typically no saving it. You should know how much a new transmission control module is going to set you back so that you can work it into your car maintenance budget.
How Long Does a Transmission Control Module Last?
The good news when it comes to your car’s transmission control module is that you shouldn’t ever have to worry about repairing or replacing it. More often than not, the transmission control module in today’s cars will last for the duration of a car’s life. So you shouldn’t have to worry too, too much about replacing yours at any point.
But with that being said, there is no guarantee that your transmission control module is going to keep on kicking for you for years to come. There are some times when people will have to repair or replace a transmission control module that has gone bad once a car reaches the 75,000-mile mark. You should be aware of this possibility and know what the transmission control module repair cost is going to be so that you can fix your car right away.
What Are Common Signs of a Transmission Control Module Problem?
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your transmission control module when it goes bad on you. Just about all of them can cause serious issues with your transmission and possibly lead your car disabled. When your transmission control module goes bad, it might not be able to make all of the usual calculations that it makes. It might also have a hard time connecting to the systems in your car or struggle to interpret all of the information that it’s sent properly. This could have a detrimental effect on your transmission.
It’s not going to be too hard for you to see when these kinds of things are going on with your transmission control module. Once it begins to go bad, you’re often going to see your check engine light pop on. You might also find that your transmission will only give you access to one or two gears, and you might even discover that your car won’t turn on at all. These are very bad signs for your transmission control module.
If you spot any of these signs, you should schedule transmission control module repair or replacement right away and prepare to shoulder the transmission control module repair cost. You’re not going to have any other choice if you plan on keeping your car.
Can You Continue to Drive With a Bad Transmission Control Module?
Despite seeing some or even all of the signs of a bad transmission control module that we just mentioned, there are some people who will try to keep on driving around in a car with a bad TCM. This is pretty much never a good idea! You could end up getting stranded somewhere if you decide to drive in a car with a transmission control module that’s not working right.
Oftentimes, a car with a bad transmission control module will enter into what is called “limp mode.” When your car goes into this mode, it’s not going to be able to do much other than “limp” home for you. It’s going to move very slowly and refuse to go faster unless you take the time to have it repaired. You’ll have to pay the transmission control module repair cost prior to using your car again.
You obviously don’t want to have to go through this when your car is parked at work, school, church, or any other location other than your home. You might have to leave your car parked somewhere until you can have it towed to a repair shop. It’s why you shouldn’t ever attempt to continue to drive a car that is in need of transmission control module repair.
What Should You Do If You Have a Bad Transmission Control Module?
If you ever suspect that you might have a bad transmission control module on your hands, you should, as we just talked about, stop driving it right away. You’re going to be asking for trouble if you keep on driving a car with a transmission control module that’s not working properly. You should also make an appointment with an ASE-certified mechanic so that they can take a look at your transmission control module and repair or replace it.
In a perfect world, you should schedule an appointment with a mechanic who works at an auto repair shop that specializes in transmissions. Not all mechanics have enough experience with transmissions, which is why you shouldn’t trust just anyone to work on yours. You should toss the keys to someone who knows car transmissions inside and out and who can perform transmission control module repair without a problem. It’ll ensure your transmission is fixed when you get it back and keep your transmission control module repair cost on the more affordable side.
Can You Repair or Replace a Bad Transmission Control Module Yourself?
Have you ever done extensive work on the transmission inside of your car? If you haven’t, then there is absolutely no way that you should even think about trying to repair or replace a transmission control module on your own. The transmission in your car is one of the most complicated parts in it, and you’re going to find yourself with a huge headache if you try working on it and don’t know what you’re doing.
This is yet another reason why your best bet is going to be hiring an experienced mechanic to repair or replace your transmission control module. It will, of course, drive up your transmission control module repair cost and force you to shell out some serious money to get the job done. But you’re going to sleep so much better at night when you know that your car’s transmission was fixed right.
What Does Transmission Control Module Repair Cost?
So now, we come to the million-dollar question: What does transmission control module repair cost? It’s something that you’re definitely going to want to ask yourself prior to taking your car in for service since you might experience a bit of sticker shock if you don’t.
The transmission control module repair cost isn’t going to be cheap in most cases. The exact price that you’ll pay for transmission control module repair or replacement is going to depend on everything from the make and model of your car to the mechanic that you hire to work on it. But on average, car owners pay somewhere between $850 and $925 for transmission control module repairs. The parts associated with working on a transmission control module usually run people about $750 to $800, while the labor comes in at about $100 to $125. This makes it a pretty costly repair job.
This doesn’t mean that you should put it off any longer than you have to. As we’ve emphasized a few times now, you shouldn’t ever attempt to drive around in a car when you know it has a bad transmission control module. That’s going to prove to be a recipe for disaster sooner or later.
Is the Transmission Control Module Repair Cost Worth It?
Do you think that you’re going to be driving your current car around for at least a few more years before getting a new one? That is going to be reason enough to pay the transmission control module repair cost to have your TCM fixed. You don’t want to push a bad transmission control module any further than you have to.
If, however, you have an older car that might not even be worth $800 or $900, repairing or replacing a bad transmission control module might not be worth your time or money. In this case, you should think about possibly selling your car so that you can get rid of your transmission control module issues altogether. It’s often going to be the best option for you.
Can You Sell a Vehicle With a Faulty Transmission Control Module?
Those who have bad transmission control modules in their car are typically under the impression that they’re not going to be able to sell their vehicles. But this isn’t always true. While a private buyer might not be interested in purchasing your car from you when it has a bad transmission control module in it, junk car buyers will gladly pay you cash for it. This will help you steer clear of having to pay the transmission control module repair cost and put cash directly into your pocket instead.
Does this sound like the right move for you to make? Cash Cars Buyer would love to purchase your old car from you, in spite of the bad transmission control module in it. You can avoid paying the transmission control module repair cost by accepting an offer from us. Reach out to us today to get your hands on an offer that might be a whole lot higher than you would think it would be.