Every time you change gears, the shift solenoid comes into the picture. To shift gears, the vehicle relies on a highly pressurized hydraulic fluid. The shift solenoid supplies this fluid. If the shift solenoid fails to do its job, you will have trouble changing the gears on your vehicle.
How Much Does a Shift Solenoid Replacement Cost?
In terms of cost, it’s not going to cost you a lot. But then, it won’t be a relatively cheap affair too. You can expect an expense of anywhere between $125 to $450. Keep in mind that this is for a single solenoid replacement.
Auto Center | Price |
---|---|
Walmart | $35 - $150 |
Midas | $195 - $450 |
Your Mechanic | $180 - $425 |
Mr. Tire | $175 - $440 |
The cost will bump up depending on the solenoids that need replacement. It’s only when the mechanic gets under the hood, he will be able to tell whether it’s one or several solenoids that need a replacement to make your vehicle as alright as before. By the way, the part will cost you only around $35 to $130. So, the labor fee is the villain in this story. But then, there is some serious work involved too. So, we can’t really blame the shop for the labor charges.
How Long Does It Take To Replace a Shift Solenoid?
In general, it takes around three to four hours to replace a shift solenoid. Other surrounding car components may also need some cleaning/repairing at the time of repair, which will contribute to both the labor time and cost.
Even if you hire an experienced mechanic for the job, he will be sweating bullets. Honestly speaking, it would prove to be a challenge to save costs on a shift solenoid replacement work because of the amount of labor involved.
Once the issue is fixed, though, your car will operate better. Having regained full control over the gears, you will feel safer and relaxed too. Safe ride aside, you will also be saving your car from additional transmission damage.
Shift Solenoid Replacement Procedure
Ideally, the mechanic will start off by scanning the vehicle’s computer. It’s often difficult to locate the solenoid without the computer’s help because it can be located at many different places inside the car. Once the exact location is known, the mechanic will drain the transmission fluid, uninstall the transmission tank, and disconnect all the electric connections to the solenoid.
The new solenoid will be installed, and all the electric connections will be reconnected. Then, the mechanic will refill the tank with the transmission fluid. Once this is done, he will clear the error codes before taking the car for a test drive. If everything checks out well during the test drive, he will hand over the car keys to you.
How Do You Save Money on Shift Solenoid Replacement?
Unless you truly believe in your mechanical skills, we do not suggest that you repair the shift solenoid on your own. There’s too much work involved. The room for error is also quite high because of how complex the work is. You run the risk of a wrong diagnosis too. So, don’t try to save costs on labor fees unless you know how to clear the error codes and other stuff involved in the repair.
You can save money on the parts, though, by sourcing it yourself. That said, your biggest savings would come from cost comparison. Yes, it’s advisable that you obtain quotes from at least 3-4 different mechanics to shortlist someone who can get the job done at a budget price.
On the CarServiceLand, you can also find estimates of car repair or maintenance service costs: