Replacing a transmission isn’t like performing a brake job or swapping out a mass airflow sensor: it’s a major investment. Vehicle owners shell out between $1,500 and $5,000 on new transmissions plus installation. These costs can vary widely, depending on who performs your replacement and how you acquire your 2001 Honda Civic transmission. This isn’t the time to try and get off cheap, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find an affordable system — you just have to know where to look.
This short guide is about transmission replacement basics, costs, and more.
How To Replace a Honda Civic Transmission?
Transmission issues usually aren’t subtle in their presentation. Some can be resolved with repairs, while others may require full replacements. Complete transmission failure announces itself with a few telltale symptoms:
- Transmission slippage
- Hot or burning smells
- Check engine or transmission warning lights
- Rough or difficult shifting
- Transmission fluid leaks
- Grinding, humming, buzzing or whining noises
Replacing your 2001 or 2002 Honda Civic transmission is a big job, requiring between one and four days to complete. You also need the right tools: a hydraulic floor jack with jack stands, a wrench set, a socket set with extensions, a fluid drain pan, and pliers, to name a few. Removing your transmission is a multi-stage process that involves some key steps:
- Disconnecting battery cables
- Disconnecting transmission cables, hoses, brackets, and electrical connectors
- Moving the starter out of the way
- Draining transmission fluid
- Removing torque converter bolts
- Unmounting and removing the old transmission
- Flushing oil cooler lines
Full transmission replacement is not a job you can do completely by yourself. Transmission systems for early 2000s Honda Civics weigh between 150 and 500 pounds. To avoid serious injury or damage to your new transmission, ask someone to help you lift the unit and place it. Once you have the transmission in place, you basically follow the removal instructions in reverse — reinstalling the starter, reconnecting lines and hoses, and then dropping in and reconnecting the battery.
Of course, transmission replacement is a detailed process. This overview just outlines some basic steps you’ll follow. The process may work a little differently depending on your vehicle’s specifics.
Where To Find Affordable Transmissions for Honda Civic
Automotive transmissions cost a fair chunk of change. With the important jobs they do and the parts they use, that’s no surprise. You can expect to pay between $1,900 and $2,600 for a complete Honda Civic transmission, before taxes. This cost only includes the assembled transmission itself. If it’s installed by a professional mechanic, you’ll also pay for labor.
If you’re comfortable doing repair work and installations on your vehicle, you can save yourself labor costs and replace its transmission. Look for a reputable retailer of aftermarket auto parts and accessories. Your favorite retailer should have both individual parts and full transmissions, plus essential tools to get the job done. With convenient services such as ordering online for in-store pick up, you can get what you need locally and save yourself some time.
