Your vehicle's transmission is a vital and core component of your car. It is essentially a complex group of gears and bearings encased in oil that helps take power from the engine and transfer it to the wheels smoothly.
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
As a result, when you have vehicle front-end accident problems, there is a good chance that your transmission may also be damaged in some way or another.
If you've been in a front-end accident, the transmission has probably been damaged. The cost of repairing it can easily run between $4,000 and $6,000.
This article will help to understand what transmission problems are caused by a front-end car accident and what repair options are available for your needs.
What are the common transmission problems after a front-end accident?
here are the ten common transmission problems after a front end accident, along with the repair options and repair costs:
#1 Low Fluid
After a front-end accident, the most common transmission problems are low fluid and leak. Transmission fluid is an important component of the vehicle's transmission because it helps to keep all the moving parts working smoothly. However, a leaking transmission can result in more damage to your car, increasing repair costs.
Repairs: You will need to have your car's fluid levels checked and topped off. This is a relatively minor repair that won't cost you very much money, but it will save on future repairs that can be more expensive if the transmission runs low on fluid.
Repair costs: Low fluid and leaky transmission repairs can cost between $50 and $100.
#2 No Reverse
If you cannot get your transmission into reverse, it is generally caused by a lack of hydraulic pressure. This pressure helps the vehicle's wheels to move when in reverse. The problem can be related to more parts, including gears, valves, and/or solenoids.
Repairs: If you cannot get your transmission into reverse after an accident, you will need to have it analyzed before any costly repairs are made. You can either take it to a mechanic or dealer for analysis or have someone look at it for you.
Repair costs: Having a transmission with no reverse is about $2,000 to $3,500.
#3 No First Gear
After a front-end accident, the lack of first gear is caused by damage to the transmission's valve body and solenoids. The transmission's valve body is where the solenoids control the gears.
Repairs: If you lack first gear on your car after a front-end accident, you will need to get it checked out because it can become costly if ignored.
Repair costs: Having no first gear repaired can cost between $3,000 and $6,000.
#4 Sudden Loss of Power
The transmission problems after a front-end accident cause a sudden loss of power because the gears are not working properly. As a result, the vehicle will either hesitate or lose all power altogether. Of course, you can still coast to safety if you lose power, but this won't always be the case.
Repairs: The sudden loss of power will require a complete transmission rebuild to restore it to its original state. You will likely need new gears, bearings, seals, and gaskets for this purpose. You will also need to have the fluid oiled or replaced, as well as the filters, checked and cleaned if necessary.
Repair costs: Having sudden loss of power repaired can cost between $3,000 and $6,000.
#5 Grinding Noise
Grinding noise from your car's transmission is typically caused by corrosion inside the bearing retainer that helps keep parts turning smoothly in place even when under stress. Unfortunately, this problem can often lead to other problems because it creates more wear and tears on other parts.
Repairs: A grinding noise requires rebuilding the transmission, cleaning out the retainer, and replacing any broken or corroded pieces. You should also replace all of your fluid because the corrosion will have contaminated it.
Repair costs: A grinding noise repair can cost between $3,000 and $6,000.
#6 Transmission Fluid Leak
Another one of the most common problems after a front-end accident is transmission fluid leak which usually comes from damage to the pump or gasket.
The amount that leaks depends on how bad it has gotten so far, so if you get your vehicle regularly serviced, it may not be as much of an issue for you. However, if you have a lot of miles on your vehicle or it has been a long since its last service, you will probably need to get this looked at sooner.
Repairs: A transmission fluid leak requires you to do pretty much everything mentioned above in the repairs section. In addition, you should replace any broken pieces and change all the fluid so that there is no contaminating agent causing problems. If your gasket needs replacing, you should also get a new pan gasket to keep the next one from leaking.
Repair costs: A transmission fluid leak repaired can cost between $500 and $1,000, depending on how extensive it is.
#7 Transmission Noise
If your car suddenly starts making noises when shifting gears after an accident, one of two things usually happens. You either bent something inside the car or got your valve body knocked out of place. This makes noises because it is now moving too far to one side and therefore hitting something else.
Repairs: If this has happened, you will need a mechanic to look at it for you. They can tell whether problems came from internal damage or external by listening to the noise that your transmission is making and identifying what part is causing it.
Repair costs: A transmission noise repair can cost between $2,000 and $3,500.
#8 Fluid on Exhaust System
If there is fluid all over your exhaust system after a front-end accident, getting some repair work done as soon as possible is very important. This fluid will eat away at your exhaust system and which can trail to expensive problems down the road.
Repairs: You should check your vehicle for any other fluid leaks and replace or repair any broken parts that may have been knocked around during the accident. The more times you run into similar issues after an accident, the worse they become, so it is important to get them taken care of fast.
Repair costs: Having fluid on your exhaust repaired can cost between $500 and $1,000, depending on how extensive it is. It may also require the replacement of some exhaust system parts, but this depends entirely on what needs taking care of and why.
#9 Transmission Controls Not Working
If your car's transmission controls suddenly stop working, it is usually a problem with the body control module. This part inside your car controls all communication between your transmission and other parts on your vehicle that may need to communicate as far as shifting gears.
Repairs: This will require you to take it to a repair shop where they can diagnose what exactly has gone wrong. They may have to replace the body control module, but this depends entirely on why it has malfunctioned in the first place.
You should also check for any fluid leaks because these can affect anything electrical inside a car, which can cause this type of problem.
Repair costs: Having faulty controls repaired on your transmission can cost between $700 and $1,000, depending on the exact problem.
#10 Lights Flickering or Dimming
Having lights on your car flicker or dim after an accident is usually a problem with the wiring. Cracked or broken wires can mean that these parts of your car are not properly attached and that they are giving off poor electrical signals.
Repairs: You will need to take your car in for repairs as soon as possible because this is a sign that wires are breaking down and that you need to have them properly rewired before this problem gets worse.
Repair costs: Flickering lights can cost between $400 and $1,000 depending on where the wires need to be reattached.
How to prevent transmission problems after a car accident?
Preventing the problems is quite easy. You can either wait until your car is completely repaired, or you can get it checked out every once in a while, say once every three months, to be safe. This way, you will catch any small problems before they get worse and save yourself the potential headache of dealing with more expensive, hard-to-fix problems.
Here are the top tips to prevent transmission problems after front end accident:
- Keep your eyes on the road. Most accidents happen because people are not focused on driving. So make sure you keep your eyes on what is ahead of you at all times.
- Stick to the speed limit. Not only will this help prevent accidents, but you will also get to your destination faster if you do not have to slow down for traffic along the way.
- Avoid distractions. Many accidents are caused by people trying to distract themselves while driving by texting or reading emails. The best thing you can do is keep any personal electronic devices out of reach while driving so that you are not tempted to use them when they should not be used.
- Assume other drivers do not know what they are doing and stay prepared. Just because someone else is on the road does not mean that they are a good driver or know how to drive safely under normal circumstances, let alone in a situation following an accident. Please do not assume that other drivers will stop when they should or slow down when you need them to. Instead, assume they will do the opposite of what you think is best, and stay prepared for this so that it does not catch you off guard.
- Do not drive if your vehicle is unsafe. Not only can driving in an unsafe car cause accidents, but it can also be dangerous for other people on the road who may get into an accident with you because your car was not up to standards. Ensure every vehicle in your household is inspected regularly for any potential problems before taking it out onto the road, where it could become a hazard for others around you.
- Make repairs as soon as possible after an accident. This will make sure your vehicle is safe to drive and prevent other problems from arising as a result of the actual damage.
- Do not let anyone except a qualified mechanic work on your car. Any amateur putting their hands on your car's engine could cause more damage, and they might even unknowingly break something that needs to be replaced by a professional who knows what they are doing.
- Make sure you buy enough insurance before an accident happens. If you do end up having to take care of all of these repairs yourself, then you may find that you have no way to pay for them without going into serious debt or selling your possessions.
- You should always try to protect yourself as much as possible by purchasing high enough insurance to cover any costs related to an accident that was your fault. This way, you will not be left with the burden of paying thousands on top of all the potential damage done to your car itself.
- Not every problem following a car accident means having major expenses. However, it is still wise to stay vigilant about checking up on any problems after an accident has occurred. Of course, being overly paranoid about this can end up costing you more time and money than necessary, but taking some precautions for at least one month after an accident happens is not only standard practice. Still, it can also save you from serious repair problems down the line.
How to choose the right repair shop for your needs?
No matter what kind of car you have, or how perfect it may be, accidents DO happen. However, before the impact occurs, there is a chance of fixing your car for a lower price. Therefore, it's best to make a smaller repair on your own rather than letting the dealership do repairs.
What should I avoid?
Many things can cause damage to your car, especially after an accident. Make sure that any parts of your vehicle are properly put back together, or you will run into another issue later.
Conclusion
If you have been in a car accident, it is important to ensure that your vehicle is repaired properly. Not only can driving an unsafe car cause accidents, but it can also be dangerous for other people on the road who may get into an accident with you because your car was not up to standards.
Ensure every vehicle in your household is inspected regularly for any potential problems before taking it out onto the road, where it could become a hazard for others around you. Transmission Problems After Front End Accident can lead to more serious issues if left unrepaired, so make sure to take care of this as soon as possible.