RepairPal says labor on a transmission replacement would be around $1,000 and Napa, powered by RepairPal, says labor would be around $700-1,300, but that would be with a rebuilt transmission, not a JDM one.
Everyone has flat-rate shipping, so it wouldn't be cheaper to have it shipped to Tempe instead of Snowflake--even from Phoenix!
RepairPal shows dozens of shops that will honor that estimate with up to a 50,000-mile warranty and many have Veterans' discounts, including two with a 50,000-mile warranty.
Some offer loaners, but not the ones with a 50,000-mile warranty.
I don't have any idea how the warranty works with a used engine.
There isn't a Napa shop in Show Low--and RepairPal doesn't show them unless you go through Napa--but there are ones in adjacent cities.
Would I rather drive a leaky car to Tempe and have a shop there fix it or drive 30-40 minutes, get a ride home, and work on another car?
Napa offers a 24-month, 24,000-mile warranty, but again, that may not apply.
I called one shop and the mechanic didn't know anything about JDM-swapping a transmission, but he referred me to a transmission shop in Phoenix.
He didn't seem to know about about JDM-swapping a transmission, but he said that the leaky transmission might burn up driving down, so he referred me to a place within walking distance.
They didn't answer, so I called the only transmission shop in-town.
That guy didn't seem to know much, he kept telling me to bring it in, which was fun, because I ended up seeing six clients today, and there were still several inches of snow on my car, which was on stands.
When I had a chance I removed the snow, lowered my car, and drove to where I thought Southwest Transmission was, but Harris Automotive just has a sign saying they use Pete's Transmission.
The sign is the same size and design as the Harris Automotive one.
I tried looking up Southwest, but our phones have randomly not worked recently. It cut out during all 4 phone calls I made today!
I tried calling, but that didn't work, either,.
I finally found it.
If you recall I took this car to a transmission shop April 2020, but I had a CEL, and that guy just gave me an estimate without looking at the car.
Today a third mechanic said "I don't see a transmission leak," adding "that is motor oil." He looked around and showed me a part near the top, on the back, that was wet with oil, and said that my rear main seal is leaking, which would cost $700 to replace, and then we could figure out the transmission leak, potentially rebuilding or swapping in a low-mileage transmission.
So, I need a $700 repair before my $2-3,000 repair.
Huh.
I found JDM transmissions for $840+ shipped, but people say:
There is no way of knowing how many miles they actually have.
You don't know for how long they sat on a shelf.
You don't know their actual condition.
You will always have CELs.
You will never pass smog.
The third and fourth gears are higher, so your speedometer will be wrong.
How often do you know the mileage and condition of junkyard parts? I talked to a guy at a transmission shop that says he doesn't install LKQ parts because they kept receiving bad ones.
JDM parts have a 30-120-day warranty, but that only applies the the part, not the labor, and does not necessarily cover the return shipping if it is bad.
I don't know what CELs you are supposed to get. I read one or two people that had those and one mechanic said he swapped a JDM transmission and had the same CELs, but nobody reported back, so I don't have any way of knowing if they resolved the problem.
Someone said "You will get a code for gear mismatch though."
I don't know about smog, but people say that Japanese components are designed to be quick, while USDM parts are designed to meet smog.
People say lots of things, though.
I read that the speedometer would be off several times. People have posted the different gear ratios.
LKQ will ship a transmission with 131,000 miles for $1,400 with a 6,000-mile and 6-month warranty, which isn't much, but it is more than the JDM warranties!
Someone told me to call local junkyards. I found three. Only one answered and they don't have a transmission, but I don't want to install a junkyard transmission with a good chance it is bad!
He also told me to look into a rebuild.
This is the only remanufactured transmission on eBay. It ships for $2,000 and has a 3-year warranty, but that doesn't cover labor or shipping.
Reman Transmission will ship one for $2,177, which is more, but up to $1,500 less than other vendors.
KBB says the private party value is $1,590.
I had planned on selling it for $1,500 if I cannot fix the leaks.
It says it would be worth $2,185 in excellent condition.
Yeah...
Completed sales on eBay:
Dealership sales:
1998 with 76,500 miles for $11,000!
1998 with 75,112 miles for $14,900!
2000 with 119,906 miles for $5,799!
Private-party sales:
2002 with 143,338 miles for $3,550
2002 with 209,000 miles for $3,500
2002 with 184,099 miles for $2,425
2000 with 125,785 miles for $2,994
Donations sold that run and drive and don't have apparent damage:
1999 with 102,631 miles for $1,725
1999 with 202,080 miles for $1,050.
It is older and has more mileage than the 2002 with 209,000 miles, so arguably it would be worth less, but what about a low-mileage or remanufactured and swapped transmission?
There isn't a great deal of rhyme or reason with eBay sales, so with a swapped transmission it would be worth more like the 2000 with 125,785 miles for:
Oops.
$2,994.
Maybe more like the 2002 with 143,338 miles for:
Oops.
$3,550.
Curiously, the remanufactured transmission from Reman Transmission has a 36-month warranty for vehicles from 2000 and older and 60 months for vehicles from 2001 and newer.
So, order a 2001?
The warranty is tied to the VIN.
They advertise an easy, hassle-free, transferable warranty, nationwide coverage, instant replacement, and paid parts and labor.
All of that sounds wonderful, but $2,177 for a remanufactured transmission, $1,000 for installation, $700 for the rear main seal, and I try to sell for $5,000, hoping to sell for $4,000?
$4,000
-2,177
1,000
700
There would undoubtedly be shop fees and more, so I would lose money over giving it away. Even if I sell for $5,000 I might possibly make $1,000, when I should be able to sell as-is for $1,500.
Craigslist:
2000 coupe with 205,866 miles and normal wear and tear for $2,350.
1999 Accord with 267,000 miles, no pictures, and a bad engine for $2,500. What?!
Beautiful 2002 with 227,000 miles for $3,400
Restored salvage 1998 with 75,000 miles for $5,000
Based on eBay, these prices seem reasonable, and while I hate to see a good car gone too soon, it doesn't seem viable to replace the rear main seal and transmission myself (with help) or pay a professional.