Reasons for Transmission Valve Body Failure One reason for failure is a poor oil pressure. Also, without a high enough pressure, certain valves won’t operate correctly, causing a chain reaction and poor functioning gearbox. This low pressure can be caused by low levels of transmission fluid or leaks.
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How much does it cost to replace a transmission valve body?
What Does Transmission Valve Body Replacement Cost? According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) the cost for complete transmission valve body replacement ranges from $300 and $1000 on average.
Can a valve body be repaired?
Rebuilding the valve body is a great option that is typically less expensive than purchasing and installing a brand new or remanufactured one. While saving you and your customer money is a great benefit in general, there are situations where rebuilding a valve body is especially appropriate.
Can I clean the valve body on a transmission?
Ultrasonic cleaning has proved to work particularly well for valve bodies. Unlike spray washers, ultrasonic cleaners are able to get into the intricate crevices of a valve body where dirt, grease and metal shavings accumulate.
What happens when a transmission valve body goes bad?
The valves will wear down, the channels can be abraded and become oversized, and the whole valve body unit can become warped. Signs of a bad valve body can be fluid leaks, slipping during gear changes, or even failure to go into gear.
How do I know if my transmission valve is bad?
- #1 โ Harsh or Delayed “Garage Shifts”
- #2 โ Incorrect Up or Down Shifting.
- #3 โ Shift Flares.
- #4 โ Banging or Knocking Sounds.
- #5 โ Gear Slippage.
- #6 โ Check Engine Light On.
How do you reset a transmission valve body?
Leaving the battery disconnected for about 15 minutes will ensure the vehicle systems will completely reset when you reconnect the battery. Secure the negative cable back to the terminal and cover it with the cap (if applicable). Disconnecting the battery will clear the error codes and reset the check engine light.
What are the first signs of transmission problems?
- Refusal to Switch Gears. If your vehicle refuses or struggles to change gears, you are more than likely facing a problem with your transmission system.
- Burning Smell.
- Noises When in Neutral.
- Slipping Gears.
- Dragging Clutch.
- Leaking Fluid.
- Check Engine Light.
- Grinding or Shaking.
Will a bad shift solenoid throw a code?
Q: Will a bad shift solenoid always throw a code? When you diagnose your vehicle for solenoid problems using a scanner, you’ll always see trouble code. This trouble code may persist even after troubleshooting the engine, and this means the fault is yet to be fixed.
Can valve body be replaced without removing transmission?
It is fairly easy to do on some valve bodies, especially when replacing the valve body with the transmission still in the vehicle.
Is it cheaper to rebuild a transmission or replace it?
A transmission replace is the most expensive option when fixing your transmission. In many cases you will hear this referred to as “re-manufactured.” Basically, the manufacturer will replace parts that have gone bad with modified parts. This is an option if the transmission is too damaged to even consider a rebuild.
Is transmission worth replacing?
A brand-new transmission costs anything from $1,000 to $7,000+. Therefore, if the current worth of your vehicle ranges from $8,000 to $10,000, replacing the transmission will be worth it. But if your vehicle is under or within the transmission range, it won’t make much sense to replace its transmission.
How is a valve body diagnosed?
- Delayed Garage Shifts. One of the most common symptoms of a failing transmission valve body is a delay in shifting or harsh shifting.
- Incorrect Shifting. When driving, you could notice the transmission shifting into higher or lower gears at the wrong time.
- Shift Flares.
- Gear Slippage.
What kills your transmission?
Some other ways to abuse the drivetrain and wreck your transmission system include: driving in stop-and-go traffic for an extended period of time, idling the vehicle too long, using mismatched tire sizes, driving off-road, and using your automobile as a snowplow.
How do you fix a sticky transmission valve?
Remove transmission pan drain fluid and inspect pan for evidence of a problem. Replace filter or clean screen (most have filters made out of fiber) Clean magnets stuck to bottom of pan. Reinstall pan with a new gasket (some use a molded rubber reusable gasket)
Can you drive with a bad transmission switch?
Short answer: no! The only thing you should do if you think you have a faulty transmission is go for a quick jaunt to your local mechanic. If you have a bad transmission it’s only a matter of time before your vehicle literally won’t be able to drive anywhere.
What happens if you drive with a bad transmission solenoid?
You experience delayed gear shifting and a sense of pulling or slipping when trying to shift between gears. The vehicle will not downshift as you slow down. An inability for the solenoid valve to operate may prevent your car from downshifting, and the engine will continue to rev as you attempt to brake.
Where is a transmission valve body located?

Does a transmission rebuild include the valve body?
A transmission repair is basically that, just a repair. Sometimes that’s all that’s needed. A repair is considered anything less than disassembling the transmission and can include anything from replacing a pump or valve body to a simple solenoid or sensor replacement.
Can a bad valve body cause limp mode?
If your car has an automatic transmission, a problem with the transmission could cause your ECM to activate the limp mode. There are many different reasons why this can happen, but the most common causes would be a faulty sensor, control valve, low transmission fluid level, or a bad shift solenoid.
What does resetting a transmission do?
Resetting a transmission is resetting the transmission’s control unit such that the stored shift pressure and timing values that have been learned over time are reset to default values. This is done using a bidirectional diagnostic scan tool that is capable of resetting the transmission.
How do you reset the transmission control module on a BMW?

Will disconnecting the battery reset the transmission?
The transmission can be easily reset by leaving your battery disconnected for some time. Like many other parts of your vehicle, the battery and the transmission work together in keeping the vehicle powered and moving.
Will check engine light come on for transmission?
Yes, transmission problems can cause your check engine light to come on. Your automobile’s main computer, the engine control module (ECM), talks with system sensors to make sure everything is okay. If the transmission sensors report a problem, the ECM will turn on the check engine light.
Will check engine light come on for transmission fluid?
There are many, many reasons that the check engine light may come on in you car, truck or SUV. A malfunctioning sensor, low tire pressure, low transmission fluid and so much more will cause the light to come on.