Automatic Trans Life?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
Automatic Trans Life?
I'm looking at a 99 coupe with an a/t. The car is one owner and in great condition. It drives like new and has been well taken care of but has 92000 miles [highway miles]. I've had a couple of c-5 automatics and love them but have never had one with that many miles and am just wondering how long the transmisions usually last? Also, what is the tranny replacment or rebuild cost if needed. The car is priced at $15,000.
Dave
Dave
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: CA
I used to own a transmission shop. When the 700-R4 transmission came out it was a POC! Over the years it had the bugs worked out, and when it went electronic it became a reliable unit. If it is serviced regularly it should go 125,000 to 150,000 miles. Any competition use will reduce that by at least 1/3 to 1/2. Heat is the killer of autos. Anything over 225-250 degrees for extended periods will kill one. If the car you're looking at has not been abused and been taken care of you should have no problems with the tranny.
I don't know what an overhaul costs, but someone here will have an answer.
I don't know what an overhaul costs, but someone here will have an answer.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
There are a lot of us on here with C5s that have over 100k on them that will disagree with your above statement! My car looks and drives as good as a new one, and is super reliable. I've spent nothing in repairs since early 2006! If the car is well taken care of, it doesn't matter how many miles it has on it. It's just a number. Higher mileage cars are usually that way because they've had a lot of highway driving done on them, and that's super easy on a car.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 2
From: Cabot Arkansas
My 99 a4 all stock at the time had 113,000 on it when I bought it and at 114,000 the transmission went out. The dealer charged me $3200.00 to install a factory reman with 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. Just remember its not the miles its how it was taken care of.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,515
Likes: 255
From: Rochester New York
I used to own a transmission shop. When the 700-R4 transmission came out it was a POC! Over the years it had the bugs worked out, and when it went electronic it became a reliable unit. If it is serviced regularly it should go 125,000 to 150,000 miles. Any competition use will reduce that by at least 1/3 to 1/2. Heat is the killer of autos. Anything over 225-250 degrees for extended periods will kill one. If the car you're looking at has not been abused and been taken care of you should have no problems with the tranny.
I don't know what an overhaul costs, but someone here will have an answer.
I don't know what an overhaul costs, but someone here will have an answer.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
My first C5 vert had the tranny replaced at 50k for some reason when I had a GM check on it after I bought it. It's been said on here a couple of times that the tranny is the weak part of the C5 but only time will tell.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Original A4 in my '98 89,000! With YANK 3200 Stall and a few goodies 
Doing very well and no issues (It's all in how the tranny is tuned....YES! A4 need to be tuned too)
Thanks,Matt
Doing very well and no issues (It's all in how the tranny is tuned....YES! A4 need to be tuned too)
Thanks,Matt
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Not everybody wants to buy a car in a different state sight unseen for a couple thosand dollar savings. If the car is local and in good shape its not to much money.I would say thats about correct if in nice shape. My 2 cents. ed k
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 31
From: Wichita KS
there are a TON (and I mean that) of vettes on here with WELL OVER 150k+ miles and they have had no MAJOR issues with them, there are even a couple (or at least one that I know of) 300K+ vettes on here also. Maintaining is key
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 650
Likes: 4
From: Pittsburg Ca.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 723
Likes: 3
From: pittsburgh pa
so if you have over 100,000 miles and aren't sure if tranny fluid was ever changed you would recommend changing tranny fluid out correct??? heard somewhere before that if your car has high mileage and aren't sure if tranny fluid was ever changed to leave it alone will do more harm than good???
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 24,310
Likes: 0
From: Canon City Co
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
so if you have over 100,000 miles and aren't sure if tranny fluid was ever changed you would recommend changing tranny fluid out correct??? heard somewhere before that if your car has high mileage and aren't sure if tranny fluid was ever changed to leave it alone will do more harm than good???
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 650
Likes: 4
From: Pittsburg Ca.
so if you have over 100,000 miles and aren't sure if tranny fluid was ever changed you would recommend changing tranny fluid out correct??? heard somewhere before that if your car has high mileage and aren't sure if tranny fluid was ever changed to leave it alone will do more harm than good???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
I have 105,000 miles on my C5. I am now on my 5th A4. I have a RPM Stage IV this time and a Vigilante 2600 stall converter. I hope this one last for awhile.
RPM Stage IV: around $2000
New converter: $800
Labor: $700
Smoking the tires though 1st and getting side ways in 2nd: Priceless
RPM Stage IV: around $2000
New converter: $800
Labor: $700
Smoking the tires though 1st and getting side ways in 2nd: Priceless
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 723
Likes: 3
From: pittsburgh pa
i agree changing the fluid is a great thing to do. but is it true that if you have over 100,000 miles and fluid has never been changed you can do more harm than good by changing the fluid. i can swear i seen that theory somewhere before and a lot of people said the same thing. 