Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't phone-shopping help solve my problem?

The phone IS a useful tool to establish your initial contact and to begin to develop a sense of trust and credibility in a reputable transmission repair facility. The phone is NOT useful to arrive at a cost to solve your vehicle's problem.

ONLY after carefully evaluating the condition of your transmission by conducting our free Transcheck 21 Plus® service - which may lead to a recommendation for an internal inspection - can an accurate repair cost be determined.

All other phone techniques for giving "ball parks","guesstimates" and worst-case scenarios are methods used to lure or entice an inquirer.

Why would I care about using a nation-wide company versus an independent local provider?

You may or may not travel extensively, but should you have a service need as Cottman customer, there are over 300 service providers across the United States who are committed to your satisfaction.

During difficult economic times, the warranties provided by independent shops are only valid for the length of your written warranty - or when that shop goes out of business, whichever comes first. Cottman Transmission has been exceeding customer needs and expectations for more than 40 years!

What will this cost to fix?

The cost to repair will depend on the condition of your transmission. To assess the condition we first perform our free Transcheck 21 Plus® service, which includes a full and complete road test and external examination. Most late model vehicles are electronically controlled and it's possible that the symptom that you feel could be something other than the transmission. If that free road test indicates an internal problem we will need to perform our Remove, Check and Install (RCI) Service, for which there is a charge, to give you an exact cost of repair. We will obtain your authorization before we begin any service for which there is a charge.

How long will the FREE TransCheck 21 PLUS® service take?

Generally, our Trans Check 21 PLUS® service takes 45 minutes. This will include two initial road tests, one with our electronic scanner, an external inspection while the vehicle is on the lift and a pan examination. We encourage our customers to wait while this service is performed. All of our customers are invited to participate while this service is performed. If the TransCheck 21 PLUS® service indicates a repair is needed, and if you choose to have the work done, the repair can be completed in a day or two in most cases.

What if I decide I don't want any work done?

That choice will always be yours and if that is the direction you wish to go, there will be no charge for our Trans Check 21 PLUS® service.

What types of guarantees does Cottman offer?

All of our work is guaranteed. Depending on the extent of the work required, Cottman offers several warranties from 6 month/ 6000 miles up to a Lifetime Guarantee, if the vehicle qualifies. Our guarantees are tied to the work performed and are honored at our locations coast to coast.

What if I need a new transmission? How much would that be?

It is highly unlikely that you will need a new transmission. Of the 300 to 500 parts inside an automatic transmission, some will be able to be reused. That saving can be passed on to you. We find it more inexpensive to rebuild the transmission than replace it. The price to repair your transmission will depend upon how much damage is done to your transmission.

If you see this type of problem all the time why can't you give me a price?

While we might have seen the symptom before, we know, based on our experience, that the cause of the symptom can be varied. For that reason, we recommend that a Trans Check 21 PLUS® indicates an RCI is necessary, we will give you an exact cost of repair and get your authorization before we begin any repair to your transmission.

Could I wait to have the car repaired?

No. The longer you drive the vehicle the worse the condition will become. The worse the condition becomes the more it will cost to repair. If you are interested in saving money, the best thing would be to bring it in right away. After all, it might be something simple. If you are concerned about driving the vehicle any further, your Cottman representative can arrange to have the vehicle towed in and evaluated. In most cases, towing is FREE with major repairs. In the long run this is the least expensive option.

Why can't you give me a price over the phone?

We find that, many times, customers call with what appears to be something serious and it turns out to be something simple. In other words, only after a complete and thorough evaluation on the transmission is made and the cause of the symptom is identified can your Cottman representative offer you a price. We will be in a much better position to do that after our free Trans Check 21 PLUS® service.

What's the most something like this could cost?

The most it could cost initially is 45 minutes of your time. Our Trans Check 21 PLUS® service is free. Since most late model transmissions are very complex and the causes of the symptoms varied, having the vehicle checked externally is the appropriate thing to do. The Better Business Bureau brochure entitled "Transmission Care and Repair" says that "an estimate as to the cost of transmission repair can be given in cases where an external observation and/or a test drive permit an accurate diagnosis of the defects."

Could a fluid change solve my problem?

It's possible. Depending on what the transmission is doing, a fluid change along with replacing the filter and making the necessary adjustments may solve the condition you are experiencing. If the car has an internal problem, it will not. In any event, the vehicle must be evaluated as part of our Trans Check 21 PLUS® service.

My vehicle hasn't shifted properly since having the transmission fluid changed recently.. what happened???

Only a Cottman trained transmission professional should service your transmission. There are specific situations that a fluid service will accelerate or aggravate a performance problem [read a customer's story].

Call us today to schedule an appointment for our FREE TransCheck 21 PLUS. Service.