GEARS GRINDING? 

The transmission is part of your vehicle's heart, allowing the engine to turn the wheels. As a result, it deserves the best maintenance and care. We pride ourselves on doing honest, quality work that will last you for years.

 

Are you having issues with your transmission?

 

Keep an eye, or an ear, out for the warning signs of transmission problems. Most of the time, you can identify trouble early and prevent a costly repair before it strikes.

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1. A burning smell or hot smell coming from the engine.

2.  Stuttering or slipping when idling or while accelerating.

3. Odd noises, such as grinding or clunking, coming from the engine or under your car.

4. Fluid is leaking from the vehicle.

 

These are common signs that something could be wrong with your vehicle, and many could mean you need transmission repair. Our professional team of mechanics and technicians performs all our repairs to guarantee that your transmission is back in perfect, optimized condition. After repairs, we thoroughly test all our transmissions to ensure everything functions perfectly.

 

If your transmission cannot be repaired, Thunderbolt is also an expert at remanufacturing transmissions. We have the most extensive variety of in-stock remanufactured transmissions in Texas. We carry domestic transmissions as well as Japanese and European imported transmissions. 

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When you bring your vehicle to us,  we remove the transmission and tear everything down to its most basic components. We then thoroughly clean and carefully inspect each piece to determine the issues. Next, using highly precise machinery, we refine defects and replace parts that might have affected the transmission’s performance. The transmission is then reassembled and tested before being reinstalled in your vehicle. 

 

Your vehicle depends on thousands of parts working together for your car to run. The transmission is only a part of it. When a vehicle has enough wear to need a new transmission or a repair, there is also often significant wear and tear on components that support the proper function of the transmission but are not part of the transmission assembly itself.  In some cases, these parts may have caused the damage to your transmission in the first place. If your car does not run well after rebuilding the transmission, other items will likely need replacement. In our experience, some of the most common parts with problems include but are not limited to: 

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• Torque Converter: If defective, it is often found full of metal shavings and debris that would ruin your new transmission. It is a welded, sealed unit that cannot be repaired and must be replaced. 

• Cracked Transmission Case: This occurs when the damage to the transmission’s internal components damages the case itself, which must be replaced. 

• Universal Joints: U Joints connect the transmission to the drive shaft to turn the wheels. If worn, your new transmission may be damaged. 

• Exhaust Pipe: Due to the transmission's location, the exhaust pipe sometimes needs to be removed to access it. In some cases, even though carefully handled, old or rusted exhaust pipes may develop holes and require replacement. 

• Transmission Supports

Some of these things can be seen with a quick inspection, and if we can see them, we will tell you about them upfront, but others cannot be diagnosed until the transmission has been removed and taken apart. In all cases, the transmission must be removed and opened for inspection to determine the condition of related parts, which is why there is a non-refundable inspection fee/deposit. If you decide to have your vehicle repaired with Thunderbolt, that cost goes toward the repair cost. 

 

When we provide you a quote up front, that quote is the base cost of parts and labor. We will notify you immediately if additional parts are needed to complete the repair after the teardown and full inspection. Additionally, if the transmission’s case is damaged beyond repair, a new one must be purchased to complete the repair.. These additional parts may cause your transmission cost to rise, 

We understand the stress of the possibility of the expense of making additional repairs, but Thunderbolt is here to help. If any parts need replacement during the rebuild process,  Thunderbolt only charges for the cost of the parts; we do not charge for labor on any additional repairs required as part of the rebuild process. We want to save you the expense of another mechanic’s labor and ensure your vehicle has all appropriate maintenance to protect your new transmission. 

 

 We will get you back on the road quickly!

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Thunderbolt also offers nationwide shipping. 

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