Is a broken transmission sensor considered a major repair?
2 Answers
Is a broken transmission sensor considered a major repair? Any repair involving engine disassembly, transmission disassembly, or body structure damage restoration is considered a major repair. Symptoms of a broken automatic transmission sensor are as follows: Automatic gear disengagement: When the transmission sensor is damaged, the vehicle cannot determine its real-time gear position, significantly affecting the transmission's shifting logic. Gear disengagement can also easily cause part wear and housing deformation, with relatively serious consequences; Gear confusion: The vehicle should start in first gear while driving, but due to sensor issues, the transmission cannot determine the working condition and may switch to a higher gear; Weakened vehicle power: This is caused by the transmission's inability to determine the gear position. Shifting confusion can greatly affect the vehicle's acceleration performance.
A faulty transmission sensor doesn’t qualify as a major overhaul. A major overhaul involves completely disassembling the entire transmission into pieces—it’s a massive job. Replacing a sensor is just swapping out a component. Last time my car threw a trouble code, the mechanic scanned it and diagnosed a faulty output shaft sensor. They didn’t even fully drain the transmission fluid—just opened a side panel and replaced it, all done in under two hours. Of course, it depends on the car model; some sensors buried deep might be trickier, possibly requiring half-shaft or oil pan removal, but it’s still far simpler than cracking open the transmission for a major rebuild. If a dealership tries to sell you this as a 'major overhaul,' find another repair shop ASAP.
