2015 Honda Civic CVT Install Bowling Green, KY

This 2015 Honda Civic was towed into our shop here in Bowling Green, Kentucky after completely losing the ability to move in any gear. The tow was provided at no cost since the customer was local and the repair was expected to be major. Another shop had already inspected the car and told the customer there was only one option, replacing the transmission with a brand new unit. That recommendation came with a price tag that simply did not make sense given the value of the vehicle.

Once we had the Civic in the shop, we ran our own inspection and confirmed the issue. The CVT transmission had been run dry due to a slow axle seal leak that had gone unnoticed. While Honda CVT units are generally reliable, running one without fluid for too long will take it out quickly. In this case, the transmission was too far gone to be repaired.

Since we do not rebuild CVT units due to their high internal failure rates, we contacted the customer and laid out two clear options. The first option was a brand new transmission from the dealer. It came with a strong three year or five hundred thousand mile nationwide warranty. Even with our pricing, the cost of this job would have been more than the value of the car itself. We were upfront about that from the start. Our price was lower than the other shop, but it still was not a practical solution.

That brought us to option two. Used CVT units for these vehicles are widely available and cost significantly less. We explained this to the customer along with the potential downsides. Used transmissions often have very short warranties and there is always a chance of early failure. Rather than purchasing a used unit ourselves, we chose to educate the customer on how to buy one on their own. This gave them full control and also prevented future misunderstandings. If the part failed right away, they already understood that risk. It also helped keep the cost down, since we did not have to mark up the part.

The customer sourced a used transmission and brought it in. We installed the unit, verified that everything was functioning as it should, and got them back on the road. Thanks to honest communication and a focus on helping the customer make the right choice, they were able to avoid a much higher repair bill and keep their vehicle going.

If you are in Bowling Green and find yourself in a situation where the repair cost feels too high, come see us at Wholesale Transmission Center. We will walk you through your options and help you find the solution that makes the most sense.

Service provided: CVT Installs

Location: Bowling Green, KY