The gearbox is a key component of the car that is often overlooked. The gearbox is the heart of the transmission. It is true that in Spain, automatic gearboxes are more and more common than manual gearboxes. Similarly, the longevity of a car often depends on the proper functioning of this component.
Manual gearboxes in cars are generally much more durable than automatic gearboxes. However, even if we think it may be in good condition, we must always pay attention and maintain it properly. This is one of the problems faced by the mechanic.
A mechanic’s warning about gearbox oil
A mechanic from Taller Redista explained in one of his TikTok videos what happened to one of the cars he received. He explains that the customer noticed a noise in the gearbox, and explains that this was because “one of the bearings was destroyed“, causing the car to make an excessive noise.
“This car has 280 000 kilometres on the clock and the customer told us that he had never changed the oil in the gearbox because he thought that mechanical gearboxes did not need oil changes,” says the mechanic. “This gearbox costs €70 to change the oil and labour,” he explains, adding: “I don’t think it’s worth leaving it for that long. My professional opinion and advice is to change the oil in a manual gearbox every 90 or 100,000 kilometres “.
It should be remembered that the gearbox is essential for good road safety as it is responsible for controlled driving. In fact, it influences other aspects of the car’s performance and capability.
How much does a gearbox repair cost?
According to data collected by the Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE), repairing a manual gearbox can cost more than €4,500. In addition, it takes mechanics around 9 hours of work to complete the repair. However, some workshops offer the option of replacing it with a second-hand one to reduce the cost.
On the other hand, if you have to replace an automatic one, the cost will be higher and more hours of work will be required. You would have to pay around €7680.
