Replacing an automatic transmission with a manual transmission is a very common procedure among people who switched to an automatic transmission, but it quickly broke down. Therefore, people often come to me asking to change the automatic transmission to a manual transmission. Although there are actually many reasons why they want to make a replacement.
Today we’ll talk about why people want to replace an automatic with a manual and how to do it yourself in the garage.
Why is an automatic transmission replaced with a manual transmission?
The box is replaced in the following cases:
- when they want to save on fuel;
- due to the habit of a manual transmission;
- if the automatic transmission has faults that can only be corrected by expensive repairs.
In most cases, manual transmissions are installed instead of automatic transmissions by people who are already over 40. Since young people are accustomed to automatic transmissions and many young people do not want to give up automatic transmissions.
Repairing a manual transmission will cost the car owner less than repairing an automatic transmission. But on the other hand, automatic transmission cannot compare with manual transmission in terms of convenience and ease of driving. And the city mode on a manual transmission turns driving a car into torture. Constant traffic lights and traffic jams make the driver nervous and twitch the gear selector.
Attention! If at a service station they tell you that repairing an automatic transmission will cost $1,000 or more, then I would advise you to confidently switch to a manual transmission.
Therefore, it’s up to you to decide whether to replace the automatic machine with a manual one or not.
Write in the comments how you feel about manual transmission and automatic transmission. Have you already made a replacement or are you satisfied with everything?
Main differences
Smooth, timely gear changes are the most important function for comfortable driving on various roads.
For example, when driving in the mountains, the importance of timely changes in engine operation can hardly be overestimated. An automatic machine handles this better. Such cars accelerate smoothly, and the driver only needs to press the accelerator pedal. When stopping on an incline, they do not need to be set to the handbrake.
On the other hand, a car with an automatic transmission cannot be started “from the pusher”, since such a transmission begins to work only after the oil is supplied when the engine is turned on. Changing gears manually allows you to accelerate the car faster. In addition, servicing and repairing a manual transmission is much easier and cheaper.
When does it make sense to replace the box?
Well, now let's look at the question of when you still need to replace the automatic with a manual one.
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Shifting the automatic transmission gear selector on the go
- Extreme living conditions. If you live in the far north. The fact is that frequent snowdrifts and snow-covered roads will quickly render the automatic transmission unusable. Since the car will often slip, it will have to be pushed to get out of the snowdrift and warm up for too long. Unlike mechanics, which will endure anything because they are unpretentious and there is nothing special to break in them.
- Old modification. If you have an automatic transmission that is no longer produced, and adequate contract automatic transmissions cannot be found. In this case, replacing with a manual transmission would even be advisable. The fact is that by installing the mechanics from scratch, you will be able to operate the car for a long time. But the contract automatic transmission may die soon.
- Accelerating dynamics. If you are a fan of aggressive driving, cold starts, you like to accelerate from a standstill, pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor. The machine will not appreciate such behavior. And most likely, after a year of the difficult trials that befell him, he will make himself felt with a major overhaul, or even the purchase of a new automatic transmission. In this case, I recommend replacing the automatic manual transmission.
Therefore, if you meet one of these points, then it is better to change the automatic transmission or sell the car with automatic transmission and buy one with manual transmission.
Attention! If the vehicle was manufactured before 1995, then in most cases only changing the automatic transmission to a manual transmission will help. Old models are no longer produced by machine manufacturers.
However, there are cars that have never had a manual transmission. It will be difficult to find mechanics for them. You will have to buy additional equipment. Here is a vivid example of this:
- luxury sedans and vehicles from the Toyota and Lexus brands. They were never equipped with a manual transmission. Therefore, together with new components, installing mechanics on these cars will cost the unlucky car owner 120,000 rubles.
Read
What is better to choose: repairing an automatic transmission or buying a contract automatic transmission
Reinstallation is a long and not always smooth process. Therefore, before changing an automatic transmission to a manual transmission, you should thoroughly weigh the pros and cons. And only then make a decision.
Key points for replacing an automatic with a manual
To install a manual transmission on an automatic machine, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. But installing an automatic transmission instead of a manual transmission will force the vehicle owner to fork out a fair amount. Also, remember that the older the car, the cheaper the replacement will cost.
Converting an automatic transmission to a manual transmission will take less time. Here are some steps of the procedure for converting the box:
- Drive the vehicle onto a pit or overpass. Some parts of the machine are heavy. Therefore, prepare a lifting mechanism in advance or call a partner, or better yet, a couple of people. If you have never disassembled an automatic machine, then find an experienced mechanic among your friends.
- First, disconnect the battery. This way you will protect yourself and your car equipment from electric shock.
- Remove the instrument panel and engine components that will interfere with the removal and installation of the old and new gearbox.
- Remove all wires that are routed to the transmission. Remove the cable, selector lever drive, speedometer cable.
- Drain the oil and remove the pan from the automatic transmission. Disconnect the machine from the cooling radiator. Remove the hoses.
- Unscrew the bolts that connect the automatic transmission to the engine. Separate them.
- Remove the intermediate shaft, as well as the supports and brackets that secure the machine.
- Remove the torque converter and disconnect the engine from the automatic transmission.
Next, you will need to install a manual transmission.
- Place the flywheel on the crankshaft.
- Connect the mechanical drive cables.
- Replace the automatic transmission selector with a manual transmission.
- Install the third pedal and clutch cylinder tubes.
- Now do the mechanical installation.
- Reflash the control unit (ECU).
Read
Resource of automatic transmission, mileage and service life of automatic transmission
That seems to be all. But in reality, it is not so easy to change an automatic transmission to a manual transmission. Since each vehicle has its own features that you may not know about. And I won’t be able to write everything about each car model. Therefore, I recommend not starting to replace the box if you do not understand the principle of operation of an automatic or manual transmission.
Attention! It rarely happens that an electronic control unit is completely identical to a mechanical one. Therefore, if you cannot reflash the unit, then it is better to buy a new one that is suitable for modifying the mechanics.
What will you need to buy
Let's consider replacing an automatic with a manual on some vehicle models. Since we’re talking about this topic, I’ll help you get your bearings in this regard by explaining the replacement of a manual transmission with an automatic transmission on fairly well-known brands.
It is advisable to change the box on the following cars, since they are an old year of manufacture. Components along with contract automatic transmissions are difficult to find for them.
- Volkswagen Passat;
- Volkswagen B5;
- Bora;
- Golf.
The main thing for these cars is to connect the manual transmission to the cooling system. There is no need to buy a new ECU, since the old one only needs flashing. Buying spare parts for these cars will cost you around $600.
Here are the components you will need:
- Manual transmission 02 J, which will replace the automatic transmission on the Golf or Passat;
- starter. The automatic starting device is not compatible with manual transmission;
- clutch pedal, tube;
- speedometer drive;
- reverse sensor;
- axle shaft;
- cable lever.
These elements will be needed to replace an automatic transmission with a manual one.
Now let's look at the BMW E39. Replacing the manual transmission on these cars will make them even faster and sportier. Because they are designed for sporty driving.
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Lexus automatic transmission repair
Accessories you will need:
- flywheel;
- clutch basket;
- manual selector lever;
- pedal;
- rear axle gearboxes;
- new dashboard.
To replace the clutch, you need to lay a line under the interior floor, which means punching a new hole for the tube in the car body. The ECU does not require flashing. Calibrating it for mechanics involves jumping a pair of wires.
Attention! I do not recommend installing manual transmission on the Opel Vectra. Since fuel savings will result in half a liter. And there will be more problems. Mechanics, like automatic, on Opel are very capricious. But, if you install an additional cooling system and an external fine filter on the automatic transmission, then many problems can be avoided with automatic transmissions.
If you want to change an automatic transmission to a manual transmission on a Land Cruiser 100 or 200, then I would not recommend this either. Comrades often come to me and tearfully beg to unlock the speed potential of their Kruzaks by reinstalling the gearboxes.
They forget that the imitation of the gentle clutch of a Land Cruiser automatic transmission allows you to easily navigate snow-covered roads or avoid getting stuck in swamps. After installing the mechanics, of course, all this maneuverability will be lost, because control will depend entirely on the person. And his reactions are sometimes delayed. One millisecond is enough for the powerful Kruzak to get stuck in the swamp.
Video of installing a manual transmission instead of an automatic transmission
Especially for you, dear readers, I have selected a video review on replacing an automatic transmission with a manual one. Because I can’t describe it in more detail, because it would take kilometers of words. Yes, and it’s difficult to read when you’re all eager to install the mechanics as quickly as possible in order to try the new powerful acceleration dynamics.
So watch the video, download it to your phone, and go to the garage. Be sure to leave feedback in the comments when you're done changing the transmission. Did it work? What difficulties did you experience?
Honda Accord
To replace an automatic transmission with a manual transmission for a Honda Accord you will need:
- clutch pedal, with fasteners, sensor and cotter pins for the European version of Honda Accord;
- brake pedal;
- clutch master cylinder with gasket, reservoir and fasteners for the European version of Honda Accord;
- the route is flexible, barrel-GCS;
- working Clutch Cylinder (usually comes with the box);
- Manual transmission for Honda Accord engine without blocking;
- clutch route;
- isthmus with fasteners;
- Honda Accord differential lock;
- Honda Accord engine flywheel;
- Honda clutch kit;
- manual transmission shifter;
- gear knob;
- axle shafts Original Honda Accord will not fit;
- electronic control unit for manual transmission.
Electrically, the Honda will need to do some rewiring.
How much will a replacement cost?
Are you still here? Want to read to the end? Probably, you’re not in a hurry to go and replace the automatic gearbox yourself?
If you decide to put your car in the hands of an experienced mechanic, then in this block I will tell you how much it costs to change an automatic transmission to a manual transmission in service centers.
Read
Automatic transmission diagnostics and repair
I have already written about the workhorses of the German company Volkswagen. At the service center you will pay $700 for the labor and $500 for a used mechanic. This is for modification B5. And for a Volkswagen Passat, changing the automatic transmission will cost 200 and 400 dollars, respectively.
For a Ford Focus or Mazda 3, this price tag will rise to $800 and 600 for the gearbox.
Therefore, draw conclusions and decide: to change or not to change.
Audi A6, C4 and C5
To switch from automatic transmission to manual transmission you will need for Audi A6, C4 and C5:
For the Audi A6 you will need to switch from automatic transmission to manual transmission
Manual transmission for Audi A6, C4 and C5 DHW;
- release bearing;
- axle shafts and CV joints (they are cast);
- steering knuckles;
- backstage;
- transmission oil;
- flywheel basket and disc, suitable for 80 models.
- For normal operation, you will also need to reflash the AAN computer.
