What are contract automatic transmissions?
The gearbox is an important component of a modern car. Repairs or replacements due to technical difficulties are quite expensive. Automatic transmissions, which are almost impossible to restore, are gaining more and more popularity. The options for the car owner in case of a breakdown are the purchase of a new or contract unit – a gearbox, which is delivered from abroad to the territory of the Russian Federation. Such an automatic transmission:
- It is not disassembled or repaired before sale.
- It is implemented "as is", in some cases with a short warranty (1-2 months).
- It costs much (at times) cheaper than a new or refurbished one.
It is impossible to predict the actual wear life of such a unit. It is selected according to the model and year of manufacture of the car. There is a possibility of buying a unit that is not suitable for mounting or docking nodes. But in some cases, for example, dismantling an almost new car that is not suitable for recovery after an accident will be a pleasant surprise (such cases are not uncommon).
Selection criteria
In order to avoid problems when installing the purchased contract box, several technical factors must be taken into account at once. The main and most important ones are:
- To pay attention to the rating and check the seller and the reputation of the company, it is best to use online advertising resources, the administration of which conducts such a check without fail.
- Take into account the features of the car model, find out about the presence of modifications or structural improvements — a mismatch in fasteners, electronic firmware or electronics can make the unit useless.
- Require documents on the mileage and origin of the unit – the information is indicated during customs clearance of units legally imported into the country.
- Perform computer diagnostics of the automatic transmission before installation – this will allow you to fully check the operation of the solenoids, the pressure in the system and the presence of errors.
The differences are in the firmware of the control unit, the type of hydraulic unit, and gear ratios. But all this can be found out during the technical inspection at the stand after the purchase. The warranty provided by the seller will significantly reduce the risks of acquiring a "dead" unit. In this case, you should not rush to put the box on the car, it is better to check its condition at a specialized service center.