Questions and Answers

Mazda 626 Needs A New Transmission Q. Dear Mr. Ciulla, I have a 1994 Mazda 626, automatic transmission with 64,324 miles. The HOLD button on the dashboard was flashing on and off. I took it to a Mazda dealer and was told that the transmission would need to be replaced. However, for a new transmission they will be charging me $2,800.00 I took a loan for $2,900.00 for the car and still owe on it.

I don't want to spend this much more on the car being that I still owe on the car and can not afford to pay to get it repaired at the moment. I was thinking of selling its parts to just pay off the loan. I do have an older car to drive in the mean time.

Is it worth replacing the transmission or could I just sell it parts? If I do sell the parts where should I begin. I don't want to get in debt since I am still going to school and am paying my college tuition which is why I'm suggesting to pay off the loan of the car by selling its parts. Please help.

There's a web site "ASAP Motors and Parts Systems Inc." selling an automatic transmission for my car for $895.00. I don’t know have reliable they are. Do you know anything about them?

Thanks,
Barbara

A. I have never dealt with them so I have no first hand knowledge of how good or bad they are. I do know that this is a common transmission and you should be able to find a good used transmission fairly easily. There are junk yards that have nothing but Japanese cars and would be the best bet for finding a transmission for your car.

I would get the phone book and make a few calls. Keep in mind the less miles on the transmission, the more it will cost. good used transmission will run about 750.00 to $1,000.00. But keep in mind, also, you will not have to pay shipping which can run as high as $300.00.