Aamco East Hartford, CT

133 Pitkin Street,
East Hartford, CT 06108

(860)-263-1084

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Aamco Orange, CT

150 Boston Post Road,
Orange, CT 06477

(203)-937-2157

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Aamco Manchester CT

697 Parker Street,
Manchester, CT 06042

(860)-474-3036

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CVT Transmission Repair

High Quality CVT Transmission Services


A CVT is an automatic transmission that changes seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios. At AAMCO, we specialize in all manufacturers and makes of CVTs.

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CVT Transmission Repair Services


Proprietary Diagnostic Check

Price Range: No Charge

How Long? 1 hour

Our Proprietary Diagnostic Check includes a road test, a lift check, a comprehensive review of your transmission and computer system.

Fluid Change

Price Range: $49 to $149

How Long? 1 hour

We recommend replacing your CVT transmission fluid every 60,000-100,000 miles to prolong the life of your transmission. In addition to changing the fluid, a technician will also replace the screen and clean the pan gasket or pan sealing material, if so equipped.

Reseal Service

Price Range: from $850

How Long? 1-2 days

This service includes removal of your transmission and replacement of all external seals.

Replacement Service

Price Range: from $2,500

How Long? 2-3 days

An AAMCO technician will replace your existing transmission with a remanufactured transmission and test it thoroughly, backed by our nationwide warranty.

Symptoms of a CVT Transmission Problem


CVT transmissions can leak from many different seals, connections and places, some of which are very easy to fix, while others require more complex repairs. Leaks are probably one of the most common CVT transmission problems that lead to major internal transmission issues. Most transmission leaks occur due to a leaking pan gasket, worn axle or driveshaft seal, or a leaking transmission cooler, cooling line or O-ring. These leaks will ultimately cause low, burnt fluid, overheating and major damage that cannot be repaired by just adding fluid back into the transmission.

If you spot a leak in your transmission, look to see if you can spot where it is coming from. Repairing a cooling line or a pan gasket can be a quick somewhat inexpensive solution if caught quickly. An axle seal, a shaft seal or a converter seal is a bit more work, but if you catch the leak soon enough before internal damage can occur, you’ve probably saved yourself a bunch of money for a replacement or rebuilt transmission.

Do you feel bucking or shaking while driving at high speeds? There can be a couple of reasons for that, the first being poor engine performance and the second due to a malfunction in the CVT transmission system of the vehicle. The CVT Transmission is equipped with pulleys and a steel belt or chain which has a high wear rate due primarily to lack of maintenance or the incorrect fluid. As the belt and pulleys wear, you can feel the effects of this when driving.

A common sign of a CVT transmission malfunction is a noticeable hesitation of the CVT transmission to engage into gear when you put the gear shifter in “D” or “R.” Low or incorrect transmission fluid, a worn push belt or chain and pulleys, a failing clutch pack or internal transmission seal and worn valve body components can all cause the delay in engagement.

A burning smell can come from many things in a vehicle, one of which is the transmission fluid leaking onto hot items such as the exhaust system. This can be a serious problem not only for the transmission, but it can also cause a fire, so it should be addressed immediately.

‘Transmission slip’ is when the engine is revving fast but power from the transmission is not being transferred to the wheels. Incorrect transmission fluid, CVT Belt and Pulley wear, pressure problems in the transmission, worn clutches, or a defective converter or transmission fluid pump can all cause this type of slippage. If your transmission seems to slip, seek out a professional at AAMCO to look at it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions


Standard automatic transmissions have a certain number of gear ratios that are referred to as “speeds.” This is what people are referring to when they say that a car has a “5-speed automatic” transmission. Each gear is designed only for a certain vehicle speed, so as you accelerate and decelerate the transmission needs to shift from gear to gear. A CVT (continuously variable transmission) is an automatic transmission that seamless moves through a range of ratios without actually shifting gears, so you never feel or hear it shifting. This type of transmission was designed to reduce emissions, increase fuel economy and widen the window of torque and power where the engine runs most efficiently.

Well-known brands such as Ford, Chrysler, GM, Toyota, MINI. Honda, Nissan, Subaru have used or are using version of CVT transmissions for many years, primarily in their small compact cars. While CVTs seem to work well in small cars, they tend to struggle a bit in high performance or heavier vehicles.

Regular and proper maintenance is important to extend the life of a CVT transmission, and a well maintained CVT transmission can last more than 100,000 miles. Some brands do better than others in terms of reliability, but the construction of these transmission do have some inherent tendencies to be fragile and do not tolerate abuse.

The mechanical structure of CVT has a steel chain or belt that is the main structure for transferring power from the engine to the vehicle. This belt or chain rides on steel pulleys that are extremely dependent on clean, proper lubricant and moderate driving styles. If this belt or chain wears or breaks, the transmission will stop functioning completely. When this happens, it spreads metal throughout the transmission and becomes very expensive to rebuild. AAMCO Specializes in CVT transmissions and other complex services, and can provide many options to get CVT equipped vehicles back on the road as inexpensively as possible.

  • Change the fluid more often than specified.
  • Use OEM specified transmission fluid only. These transmissions are very sensitive to the proper fluid, so do not substitute.
  • Make sure the engine is maintained and running properly. An ill running engine can do damage to any transmission, but CVTs can be especially finicky.
  • Drive sensibly. CVT transmissions do not tolerate sudden acceleration or rocking the vehicle between reverse and forward. Let the transmission engage before applying power.

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