Transmission repair or replacement is second only to engine work in terms of expense, so the option you choose will depend on multiple factors. Transmission problems will only get worse, and more expensive, if transmission services are not performed, so you should take your car to a transmission shop when the first signs of trouble appear.
What are the signs of transmission problems?
The most obvious sign of a transmission issue is the hesitation or failure of your auto to change gears as your speed increases or decreases. This is known as a transmission slip.
Manual transmission vehicles require the driver to disengage the transmission with the clutch pedal, then re-engage it in a higher or lower gear. Drivers who are inexperienced with a manual transmission may cause it to slip if they don't shift gears properly. Although this hesitation or failure of the transmission to engage is driver-oriented, it may cause damage to the clutch or transmission if it is repeated often enough.
Automatic transmissions change gears on their own as speed increases or decreases. Automatic transmission problems are apparent when you press on the accelerator and the vehicle hesitates before jumping forward, even though the engine is not sputtering or faltering.
You can also check your transmission fluid for signs of transmission problems, if the option is available on your vehicle. Your manufacturer's handbook can be used to locate the dipstick if it is available on your vehicle. Most older vehicles have this option, but some newer vehicles either provide an indicator on the side of the transmission, which is difficult for a driver to access, or no indicator at all.
Check your transmission fluid on level ground while your car is running. The fluid level should be within the filled and low lines on the dipstick, and should be pinkish in color. If the fluid is low or brownish in color, you should take your vehicle to a transmission shop as soon as possible.
Transmissions don't use or lose fluids under normal operation, and fluid that has turned brown is an indication that the fluid has become contaminated.
What are your options for transmission services?
If your vehicle is operating normally, but is older with higher mileage, you can opt for a transmission flush. This is a preventative measure in which the old fluid is replaced, and your transmission is inspected and adjusted as needed.
Many manual transmission problems can be solved by replacing the clutch. It is often damaged by drivers who "ride the clutch", keeping one foot on the clutch while using the other foot for accelerating and braking.
If you need to replace the transmission in an older vehicle, you may opt to have your transmission rebuilt or have a rebuilt transmission installed. This service usually provides a limited warranty, and is less expensive than a new transmission.
In a newer vehicle than you intend to keep for an extended period, a new transmission may be your best bet. Although it is the most expensive option, the warranty is the same as that of a new vehicle purchase.
Many new vehicles provide a long term power train warranty, which includes the transmission. You should check to determine if you are eligible for transmission repair at no cost or at a prorated rate, which decreases in value as the vehicle ages, if you still within the stated warranty period.
For more information, contact companies like Pro Transmission.
Share12 May 2015
When is the last time you had your brakes checked? Are you waiting until you hear the brake pads grinding into the rotors before you do anything to replace them? Does your car pull to one side when you press on the brakes? Do you feel a shimmying in your steering wheel and brake pedal as you press the pedal to stop? If you have any of these issues, it is time for you to learn how to care for the brakes on your car effectively. Taking preventative measures and getting repair work done before serious problems arise will save you money over the years.
