Transmission Repair: 5 Tips to Prevent Problems!
To ensure that your car or truck remains in peak operating performance and prevent a costly transmission repair, be sure to take care of the smallest details of vehicle maintenance, including regular transmission service.
If you need to hold onto your current vehicle a little longer than planned, it will eventually require some form of transmission service. By understanding the "why" of regular transmission service, you can avoid premature transmission repair and keep your engine and transmission in good condition:
Common causes of transmission failure:
- Overheating – Overheating is the most common cause of failure. Towing heavy loads, rocking the vehicle back and forth when stuck, stop-and-go driving, extremely hot weather, or racing, can cause overheating. As the transmission fluid overheats, it will oxidize, lose its lubricating qualities, leave deposits, become dark and dirty looking, and have a burnt smell. The continued exposure to heat can cause rubber seals to become hard and brittle and the metal parts to warp.
- Design flaws, inferior parts, poor repair, and maintenance – Other common causes of failure are that some transmissions are just better built than others; newer units seem to function better than their counterparts of years ago; a transmission repair is just not performed properly, and the wrong kind of transmission fluid is used.
5 Tips to Prevent Transmission Problems:
- Fix leaks - Regularly check your parking space for leaks. If you see any fluid under your car, be sure to get the leak fixed before the lack of oil or fluid can cause a more expensive repair.
- Proper fluid level - check your owner's manual for instructions on how to check the fluid level. If the level is too low, schedule a transmission service to make sure it is filled to the correct level.
- Transmission Flush – Follow the schedule in your owner's manual to change the fluid, or when it becomes dark or dirty. Use only the type specified.
- Proper shifting - Wait until the car comes to a complete stop before shifting to Reverse or Park, never at high RPMs.
- Proper Towing - Check your owner's manual for the proper way to tow your vehicle. If towing a heavy trailer, consider installing an additional cooler and have the transmission fluid changed more often.
Looking for expert transmission repair? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today for more information about the transmission service and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.
To ensure that your car or truck remains in peak operating performance and prevent a costly transmission repair, be sure to take care of the smallest details of vehicle maintenance, including regular transmission service.
If you need to hold onto your current vehicle a little longer than planned, it will eventually require some form of transmission service. By understanding the "why" of regular transmission service, you can avoid premature transmission repair and keep your engine and transmission in good condition:
Common causes of transmission failure:
- Overheating – Overheating is the most common cause of failure. Towing heavy loads, rocking the vehicle back and forth when stuck, stop-and-go driving, extremely hot weather, or racing, can cause overheating. As the transmission fluid overheats, it will oxidize, lose its lubricating qualities, leave deposits, become dark and dirty looking, and have a burnt smell. The continued exposure to heat can cause rubber seals to become hard and brittle and the metal parts to warp.
- Design flaws, inferior parts, poor repair, and maintenance – Other common causes of failure are that some transmissions are just better built than others; newer units seem to function better than their counterparts of years ago; a transmission repair is just not performed properly, and the wrong kind of transmission fluid is used.
5 Tips to Prevent Transmission Problems:
- Fix leaks - Regularly check your parking space for leaks. If you see any fluid under your car, be sure to get the leak fixed before the lack of oil or fluid can cause a more expensive repair.
- Proper fluid level - check your owner's manual for instructions on how to check the fluid level. If the level is too low, schedule a transmission service to make sure it is filled to the correct level.
- Transmission Flush – Follow the schedule in your owner's manual to change the fluid, or when it becomes dark or dirty. Use only the type specified.
- Proper shifting - Wait until the car comes to a complete stop before shifting to Reverse or Park, never at high RPMs.
- Proper Towing - Check your owner's manual for the proper way to tow your vehicle. If towing a heavy trailer, consider installing an additional cooler and have the transmission fluid changed more often.
Looking for expert transmission repair? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair today for more information about the transmission service and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.
