Summertime Auto Transmission Service and Repair

It is hard to believe that summer is more than half over. So many of us are scheduling last minute summer road trips before autumn sets in. It is a good idea to make sure that your vehicle is safe and ready to tow that trailer, boat, or ATV. Take a minute to schedule an auto transmission service and have a technician check the transmission fluid, transmission filter, and address any slipping gears before you take that trip. A little preemptive transmission maintenance now, may save you a costly transmission repair later, when you are far from home.

Transmission Service

Read your owner’s manual and be sure to follow the suggested maintenance schedule. Scheduling regular auto transmission service, along with the manufacturer recommended transmission fluid and filter replacement, is important to keep your transmission running smoothly. A Transmission Service should include checking the level and quality of the transmission fluid, a filter inspection and an overall visual inspection of all the transmission components. 

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid is a key element to the performance of your vehicle. It helps keep the transmission components cool, make shifting gears easier, and provides important lubrication for all the transmission system components. It should be checked frequently and changed when necessary.

Transmission Filter

The transmission fluid filter makes sure that contaminants don’t get inside the system via the transmission fluid, causing damage or excessive wear to the transmission components. This filter does not last forever and needs to be inspected on a regular basis. How long they last depends on many factors, including your overall driving style, how often you pull heavy loads, and hilly terrain. A clogged filter can lead to a bunch of performance issues with your vehicle’s transmission.

Transmission Service & Repair

Maintaining regular maintenance on your vehicle’s transmission reduces the need for frequent repairs. But even the most pampered vehicles still require periodic repairs for worn components, broken parts and clogged filters. Below are some common signs that you need to schedule a Transmission Service or Transmission Repair:

Slipping Gears

Have you noticed that you can actually hear when your car shifts gears (and I’m not talking about RPMs)? Is there a grinding, scraping, or clunking sound as the gears shift? The issue can be low or old transmission fluid, a clogged transmission fluid filter, or even an issue with the clutch or synchronizers (for manual transmissions).

Worn Out Gears

If you have a vehicle with a lot of miles on it and the original transmission, the gears may have worn out with use. This happens even when you have done all the routine maintenance on the transmission. If your gears are worn down too much, they won’t mesh together correctly anymore, which creates slippage. Components like gears can only operate for so long, with constant wear every time they shift, before they need to be replaced.

Worn or Broken Transmission Bands

Transmission bands connect the different gears in your transmission system to each other. Over time and use, these bands can wear out, fray, and break. If this happens, your transmission can slip. The bands need to be checked and replaced when necessary.

Burnt Transmission Fluid

Aggressive driving, pulling heavy loads, and driving up/down steep roadways can all take a toll on your transmission fluid. As heat builds up in the transmission, the fluid flows through the components taking the heat with it. But prolonged heat build-up can literally burn the transmission fluid, making it less effective. Once the fluid becomes burnt, it needs to be flushed and replaced with new transmission fluid.

Faulty Torque Converter

The torque converter is what transforms rotating power from the engine into something your transmission can use. They are a fluid coupling that works with transmission fluid, so low transmission fluid levels could cause damage to it. Once the torque converter is damaged, your transmission may slip.

Check Engine Light

The Check Engine Light can indicate a bunch of different issues, including issues with your vehicle’s transmission components. The best way to figure out what is causing the Check Engine Light to come on, is to bring it in for a code diagnostic check. Some possible triggers for the light are:

• Overheating Transmission
• Solenoid Issues
• Faulty Speed Sensors
• Slipping Gears
• Clutch Issues with Manual Transmissions

Quality Transmission Service & Repair

To keep your vehicle on the road and running smoothly, give it the pampering it deserves. Read your owner’s manual, follow the recommended maintenance schedules, and always have it serviced regularly by the skilled and experienced mechanics at All A’s Automotive & Transmission Repair.

Schedule A Service

Let our qualified technicians help you with all your transmission needs. Call us at (989) 631-4672 or visit us online to schedule your service appointment today!