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The Basics of Automatic Transmission Fluid
Transmission problems in Silver Spring, MD aren’t always the fault of the transmission itself—sometimes they’re the result of a problem with your transmission fluid. You should change transmission fluid on a regular basis, but how often that is depends on what your owner’s manual suggests. Watch this video to learn about the basics of automatic transmission fluid.
Automatic transmission fluid is responsible for lubricating the transmission, but sometimes it also activates the clutch. You always want to have a certain level of fluid, or your transmission could overheat. Your automatic transmission fluid should also be in good condition. You can tell yours is old or contaminated if it takes on a darker color. Transmission fluid is typically a bright red, but some types are colorless. Read your owner’s manual to find out how frequently you should check your transmission fluid, and see your mechanic if yours smells burnt.
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Avoid These Driver Mistakes That Can Damage Your Vehicle
If you’re like most people, you want your vehicle to last as long as possible. Even if you move onto another car or truck, it’s easier to sell your current vehicle if it’s in good shape. Too many drivers make needless mistakes that cause transmission problems in Rockville, MD that could have been avoided. Driving recklessly, leaving your fluids for too long, and forgetting to take care of repairs can quickly lead to transmission issues. Here is a look at some driver mistakes that can damage your vehicle.
Driving Recklessly
You’ve always been taught to keep an eye out for potentially dangerous drivers on the road, but it’s just as important not to become the reckless driver you were warned about. Some people drive recklessly without even realizing it, so you should be cognizant that you’re obeying the rules of the road and not putting yourself or anyone else in danger. Driving recklessly increases your risk of damaging your own car, other cars, and even public or private property. It won’t do your vehicle any favors, and it might lead to transmission problems. Move with the flow of traffic and never drive while distracted or under the influence.
Failing to Check Fluids
When you run out of gas on the highway, your car will break down and you’ll have to pull over. Gasoline isn’t the only fluid that you need to keep track of. You also need to check and change the fluids in your engine and transmission. It’s easy to change transmission fluid, but many people forget to do it on a regular basis. Your owner’s manual will tell you how frequently to check your fluid. A dark color means that your fluid is old and dirty and should be changed to avoid transmission problems.
Letting Problems Slide
Your vehicle might be trusty, but you need to give it some help if you want it to stay reliable. If a lack of fluid has caused problems in your transmission, talk to your mechanic to see what needs to be repaired. Don’t wait to fix transmission issues, because they’ll only get worse while you do.
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Are You Killing Your Car?
Your car provides you with safe and reliable transportation for all of your daily errands. However, without routine maintenance and correct driving habits, your car could slowly start to lose its efficiency. To avoid transmission problems and other severe mechanical issues, bring your car to a transmission specialist that works in Rockville. By providing your vehicle with regular transmission repair , you can avoid a serious transmission problem that could ultimately make your vehicle unable to drive. Let’s take a look at three habits that could be slowly killing your car.
Neglecting Your Check Engine Light
All modern cars are equipped with computerized sensor systems, which send out trouble codes as soon as mechanical or electronic issues are detected. When your car’s computer sends out a trouble code, your check engine light will be illuminated. If you neglect to bring your car in to the mechanic after your check engine light has turned on, you could run the risk of causing serious damage to the internal parts of your vehicle.
Forgetting to Change Your Fluids
Many of the different systems in your vehicle rely on fluids for their operation. If you forget to change your engine oil, transmission fluid, or brake fluid, you are running the risk of causing catastrophic damage to your car. While certain types of fluids, such as motor oil, need to be changed every few months, other fluids, like transmission fluid, should be flushed and replenished about every 100,000 miles.
Failing to Follow Your Car’s Service Schedule
When you purchase a brand new car, your dealer will provide with tips and information about when to schedule key service appointments for your vehicle. Information about key service milestones may also be found in your car’s owner’s manual. If you fail to follow the service schedule that is required for your car, you may be slowly destroying its performance, efficiency, and overall safety. Following the recommended service milestones is a great way to keep your car running for as long as possible.
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What Brown Fluid Means for Your Transmission
Transmission problems in Bethesda, MD should be taken seriously, as they can quickly lead to many other problems and even shut your car down. If you are having transmission issues, don’t wait to see your mechanic to have them sorted out. Your transmission needs fluid to operate properly, but the fluid also needs to be of a certain quality. Having low or contaminated transmission fluid can also lead to a host of complications, so you should keep up with your fluid changes and keep your vehicle in top shape. Read on to find out what brown fluid means for your transmission.
You need to change your transmission fluid regularly. Clean transmission fluid is a bright red color, so keep that in mind when you look at yours. If your transmission fluid is brown, you might be overdue for a change. Old transmission fluid isn’t as efficient, and it can cause problems with your transmission as a whole. If you have recently changed your transmission fluid but you find that it’s brown, you might have a real transmission problem. In this case you should contact our transmission specialist as soon as you can to get to the bottom of the issue.
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Automatic Transmission Vehicles: What Not to Do
By learning about the different parts of your automatic transmission, you can avoid some common transmission problems. In this video from Engineering Explained, you will receive some advice on what not to do when you are driving an automatic transmission vehicle. For example, when you are driving down a hill, you should avoid shifting your car into neutral. A transmission shop in Silver Spring can provide you with more essential transmission care tips.
If you have started to notice a transmission problem in your vehicle, do not hesitate to make an appointment at your transmission repair shop . A team of transmission rebuild specialists can help you make sure that your transmission is running smoothly, and they can also help you avoid accidentally damaging your transmission while you drive.
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The Role of Your Vehicle’s Transmission Temp Gauge
If you want to prevent transmission problems during the summer months, you may want to ask your transmission shop about the benefits of installing a transmission temp gauge. By taking the time to place a transmission temp gauge in your vehicle, you will be able to identify when your transmission starts to overheat. A transmission shop in Bethesda can help you pick put a transmission temp gauge that is tailored to your typical driving conditions.
There are a few specific types of vehicles that may require transmission temp gauges in order to prevent transmission issues. Drivers of commercial diesel trucks can use transmission temp gauges in order to make sure that the heavy loads that they haul are not putting excess strain on their transmissions. Any car that is equipped with an automatic transmission could also benefit from a transmission temp gauge installation. Your mechanic can determine whether a transmission temp gauge will be a good fit for your transmission system.
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Reasons Why You Might Need Automatic Transmission Repair
While you may not bring your car in to the transmission shop as often as you bring it to your general mechanic, there will typically come a time when your transmission needs attention from a trained professional. A transmission specialist near Rockville will be able to get your transmission up and running again in no time. Whether you have a slipping transmission , or are in need of a simple fluid flush, your transmission mechanic will be there to help you. Read on for an overview of three reasons why you may find yourself needing automatic transmission repair.
Poor Responsiveness
A transmission that is functioning properly should get your car into gear, without hesitation, clunking, or lagging. If you are getting the sense that your transmission has poor responsiveness when you step on the gas pedal, you will want to schedule a repair appointment. With proper transmission repair, you can return your transmission to peak responsiveness and efficiency.
Strange Clunks or Whines
Ideally, you want your transmission to remain nearly silent as it moves between different gear ratios. After you start to hear your transmission make unmistakable clanks or whining sounds, you could be facing a major transmission repair problem. In order to help pinpoint the issue, your transmission mechanic will typically ask you to describe the sounds as accurately as possible. While some clunks and bangs come from the transmission, others may originate in your car’s suspension system.
Leaking Fluid
Leaking transmission fluid is a serious concern for every car owner. You will be able to identify leaking transmission fluid through its bright red color. A red pool of leaking fluid may show up underneath where you typically park your car. By taking the time to address your transmission fluid leak as soon as it becomes an issue, you can avoid serious and irreversible damage to your transmission’s many delicate components. Rather than bringing your car in to your regular mechanic for transmission repair, it is a better idea to schedule services at a specialty shop.
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Is It Time to Change Your Transmission Fluid?
If you want to extend the lifespan of your vehicle and avoid major transmission problems, it is important to change your transmission fluid at regular intervals. Rather than attempting to change your transmission fluid at home, you should bring your vehicle in to a transmission shop for this important service. A transmission specialist near Rockville will know precisely what type of transmission fluid to use in your vehicle, and he can also help you set up a transmission fluid change service schedule.
The frequency of your transmission fluid changes will depend on what type of vehicle you drive. A manual vehicle typically needs fresh transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Automatic transmissions, by comparison, can typically last for up to 100,000 miles before they need a fluid flush. When you work closely with your transmission mechanic, it will be possible to design a maintenance and fluid change schedule that is tailored specifically to your vehicle.
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What to Do About a Jammed Clutch
If you are taking an older car out of storage, you will want to make sure that you are prepared to deal with any transmission problems that may be occurring in your vehicle. Sometimes, manual transmissions that have been left to sit for extended periods of time can develop jammed clutches. If your clutch is jammed, the clutch disk may have gotten stuck to the flywheel. To free the clutch, you can place the transmission in neutral and push the vehicle to start. When attempting to fix the problem on your own does not remedy the issue, you may need to bring your car to a transmission shop near Rockville.
The transmission experts at your auto transmission repair shop will have the equipment that is needed to safely fix a jammed clutch. Using special diagnostic tools, your mechanic will be able to determine what has caused your clutch to become stuck. With professional transmission repair, you can get your classic car back out on the road in no time.
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Identifying Transmission Problems
Transmission problems can put a halt to your car’s ability to drive. In this video, you will learn some essential tips for diagnosing a transmission problem in your vehicle. Due to the intricate nature of today’s transmissions, it is important to bring your car to a transmission specialist when it is in need of repairs. Your transmission repair shop in Silver Spring will have the diagnostic equipment that is needed to pinpoint any transmission problems with your vehicle.
Overall, bringing your car to a transmission specialist will save you time and money on the cost of repairs. By locating the issue at its source, your transmission expert will be able to recommend the best possible repair solution for your vehicle.