You have to take care of your clutch, or you’re going to have transmission problems in Silver Spring, MD before you know it. See your transmission repair service whenever it looks like a problem might be springing up, and don’t put your clutch under more pressure than you need to. Learn how to shift properly, don’t tow more than your vehicle can handle, and never use your clutch to stop when you’re driving on a hill. If you know you have some bad habits to break and you want to protect your car’s clutch, keep reading.

Bad Shifting

The main difference between a manual and automatic transmission that a driver will notice is the way the vehicle handles. With a manual transmission, you’ll have to shift from gear to gear yourself. If you don’t know how to shift gears properly, you’ll end up with transmission problems. Many drivers fail to wait until the clutch is fully disengaged before they shift to a different gear. Even letting off of your clutch before you’re completely in gear can quickly damage your clutch, as this can cause everything from premature warping of the dampener springs to warping of the disc. Be careful when you shift, and make sure to do it fully to protect your clutch.

Towing and Burnouts

If you picked out a heavy-duty truck specifically because you want to tow your ATVs or dirt bikes to the course every weekend, make sure you have the towing capacity you need for the job. Don’t attempt to tow more than your vehicle is capable of, or you’ll quickly burn out your clutch. Speaking of burnouts, peeling out from a stoplight will also wreak havoc on your clutch. Avoid these two problems to keep yours in shape.

Clutching on a Hill

Using your clutch in place of the brake is typically not a good idea, and if you’re on a hill, it’s even worse. Instead of relying on your clutch, use your emergency brake when you’re stopped on a hill to prevent rollback so you don’t roll or blow out your clutch.

Could your car be having transmission problems ? The signs of a transmission issue are not always as clear as other kinds of car problems you may have. One way to determine if your transmission needs attention is to let your nose be your guide. Certain smells can indicate that your car needs to be evaluated in a transmission repair shop in Rockville, MD.

Transmission fluid can have a sweet smell when it leaks out of your car. If you notice a maple smell as your approach your vehicle, leaked transmission fluid may be the cause. On the other hand, if your transmission fluid is not leaking but rather overheating, you may experience a burning smell. The smell may occur while you are driving, or you may notice it outside of your car after you turn it off. Both of these issues indicate that a transmission specialist should check out your car to see if you need any repairs.

As with most parts of your car, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to the transmission. One of the most basic things you can do to avoid transmission problems is to have the transmission fluid changed as recommended in your car’s owner’s manual. Because transmissions are one of the most complex parts of your car, only a transmission repair shop should change your fluid. Here are the answers to some FAQs you may have about avoiding transmission problems in Bethesda, MD by changing your transmission fluid.

What exactly is transmission fluid?

Transmission fluid plays multiple parts in the functioning of your transmission. It lubricates all of the parts of the system, works as a coolant to prevent your transmission from overheating, and helps to get power created by your engine to your transmission. Although transmission fluids all do the same thing, the kind of fluid your transmission needs is specific to the model. Your owner’s manual will tell you what kind of fluid needs to be used in your car.

What are the consequences of not changing my transmission fluid?

Over time, transmission fluid will break down and not perform properly. The fluid levels can also run low. If you don’t change your transmission fluid, your car may not shift and may become overheated. Typically, you won’t know that there is a problem with your fluid until damage has been done, so getting it changed at regular intervals is the best way to prevent any problems.

How often should I have my transmission fluid changed?

The intervals at which transmission fluid should be changed vary between car makes and models. Your owner’s manual will tell you what is right for your car. Your transmission specialist can also tell you if you need more regular changings based on the age of your car or how often you drive. Keep in mind that it is important to let a trained transmission specialist do the work for you to prevent any issues.

Could your car be having transmission problems ? The signs of a transmission issue are not always as clear as other kinds of car problems you may have. One way to determine if your transmission needs attention is to let your nose be your guide. Certain smells can indicate that your car needs to be evaluated in a transmission repair shop in Rockville, MD.

Transmission fluid can have a sweet smell when it leaks out of your car. If you notice a maple smell as your approach your vehicle, leaked transmission fluid may be the cause. On the other hand, if your transmission fluid is not leaking but rather overheating, you may experience a burning smell. The smell may occur while you are driving, or you may notice it outside of your car after you turn it off. Both of these issues indicate that a transmission specialist should check out your car to see if you need any repairs.

Transmission problems in Silver Spring, MD don’t happen out of anywhere, and they often spring up due to certain driving habits. You can’t expect your transmission to last if you never go in for a tune up and you abuse your vehicle in the way you drive. If your vehicle overheats, you don’t change your fluids, or you drive erratically, you can’t expect your transmission to last for as long as it normally would. Read ahead and take a closer look at some of the top ways to destroy your transmission.

Overheating

It’s best to wait until your engine warms up before you get going on a cold winter morning, but too much heat is bad for your vehicle as well. You never want to work your vehicle so hard that it overheats, so think about the way you drive as well as how frequently you service your car or truck. If your transmission runs hot, take your vehicle to the transmission shop and find out what’s going wrong before it burns out.

Don’t Change Your Fluids

One reason we use transmission fluid is to cool down the transmission itself. Clean and fresh fluid helps you avoid transmission problems by lubricating the system and reducing the amount of friction and heat that it creates. By checking your transmission fluid on a regular basis and changing it when you need to, you can avoid a host of transmission problems in the future. Healthy transmission fluid is typically a bright red hue, and it will start to turn darker and brown when it ages or becomes contaminated. Check your transmission fluid and make sure you’re not running on old, dirty fluid if you want to make your transmission last.

Drive Erratically

Your driving style plays an important role in the longevity of your transmission’s life. If you’re the type of driver that races from light to light, you can’t expect your transmission to last as long as it should. Try to ease into your movements rather than accelerating or braking too much too quickly.

You need to swing by your transmission shop in Rockville, MD occasionally, or your whole vehicle will pay the price. Without regular manual or automatic transmission service, you’ll run into problems that can run you off the road. Your transmission needs clean fluid to run properly, and it needs the right amount. A bad clutch or problems with your torque converter can also set the stage for transmission disaster and end up wearing out other components of your car. Keep reading and explore the common causes of transmission failure.

Fluid Leaks

Every component of your vehicle needs to communicate and interact with other components. When it comes to the healthy functioning of your transmission, you need the proper fluids. You can take care of your vehicle and prevent transmission problems by making sure you have the right amount of transmission fluids and ensuring that the fluid is clean. Depending on the transmission fluid you use, it might be colorless or bright red. You can tell your fluid is dirty and in need of changing when it takes on a darker brown color. At this point it won’t do a good enough job of cooling down your transmission, which can lead to overheating and a multitude of other problems. Look out for patches of liquid on the surface of your driveway and call your transmission repair pro for help.

Bad Clutch

Your clutch is essentially what you use to control your transmission if you drive a manual vehicle. Unfortunately, the clutch can wear out over time and lead to transmission failure. “Riding the clutch” is somewhat synonymous with aggressive, erratic driving, which is a practice you should always avoid. If you’re worried that your clutch is starting to wear out, see your transmission service professional for a second opinion.

Torque Converter Issues

Without your torque converter, you’d be going nowhere fast. If you want to keep yours in shape, it’s especially important to avoid abusing it. This also comes back to the way you drive your vehicle, as abrupt starts and stops can cause your torque converter to overheat.

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.