Transmission problems can dramatically affect the drivability of your vehicle. When your car starts to experience severe transmission problems , it may start to slip out of gear or produce strange sound and aromas while you drive. With help from a transmission specialist near Bethesda, you can prevent the need for a transmission replacement for as long as possible. Your transmission mechanic can fix problems as they occur, and can also provide you with preventative maintenance services for your transmission. Read on for a look at some mistakes that you should avoid if you want to extend the life of your transmission.

Neglecting to Check Your Transmission Fluid

A common transmission maintenance mistake for many drivers is to neglect regular transmission fluid inspections. Transmission fluid, much like motor oil, is important for cooling, lubricating, and cleaning the various components that are located within your car’s transmission. Every month, you can use the transmission dipstick to make sure that your transmission fluid is at the proper level, and is not getting too dirty.

Forgetting Transmission Maintenance Appointments

Your transmission needs the same level of care and maintenance as the other components in your vehicle. In order to ensure that your transmission has the longest lifespan possible, you will need to have it serviced around every 30,000 miles. During your 30,000-mile service appointment, your mechanic will replace your transmission fluid and filter, inspect your vehicle’s transmission components, and check to make sure that your computer is not sending out any transmission trouble codes.

Driving Under Strenuous Conditions

If you want to go above and beyond to make sure that your transmission has the longest possible life, it is important to evaluate your typical driving conditions. Driving over very hilly terrain, hauling heavy loads, or sitting in stop and go traffic can all cause your transmission to wear out prematurely. By changing your driving habits, you may be able to help your transmission to last for even more miles down the road.

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.

When your vehicle starts to experience transmission problems, your solenoids could be to blame. Transmission solenoids are the part of your transmission that manages the changing of gears. These computerized components can cause serious transmission problems if they are not properly maintained. A transmission specialist that offers car transmission repair in Bethesda will be able to test out the functionality of your solenoids and determine whether they need to be rebuilt. Here is an overview of what all car owners need to know about their solenoids.

How Solenoids Work

While you drive, the computer in your car’s engine is continually monitoring your vehicle’s speed and power. When the computer senses that the car needs to shift up or down in gear, it will send a message to the solenoid. After the solenoid gets the computerized signal, it will deliver hydraulic fluid to the transmission gear set. Depending on the amount of fluid and the level of pressure in the hydraulic line, the transmission will either shift up or down.

Signs of Solenoid Problems

There are a few common signs that could indicate that your solenoids are having problems. When your car starts to shift erratically, your solenoids could be having trouble delivering the correct amount of hydraulic fluid. A transmission that is unable to downshift may also be suffering from broken solenoids. In order to determine whether your solenoid problem is electronic or mechanical, your auto technician will need to connect your transmission to a computerized diagnostic system.

Protecting Your Solenoids from Damage

A minor amount of wear and tear is normal for any set of solenoids. However, your solenoids should last for tens if not hundreds of thousands of miles before they need to be replaced. In order to protect your solenoids from damage and wear, you will want to change your transmission fluid at regular intervals. Fresh transmission fluid will flush dirt and debris out of the solenoids, which will help them to remain in proper operating condition for longer.

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.

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.

In order to prevent transmission problems in your manual vehicle, it is a terrific idea to learn a bit about the basics of how manual transmissions work. In this video from Engineering Explained, you will learn the dos and don’ts of operating a manual transmission. To keep excess pressure away from your gear selector fork, you will want to take your hand off of the stick shift as soon as you are done shifting. A transmission shop in Silver Spring can provide you with more transmission maintenance tips.

When you drive a car that is equipped with a manual transmission, you will want to make sure that you operate the clutch and gear stick correctly. In this video from World Driving, you will receive some essential tips for changing gears in a manual vehicle. The ideal timing for gear changes will depend on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as your current driving conditions. Operating your manual transmission correctly can help you avoid the need for serious transmission repair near Silver Spring.

If you have started to notice transmission problems occurring in your manual transmission, it may be time to consider visiting a certified transmission mechanic . When you bring your car to a transmission specialist, you will be able to make sure that its clutch and gears are operating correctly.

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.

The mere mention of a transmission replacement may strike fear in the heart of any driver. However, when your transmission specialist recommends that you rebuild or replace your car’s current transmission, you will want to take this recommendation seriously and prioritize the repair. A transmission replacement from a certified transmission shop in Bethesda can correct many serious problems that may be affecting your car’s driving performance. To help highlight the benefits of visiting your transmission shop today, here is a closer look at what you need to know about replacing your transmission.

Transmission Rebuilds and Replacements Are Different Services

If your transmission is experiencing serious mechanical difficulties, your technician may recommend that you perform either a transmission rebuild or transmission replacement procedure. During a replacement, your car’s entire transmission will be replaced with a brand new unit. A rebuild, by contrast, uses repurposed parts to modify and improve your car’s current transmission system. If your transmission is severely damaged, you may be in need of a replacement, rather than a rebuild procedure.

Transmission Replacements Should Be Performed by the Experts

In order to ensure that your transmission replacement is properly accomplished, you will want to bring your vehicle to a dedicated transmission repair center. Technicians that have been certified in the art of transmission repair will have the tools and experience needed to properly replace your transmission. If you neglect to take your car to a transmission expert, you may not achieve your desired results.

Transmission Replacements Can Extend the Lifespan of Your Car

For drivers of high mileage vehicles, transmission replacements can be life saving services. When you choose to replace your transmission, you can keep your older car on the road for much longer. In fact, a transmission replacement may allow you to restore your older vehicle to peak operating condition. If you have decided that a transmission replacement is the right choice for your car, be sure to set up a consultation with a transmission repair specialist that works in your local area.

A slipping transmission is among the most common transmission problems that are faced by drivers of high mileage vehicles. When you start to notice that your engine revs unexpectedly or your transmission falls out of gear when your car is in motion, you may be dealing with a slipping transmission . Your transmission shop can help you solve your transmission issues in Rockville, and you can trust your transmission specialist to properly diagnose what has caused your transmission to slip. Read on for an overview of the most common causes of a slipping transmission.

Low Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid provides hydraulic power to the various moving components of your car’s transmission. If your transmission fluid gets too low, your transmission may start to slip or fall out of gear. To address transmission slipping issues that are caused by low fluid levels, you can have your transmission mechanic perform a fluid flush on your car’s transmission. A transmission fluid leak will also need to be addressed before your car is ready to head back out on the road.

Worn Out Transmission Bands

Worn out transmission bands can also cause your transmission to slip. The transmission bands are designed to hold the gears in place as they shift and move. Over time, these flexible bands may get stretched out and worn. If your slipping transmission is accompanied by squealing belt noises, you may be in need of a transmission band replacement. A transmission repair technician will be able to identify and replace the worn out bands in your system.

Malfunctioning Gears

A slipping transmission may also be caused by issues in the transmission’s gears, themselves. Over time, the teeth in your transmission’s gears may start to wear down as a result of excess friction and heat. Without properly functioning gears, your transmission will have trouble remaining in the gear that you have selected. In the event that your transmission repair technician discovers that your gears are completely worn out, you may be in need of a full transmission rebuild.