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Exploring the Common Causes of Transmission Failure
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.
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Why Won’t My Car Shift Gears?
In many ways, your transmission is like the heart of your car. A transmission problem can cause a wealth of problems that affect your whole vehicle, which is why you should be in touch with your transmission shop in Bethesda, MD. If you find that it’s becoming more and more difficult to switch gears or keep your vehicle in a certain gear, then there’s a good chance you’re experiencing transmission problems. The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean that your transmission is fried, and you might just need to replace your fluid. See your mechanic if you’re still having problems, and continue reading for a closer look at why your car might not be shifting gears.
Struggling to shift into a different gear is a common symptom of a transmission problem. It’s your clutch’s job to disengage and reengage your transmission, but it can’t do that if it’s jammed. A jammed clutch will give you trouble when you try to switch gears, and it may also cause your vehicle to shake a significant amount. The transmission itself won’t work properly if it doesn’t have enough transmission fluid due to the lack of lubrication, so replace your fluid and see your mechanic.
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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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These Signs Mean Your Transmission Needs Repairs
A working transmission is vital for any vehicle. While you can expect your transmission to remain in good shape for thousands of miles down the road, there may come a time when you need to bring your car in to the transmission shop for service. By paying attention to the signs of transmission problems, you will know when you need to visit your transmission specialist in Silver Spring for a transmission tune up. Let’s review three sure signs that your transmission needs attention from a qualified mechanic.
Random Gear Changes
When an automatic transmission is functioning properly, it will move smoothly through its entire range of gears. A sign of transmission problems is when your transmission seems to randomly slip in and out of gear, especially when you are travelling at a steady speed. Your transmission repair professional will be able to adjust your transmission’s gears and fix any other repair problems that may be causing it to shift.
Thudding Sensations
If your transmission needs significant repairs, it may start to make a thudding sound as it shifts between gears. This sound is the result of your vehicle’s gears failing to engage smoothly or responsively. While these thudding sensations can be irritating, they may also be a sign of a significant repair problem in your vehicle. After you have had your vehicle serviced by a qualified transmission mechanic, your car should drive smoothly and soundlessly.
Failure to Engage
A properly functioning transmission will shift into gear right away after you move your stick shift from the park to the drive position. One sure indicator that your transmission is in need of repairs is when it fails to engage after you have shifted your vehicle out of park. If it takes a few seconds for your transmission to shift into gear, you may have a mechanical or electrical problem on your hands. With computer diagnostic technology, your transmission repair technician can easily identify what is going wrong with your transmission.
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Driving Habits That Can Destroy Your Transmission
When you first learn to drive, you will be taught driving habits that will help to keep transmission problems at bay. Over the course of many years of driving, however, it can become tempting to take shortcuts behind the wheel. When you bring your car in for transmission repair in Bethesda, your transmission specialist in Bethesda, MD can answer your questions about which driving techniques may be harming your transmission. To help you prevent transmission issues, read on to look at some driving habits that can destroy your transmission.
Neglecting the Parking Brake
While drivers of manual transmissions nearly always use their parking breaks, many drivers with automatic cars often neglect this essential device. When you engage your parking brake after parking your car, you will help to take pressure off of your vehicle’s output shaft. In the event that your car shifts slightly while it is parked, the parking brake will help to prevent the transmission from becoming seriously damaged.
Shifting Before Your Car Has Stopped
Your automatic transmission needs to come to a full stop before you move the shift selector from one of the drive functions into park. If you switch between reverse, park, and drive too quickly, you run the risk of grinding your gears and causing serious damage to your car’s transmission. To protect your transmission from harm, get in the habit of slowing down your shifts and waiting for your car to come to a complete stop, before you select a new drive mode.
Using Downshifting to Slow Your Vehicle
If you grew up driving manual transmission vehicles, you may have learned about the technique of downshifting to slow down on a hill. While downshifting can be a helpful technique when you drive a manual transmission vehicle, this practice might cause devastating damage to your automatic transmission. Rather than forcing your automatic transmission into a slower gear to reduce your speed of travel, you can safely slow down by gently tapping on the brakes.
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What Frequent Overheating Can Mean for Your Transmission
As your car accumulates more miles, it may start to experience transmission problems. Overheating is among the most common transmission problems that can be found in high mileage vehicles. When a transmission’s internal components start to wear out, they may grind together and produce significant amounts of heat. A shop that offers rebuilt transmissions in Rockville can help you determine what frequent overheating means for the lifespan of your transmission.
Frequent overheating often means that it is time to replace the transmission completely. Since overheating can cause a transmission’s components to break down more rapidly, it is a good idea to replace these worn out parts with brand new components. Many times, overheating can also be caused by low transmission fluid. Without the right amount of fluid flowing through its system, your transmission may be more susceptible to overheating. To avoid a roadside emergency, you will want to visit your transmission shop at the first sign of an overheating transmission.
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Essential Winter Car Care Tips
The winter season can be very hard on your car’s internal and external components. To help prevent transmission problems and other maintenance issues during the cold months of winter, it is a fantastic idea to schedule preventative seasonal services. A transmission shop in Silver Spring can identify and repair any transmission issues that could arise when outdoor temperatures drop. Your transmission specialist may also be able to answer any other questions that you have about seasonal car maintenance. To help you prepare for your visit to the transmission shop, here is a look at some essential winter car care tips.
Check Your Fluids
Checking your fluid levels is important during every season of the year. In the winter, however, low fluid levels can spell disaster for the various components of your engine and transmission. To practice proper winter car care, you will want to get into the habit of checking your car’s fluid levels at least once every two weeks. When you start to notice unusually low fluids, it may be time to visit the mechanic.
Inspect Your Tires
Bald tires can be extremely dangerous when winter weather arrives in your area. To care for your car during the winter months, you will want to carefully inspect your tire tread wear before the first major snow storm arrives. Drivers who live in extremely snowy areas may also want to consider investing in winter tires, which provide better traction over snow, ice, and other wintery road conditions.
Evaluate Your Battery
Your car’s battery allows all of its various electrical systems to run properly. Without a properly charged and functioning battery, your car’s transmission and other systems will not be able to function. During the winter months, you will want to evaluate your battery to see whether it shows signs of corrosion or other forms of damage. A certified mechanic or transmission specialist can provide you with many of the services that you need to keep your car running, all winter long.
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Manual Transmission Work
Manual transmissions have served drivers and their vehicles for many decades. In this video, you will receive a basic overview of how manual transmissions work. The primary function of a manual transmission is to transfer power from a car’s engine to its wheels. When you start to find that your car is losing power or traction, it may be time to set up transmission repair in Bethesda.
When you schedule an appointment at your transmission shop, your transmission specialist will be able to determine whether your transmission is delivering the right amount of speed and torque. Transmission experts are familiar with the inner workings of manual transmissions, and they can make sure that all of the mechanisms are functioning properly.
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The Importance of Getting Regular Transmission Service
While you may be aware of the importance of routine oil changes for your vehicle, you may be surprised to learn that your car’s transmission also needs routine maintenance from a transmission shop serving Bethesda. There are several reasons to schedule transmission repair service at regular intervals. When you take the time to service your transmission, you can preserve your components and avoid a potential transmission rebuild in the future. During your preventative maintenance appointment, your transmission shop can also identify and repair any minor problems that might develop into major problems at some point down the road.
If your car is in need of transmission service, you will want to bring your car in to a top rated transmission specialist in your area. A transmission repair facility will be fully equipped to provide you with even the most advanced transmission repairs. By taking the time to schedule preventative maintenance, you can avoid a major mechanical emergency.
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Tips for Extending the Lifespan of Your Transmission
Without a properly functioning transmission, your car will not be able to drive down the road. Since major transmission problems can lead to serious driving issues, you will want to visit your transmission shop in Rockville before a major repair emergency develops. When you are consulting with your transmission specialist, it is a great idea to ask about any transmission services that can be used to help your transmission last for as long as possible. If you are looking for great ways to drive more efficiently, here is a look at some tips for extending the lifespan of your transmission.
Check Your Transmission Fluid
Neglecting to check and change your transmission fluid could cause your system to fail suddenly. When your transmission fluid starts to leak or wear down, the internal components of your transmission will start to experience extreme amounts of strain. At least once a month, you will want to get into the habit of checking your car’s transmission fluid levels. Low transmission fluid requires immediate attention from a transmission repair specialist.
Avoid Harsh Driving Conditions
Your typical driving habits and conditions will have a direct impact on how long your transmission is able to last before it requires significant repairs. To keep your transmission running smoother for a longer period of time, you will want to steer clear of harsh driving conditions whenever possible. For example, you can preserve your transmission by avoiding very steep hills or extremely heavy loads of cargo.
Visit the Transmission Specialist
A certified transmission specialist will have the training and equipment that is needed to keep your transmission up and running for thousands of miles. Just like oil changes and brake exams, regular transmission repair appointments are an essential part of routine car maintenance. By taking the time to bring your car into the transmission shop before a serious problem arises, you will be able to efficiently repair any mechanical or electronic issues that have started to develop.