Prolonging the Life of Your Transmission and When to Service
Transmissions are heavy duty pieces of equipment that are designed to last a long time for most drivers. But, like any other machine, they'll eventually wear out and need repair. Here are some ways to prolong the health and life of your transmission:
Make sure your transmission always has enough fluid. Transmission fluid cools and lubricates the transmission. When there's not enough fluid the transmission will run hotter and wear out sooner. The transmission fluid also provides the pressure needed to transfer power from the engine to the transmission. Without enough fluid your transmission won't shift properly. Our service center will check your transmission fluid level with a full service oil change and top it off if needed. If you see any transmission fluid on the driveway (it's a reddish color) have us inspect it for a leak. A gasket, hose, or seal could be leaking and may need to be repaired.
The next thing you can do to prolong the life of your transmission is to replace your transmission fluid on schedule. As you can imagine, all those gears grinding on each other result in lots of little bits of metal in the fluid. The more there is, the faster the transmission parts will wear out. Transmission fluid also contains detergents and other additives to protect your transmission. These additives are depleted over time, so old fluid doesn't protect as well as new fluid. Your owner's manual or one of our service advisers will have a recommendation for when you should have a transmission service. If your transmission isn't shifting as smoothly as it should, or if you suspect a transmission leak, let one of our two conveniently located Bradenton, Florida service centers take a look to determine a need for transmission service. Regular maintenance and taking care of small leaks right away will help your transmission last as long as possible.
A Little More On Why You Should Flush Out Your Transmission Fluid
Your transmission's parts get clogged with sludge and varnish deposits because, just like engine oil in your car's engine, automatic transmission fluid suffers from heat, friction, and electrochemical degradation. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 transmission failures are due to overheating and fluid contamination*.
However, unlike oil, which can be drained completely from your car's engine, most transmission fluid cannot be drained. Instead it stays in the torque converter, valve body, and transmission lines, making a complete fluid drain impossible. Typical transmission service removes only about 25% of the contaminated transmission fluid. Adding new fluid to the remaining contaminated fluid can actually cause sludge and varnish deposits to clog filters and further restrict fluid flow. This can result in a serious malfunction or even complete failure of your automatic transmission.
Now, you have an option. Our transmission fluid exchange safely removes most, if not all, contaminated fluid as well as sludge and varnish deposits. Our transmission fluid exchange cleans the transmission cooler and lines, valve body, and torque converter and also removes those wear metals that slowly grind away at your transmission's internal components. Our transmission fluid exchange thoroughly cleans you car's transmission and protects it with fresh fluid and conditioners that revitalize the seals and o-rings. If your vehicle's transmission is showing signs of contaminated fluid, slippage, rough or hard shifting, give this service a try. If it has been more than 30,000 miles it's time for a transmission fluid exchange. It may help you avoid the cost of major transmission work or even prevent the need for a new transmission.
Let one of our certified technicians perform this service for you.
*According to the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association
Clutch Replacement Service
If you are experiencing difficulty putting your vehicle in gear or getting a grinding noise going into gear, or if the engine speed rises but the vehicle seems to have a lack of power, then you may need a new clutch. Clutch replacement service involves removing the driveline and transmission to replace the clutch plate, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and pilot bearing. The flywheel plate is also removed and resurfaced on most vehicles for smooth clutch engagement.
Before we start any clutch repair, we give the clutch system a complete diagnosis. The clutch system has many different components and some of these components control the actual operation of the clutch. Often when clutch problems are experienced they are caused by the hydraulic system. Master clutch cylinders and clutch slave cylinders can start leaking and fail to operate the clutch mechanism properly causing the clutch not to disengage and therefore making it very difficult to shift gears. This is a much easier repair and most of the time substantially less costly. It is always wiser to address clutch problems early - as soon as you experience the first problem. Early detection could result in just an adjustment or small repair, ultimately saving the more expensive components from premature wear.
Our ASE Certified Technicians can diagnose and solve any of your automatic or manual transmission issues. We're happy to assist you for any and all repairs at one of our two conveniently located Begley Auto Repair Service Centers on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton, Florida.