Having to take your motor vehicle into a shop for a transmission repair is not something that anyone wants to think about. Not only can it be a time consuming job, it can also be a very costly one as well! But there is good news on the horizon: there are things you can do in order to prolong the life of your car's transmission.
What can you do to avoid having to visit a transmission repair facility in the near future?
You can make it a practice to check the transmission fluid in your engine on a regular basis. Refer to your owner's manual to learn the proper procedure for doing so. This simple step can go a long way in keeping your car running smoothly. You should change it at a minimum of twice during a calendar year.
Not only should you check your transmission fluid frequently but you should also check it after it has been running hot for a while. But take care not to burn yourself, because a hot engine can be very dangerous! Excess heat can cause fluid to be lost. In fact, any number of conditions can lead to the loss of fluid. These include hot weather, hills, stopping and starting often and having a vehicle towed. The life of the transmission will be prolonged by an external cooler, because it helps to reduce friction and heat.
Be aware that the fluid's job is to clean, cool and lubricate all of the internal parts of the transmission while at the same time it administers the hydraulic pressure that keeps all of the elements of the system working together in unison. When the liquid in the system is not working as it is supposed to, this can spell trouble for your car.
If you sense any malfunctions taking place, it is important that you take your automobile into a transmission repair center as soon as you possibly can. Choosing to ignore a problem and continuing to drive with it that way will only make things worse. In fact your repair bill is likely to be even higher the more miles you put on your car. Think of it this way: the more damage that occurs, the more cash you will need to shell out to get your engine back into stellar working order.
It is also a good idea to have the linkage checked periodically, as well as any other adjustments that may be required. This is particularly the case if you have taken your car in for any major work on the interior or if you have recently been in an accident.
When a vehicle needs a tune-up it will not be on its best behavior! An engine that is running poorly can on occasion mimic the same symptoms that would occur if the transmission were having issues. Be aware of this, and get your car tuned up when it needs it!
