Category: Automotive

How To Identify If Your Auto Transmission Requires Repair

If you’ve ever driven a manual transmission vehicle, you’ll know that problems tend to be obvious and can be reduced by changing your own driving habits. With an automatic transmission system, it may be harder to detect problems before they become major – and expensive – issues.

We’ve put together some warning signs that could indicate problems, because prevention costs less than the cure.

• Does your engine rev when you step on the gas?
• Is there a delay before the car starts moving forward from drive position?
• Does the gearshift feel less smooth?
• Do you hear any thudding or clunking sounds when the car shifts gear?
• Does your car feel as if it has too much power or too little power at odd times?
• Does the engine make a whining noise or is there a change in its normal pitch?

These signs that your transmission may be slipping need immediate attention. If you experience any of these – with or without a warning light on your dashboard – have it seen to by a professional mechanic as soon as possible.

There are many reasons why your transmission could slip or fail, often related to the fluid that is the lifeblood of your transmission system. You don’t have to be an auto expert to run through this checklist:

• Check your car’s transmission fluid at least once a month.
• New fluid is pinkish in colour, burnt or dirty fluid is brown or black.
• Burnt fluid is a red flag – check the smell as well as the colour.
• Ensure the fluid levels aren’t low by using the transmission dipstick.
• There should be no leaks. Any leak suggests a gap somewhere.
• Insufficient fluid leads to overheating.

 

Does Your Vehicle Need Transmission Repair?

Transmission repair can be expensive, but without a properly working transmission, your vehicle cannot run. Both manual and automatic transmissions ensure that power moves from the vehicle’s engine to the wheels. Your vehicle’s engine works at speeds called RPMs or Revolutions per Minute. The transmission’s job is to transmit power to the wheels while keeping the engine’s RPMs in the optimal range. It does this through a complicated combination of gears and parts that recognize changes in speed and RPMs and move accordingly to optimize the vehicle’s energy.

If the transmission isn’t shifting the gears properly, you’ll notice a bumpy ride because the energy isn’t transmitting smoothly from the engine to the wheels. The vehicle may buck or stall, or you’ll hear grinding noises from underneath the vehicle. If the transmission is really in trouble, you may even see smoke issuing from it. All of these signs are indicators of problems and should be checked by a mechanic immediately.

Fix Minor Transmission Problems Before They Get Worse

As with most repairs, transmission repair costs can be contained if you fix minor problems before they get worse. Some minor transmission problems to be bring to your mechanic’s attention include:

Leaks and stains under the car

Transmission fluid is typically dyed red to make it easier to identify it from other vehicle fluids, and in both rear and front wheel drive vehicles the transmission is located underneath the vehicle and towards the rear. Puddles of red fluid under the rear end of the vehicle indicate a leak somewhere in the system.

Noises

If you typically drive with the radio blasting, turn it off occasionally and listen to your vehicle. Many problems begin as unusual noises, but if you’re not sure what your vehicle normally sounds like you may not be able to tell the unusual from the usual. Transmission noises that indicate trouble brewing include whining noises, especially a whining sound under the floorboards while your vehicle moves from gear to gear.

 

Changes in shifting behavior

Your vehicle should move smoothly between gears whether you have a manual or an automatic transmission. If you feel a jolting sensation or the vehicle bucks during a shift, it’s time to have the transmission checked. A heavy sensation in the vehicle during shifting may also indicate a problem.

Money Saving Transmission Repair

Even if you’re worried about the bill, it’s important to have your vehicle’s transmission checked if you notice these or other changes. Talk to your mechanic. He may have some simple suggestions to extend the life of your vehicle’s transmission. Transmission fluid and filters should be changed around every 25,000 miles or so, but check your vehicle’s maintenance schedule for the exact number as it can vary considerably. Transmissions do have a filter that cleans the fluids inside, and as with your vehicle’s engine, keeping the fluids clean and the filter clear prevents build up and debris from harming the transmission. Routine maintenance alone may prevent or delay costly transmission repairs.

 

Here are some frequently asked questions about transmissions:

Q: When should I check the transmission fluid?

A: You should check the transmission fluid regularly. Try to check it at least once a month or at the sign of any trouble, for instance if there is any hesitation when you shift gears in an automatic.

Q: How do I check the transmission fluid?

A: It’s not hard to check your transmission fluid if the vehicle is an automatic. This link to the Dummies guide to checking your transmission fluid has step-by-step instructions and illustrations that show you where to locate the dipstick. What you want is clear, pink transmission fluid. If it is low, top it up. If it is dark, smells burnt or has bits in it then you need to get it changed by at a reliable auto repair shop.

Q: Is it really that important to check the transmission fluid?

A: Yes, it can be. Often times the symptoms you’ll experience from low or dirty transmission fluid will be the same as transmission problems. If you check the fluid levels regularly and refill as necessary then you’ll know if there are any symptoms of trouble that it’s not because the fluid levels are low and you need to see a mechanic.

 

Are there different types of transmission fluid?

A: How do I know what to buy? Yes, there are many different types of transmission fluid, each designed for a certain transmission. Different vehicles require different transmission fluids and the age of the car can also be a factor because newer transmissions take different types of transmission fluids than older vehicles. Don’t guess! Find out which type of transmission fluid is required for your vehicle by checking your owner’s manual.

Q: What is a transmission flush and should I get one?

A: A transmission flush is used by some auto repair shops with the goal of flushing out debris.  Auto Tech does not do any sort of transmission flush.  Flushing an older transmission can cause harmful sediment to get stuck in the solenoids of the transmission. We heavily favor regular maintenance to lengthen the life of your transmission.  We service the transmission by changing fluid and the filter and do not recommend having your transmission flushed.

Q: How do I know I have a fluid leak from the transmission?

A: Transmission fluid is slightly pink in color – it will appear pink or red, or possibly more brownish if the transmission fluid is dirty and needs to be replaced. When you feel transmission fluid it will be slick and oily on your fingers. It smells much like oil unless it is dirty, in which case it will smell burnt. Usually transmission fluid leaks around the front or middle of your vehicle, so if you find puddles of reddish liquid there it is probably transmission fluid. Another clue is if in addition to the leak your transmission is not working well and you notice changes in the way it sounds when you shift gears, or if shifting gears is not working as well. In this case you likely have a leak of transmission fluid that is impacting how your transmission operates.

The Effect of Bigger Tires on Your Vehicle

Bigger wheels and tires are a desirable upgrade for not only the off-road extremist but many everyday drivers as well. For example, you can go to Wal-Mart and count several SUVs in the parking lot with 20-inch rims because even “Glamma” wants to look cool. Tires can really make or break your vehicle in relevance to style and performance. Driving on bad tires can take a toll on your vehicle, and upgrading to new tires can make your vehicle drive like new again. When upgrading to bigger tires you also need to upgrade your rims. There are several benefits and disadvantages when considering an upgrade to tires or wheels.

Whether it’s the price of gas, the people you spend time with, or the level of satisfaction you have with your job, one thing in life is certain, things change. It may not be a surprise your vehicle, the way it works, and how much it costs has changed significantly over the years. But have you ever thought about how much tires have changed?

Head into the showroom at any tire retailer and you will find a dizzying array of tire types, sizes, tread patterns and other variables that can have you turning right back around and heading the other way.  The good news is a step-by-step approach to choosing the right tires for your car, truck or SUV with a little knowledge can make the process much simpler and give you great results

All Season Tires – Sometimes called Touring Tires, All Season Tires deliver good performance, handling and ride quality on dry, wet and moderately snowy roads. This is the most popular tire type and can be found on most four door sedans, wagons, small SUVs and sporty coupes.  Choose All Season Tires for the most well rounded on-road performance.

Truck Tires – As the name suggests, these tires are typically found on trucks and large SUVs. Truck tires have aggressive tread and taller sidewalls to fit the size and use of large vehicles and are rated for carrying heavier loads.  Truck tires are also rated for maximum load and towing.  Choose Truck Tires for your light duty truck or large SUV if you are staying on the road most of the time.

 

Find the right tires for your vehicle

Truck Care

Everyone knows a professional driver’s truck is their livelihood, which makes keeping up with routine maintenance one of the most important things on the road. Routine maintenance is what keeps your truck running and your cash flow going.

Tire Selection

provides professional drivers and fleets with the best truck tires at affordable costs. Commercial drivers can stop by our state-of-the-art facility and work with our certified technicians to find the right solutions to get back on the road quickly and safely with the best range of proven products and services.

brand name tires to fit your commercial truck tire needs at more than 380

 

Different Types of Tires

A common challenge when buying tires is understanding the different types of tires, and which one will work best for you.

The easiest way to group tires is to start with the type of your vehicle. After determining which tire types are possibilities for your vehicle, you can determine which type is best for you based on your driving needs.

PASSENGER TOURING VEHICLES: SEDANS, CUVS, & MINIVANS

The tires designed for this particular class of vehicles are generally engineered to deliver a smooth and quiet ride, reliable all-season traction, and a long lasting tread life. Luxury vehicles that fall into the passenger touring category can find luxury tire options in both the all-season touring and grand-touring categories. While most cars in this segment will conform to these types of tires, some vehicles are modified for enhanced performance, and will need more performance from their tires.

The all-season touring tire is designed to deliver good comfort and handling on the highway, as well as reliable all-season traction. It will generally feature a symmetrical tread pattern and circumferential grooves for wet weather grip.

Touring tires, also called Grand touring tires are designed to deliver a comfortable ride and reliable all-season traction, with the addition of more responsive handling. They generally have a higher speed rating than all-season touring tires, and often feature an asymmetrical tread pattern

 

Who is Liable When Truck Tire “Gators” Cause an Accident?

We’ve all had to deal with this problem at one point or another; road debris is one of the leading causes of environment-based automobile accidents. Anyone who drives regularly—and especially those of us who take long drives between major cities—has likely had to dodge random debris that appears right in the middle of a high-speed lane.

This debris ranges from a discarded fast-food bag to unexpectedly large hazards, like mattresses or coolers that have fallen from someone’s vehicle. However, the most common, and arguably most dangerous, type of road debris is the tire-tread left on the road when a big rig’s tire blows out.

The Terrible Risk of Road “Gators”

In the trucking world, these tire treads are known as “gators,” because they resemble the long, jagged jaw of an alligator waiting to bite the next hapless driver. Unlike the discarded fast-food bag, which simply crumples under your tire, or the occasional piece of lumber, which might cause a blow-out of your own, tire-debris gators are enormous, rubber, and often contain metal bands inside meant to strengthen the tire; and, you can’t always dodge them.

When your wheel hits a gator, there’s no telling what might happen. If you’re lucky, the jagged debris may simply shred your tire, and you’ll be able to pull safely over to the side of the road. However, many people who hit gators aren’t so lucky. A gator has the potential to curl and wrap around your tire, destroy your safe contact with the road, and may even get caught in your vehicle’s spinning axle, which can affect steering. Sometimes, the gator will pass harmlessly under one car, only to fly into the air and hit the windshield of the car behind it.

Who Is Liable for Crashes Caused by Tire Debris Gators?

Road debris is a fact of life. Things fall out off of pickup trucks, fly out of vehicle windows, and sometimes a driver may even purposefully toss his trash without waiting for the next gas station. But regardless of whether intentional or accidental, the driver/owner of the source vehicle is generally legally responsible. However, most drivers fail to take this responsibility seriously.

 

Tires for Towing Heavy Loads

Let’s talk about rubber meeting the road for a moment. Like, literally. Unless your truck moves around on bulldozer-style Mattracks or some other intricate running gear, good, old-fashioned rubber tires are crucial elements of a truck’s composition. And, for trucks that work hard—specifically pickups moving a lot of weight (payload or towing trailers)—using the right tires is a must.

Most trucks are fitted by the manufacturer with “Light Truck” (LT) tires, which, in the case of heavy-duty pickup trucks and sizeable SUVs, typically are “E” rated. This load-range designation means the tires are more durable (as much as 10-ply), and designed with larger beads and deeper treads than Passenger-series (“P”) rubber, for longevity and higher mileage. LT-series tires support the higher air pressures that are common for towing.

At a minimum, Load Range E tires are capable of safely supporting about 3,000 pounds. So, in the case of a dualie (six wheels), the tires collectively will provide more than sufficient grip for safely towing 18,000 pounds.

Given the huge amount of companies–well-known, major brands, and those we’re not as familiar with–that manufacture towing-capable and towing-specific tires, selecting the right rubber for your rig isn’t easy.

Here are a few options that we like. They’re all 10 ply, and capable of covering several-thousand problem-free miles (barring an inadvertent nail or other object causing damage), towing, or just driving your truck without a load attached. As a bonus, we’re also noting Load Range D and E (8- to 10 ply) tires for trailers. In the end, it makes no difference how many tires are on the ground. When you’re towing or transporting anything heavy, doing it on the right tires is critical.