Did you know that to keep your car's transmission working well you need to maintain it properly? If not, you're not alone. However, if you don't take care of you car's transmission, it's more likely that you'll have transmission problems. So, if you want to avoid major transmission issues, check out these simple tips to keep your automatic transmission running well.
Check the Fluid
It's important to check the transmission fluid in your car to make sure it isn't worn down or low. The good news is, checking it is really easy to do -- it's really similar to checking the oil in your car. However, before you start looking for the location of the dipstick, you need to check the owner's manual for you car for the correct procedure.
When you look at the owner's manual, you need to look for two things: whether the car should be turned on while you check the transmission fluid and the location of the dipstick. Once you determine these two things:
Additionally, you want to check the odor, thickness, and color of the transmission fluid by allowing the fluid to drip from the dipstick onto a paper towel or white cloth. If the fluid smells burnt, is brown, or looks thick, take the car to a transmission shop to have the fluid flushed out and replaced.
Watch for Leaks
Check the ground where you typically park your car to see if your transmission fluid is leaking. The fluid should be reddish in color and thin. However, if the transmission fluid needs changed, it could look brown and thick.
Transmission and power steering fluids are similar in appearance, so you also need to look at where the leak is located. If the leak is near the front of your car, it's probably your power steering fluid, because transmission fluid leaks from the middle of vehicles. If you aren't completely sure, it's best to take your car to your local transmission shop, such as Aamco Transmissions & Auto Repair, to have it checked for leaks. This way, it can be repaired quickly if needed.
Have the Fluid Flushed
Overheating is the cause of approximately 90 percent of automatic transmission failures. This happens because the transmission fluid is worn out and no longer working properly. To avoid overheating, you need to have your car's transmission flushed and the filter changed. Typically, you should have your transmission flushed between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. However, you may need to check your owner's manual for the exact mile range for your vehicle -- some owner's manuals recommend changing the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles, while some insist that you don't need to flush your transmission. Regardless of what the manual says, if you've checked the fluid and it looks worn down, you should have it flushed as soon as possible.
Keep in mind, cars that have automatic transmissions rely on the transmission fluid to run properly. So, you need to make sure that the transmission fluid level is correct and that you have the transmission flushed when needed to keep your car running as long as possible.
Share20 April 2016
After trying in vain to fix my car for a few months, I realized that I needed to hire a professional. I was tired of dealing with repairs that I was unfamiliar with, and I knew that I needed to get some help. I started looking around for a great auto mechanic, and even though one business was more expensive than others, I decided to work with them. They worked hard to fix my car, and I was really pleased with how great of a job they did. This blog is all about investing in proper auto service so that you don't have to deal with problems in the future.
