Your transmission is one of the most complicated and integral parts of the your vehicle and an extremely-expensive component to replace. For these reasons and several more, it’s important to be mindful of transmission maintenance and to make sure your transmission is in great shape.
What Causes Transmission Problems?
Most transmission troubles start because of overheating. Overheating can occur when towing a heavy load, rocking the vehicle from the snow, having continuous stop-and-go traffic in hot weather, racing, and other activities that work the transmission hard.
At high temperatures, the transmission fluid loses its lubricating power,
which could result in premature failure. When that happens, the next step is a
transmission rebuild or replacement.
Ways to Prevent Damage
Luckily, taking care of your transmission isn’t complicated. Just taking a few
extra steps here and there can go a long way towards preventing problems for
your transmission:
– Never shift to Reverse or Park until the car comes to a complete stop.
– Never shift from Park when the engine RPM is higher than normal idle.
– Always hold your brake pedal down when shifting from Park.
– If it’s being towed, make sure the drive wheels are not on the road.
– At every oil change, check the transmission fluid level. It’s similar to
checking your oil. If the fluid level is too low, there is a leak somewhere
that needs to be fixed.
– The fluid should be changed as recommended in your owner’s manual. If it
looks dark or dirty, your best bet is to have a professional mechanic perform a
transmission flush.
Keeping Your Transmission Running
It’s recommended that you bring your vehicle in for the transmission to be
inspected every 30,000 miles or so. Regular servicing can provide longer life
expectancy, smoother shifting and increased performance for your transmission.
If you have any questions regarding your vehicle’s transmission maintenance, be sure to give us a call at 620-654-3445 or click HERE to set up an appointment with our ASE-certified technicians in Galva!