Late-December usually has several of the busiest travel days of the year. When you add that level of traffic volume with the element of unpredictable weather/road conditions like we tend to get here in Kansas, your holiday trips can get stressful in a hurry. Before you embark upon your holiday trek this year, it’s a good idea to have your vehicle inspected by an ASE-certified technician to ensure it’s running at an optimal level and you won’t encounter any unexpected/unwanted breakdowns while you’re on the road. Once you’ve taken care of that, here are some tips on how to avoid, or at least better negotiate, traffic the next little while: Plan Ahead. If your holiday plans can be flexible, take advantage of that flexibility and avoid the busier days and the busiest times for traffic congestion. Rush hour is typically …… ( more )

The transmission is one of the most important parts of your vehicle, keeping you running smoothly on the roads in Kansas. When something goes wrong, it is often frustrating and expensive. Ignoring or missing a warning sign for transmission problems can lead to significant damage and costly repairs. As you drive on the roads in Galva, pay attention to subtle (yet obvious) changes to your vehicle’s performance. These are signs that tell you it’s time to bring your vehicle into Nightingale Transmissions for an inspection or service. Look for these warning signs of transmission problems: Shifting delay. When your vehicle takes too long between gears, it may indicate an issue with the transmission. This will often happen shifting from neutral to reverse or drive gears. The car should adjust and catch the gear nearly immediately. If not, stop into our …… ( more )

During the Halloween season, thrill lovers gather around the television set to enjoy scary movies! And while you can expect a fair amount of screaming, faux blood, and weapons, have you ever noticed a certain car or cars? Some classic thrillers and mystery movies feature equally thrilling vehicles. Here are a few of our favorites: Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, The Birds, featured spooky flying predators (foul fowl, if you pardon the pun)… but it also featured the heroine’s escape vehicle – an Aston Martin DB 2/4! Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters, naturally. The team of haunt hunting heroes transformed a Cadillac into their ECTO-1. In the movie Christine, the car is the star! A 1958 Plymouth Fury holds the leading role in Stephen King’s thriller. The Car features an evil Lincoln Continental out for blood. This is the one time when …… ( more )

If you suspect a problem with your vehicle’s transmission, bring it into Nightingale Transmissions for an inspection right away. Without an inspection, you may not know how much danger your vehicle is in on a road trip. We do not recommend driving with a slipping transmission. A slipping transmission can be a serious problem. Signs of a Slipping Transmission You may suspect your vehicle has a slipping transmission if it does not change gears smoothly. You may even hear noises, like a clunk or thud, when the vehicle changes gears. If you notice grinding when changing gears, bring your vehicle in for an inspection. Causes of Transmission Issues A common cause of slipping transmission is low transmission fluid. You can check the fluid level using the dipstick or bring your vehicle into Nightingale Transmissions. If the fluid is low, it likely …… ( more )

Your vehicle’s transmission is responsible for adapting speed and torque, deftly shifting gears to ensure that the right amount of power is going to the right place and your wheels can rotate properly to make forward propulsion possible. Since it’s such a vital component and is used with great regularity, your vehicle’s transmission can sometimes encounter issues arising from problems in other areas. One surprising element that can dramatically impact a vehicle’s transmission is engine coolant. While you’re driving, your vehicle’s engine heats up and so does the transmission. The fluid responsible for cooling your transmission flows through the radiator. If everything is working smoothly in your engine’s cooling system, the fluid will pass over your transmission cooler within the radiator which allows excess transmission heat to be transferred to the liquid and then couriered out of the vehicle into …… ( more )