Summertime Vehicle Transmission Service and Repair

Summer heat can be tough on your car. Transmission fluid begins to degrade as the internal temperature of the transmission climbs. Long road trips, record breaking temperatures, and towing heavy loads can all add strain to your transmission. Following the recommended maintenance schedule found in your owner’s manual, can help prevent costly transmission repairs and the need for a transmission rebuild. A Transmission Service will check your transmission fluid, clutch, gears, and other components to make sure your vehicle stays in peak shape all summer long.

Regular Maintenance

A standard transmission and a manual transmission both require regular maintenance to perform efficiently. 

Transmission Fluid & Filter

Transmission fluid that is degraded or contaminated cannot provide adequate lubrication. Experts agree that your transmission fluid should be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. If you are unsure how often to schedule a service, follow the recommendations in your owner’s manual. Discuss any concerns with your technician to find the just-right schedule for your car.

Low Transmission Fluid 

If you are always adding transmission fluid because it is low, you probably have a leak somewhere in the system. A diagnostic transmission service should be scheduled to determine where the leak is, so it can be repaired.

Burnt Transmission Fluid 

If the fluid appears black or has a burnt smell, it is a sign that the transmission fluid has overheated and needs to be flushed and replaced. This can happen when driving under extreme conditions (like towing heavy loads or in very hot conditions) or if too much time has passed since your last transmission service.

Transmission Fluid Filter

The transmission filter removes contaminants from the transmission fluid and should be replaced when needed.

Gears

If you are experiencing slipping gears, hard shifts, or unusual noises when shifting gears, it may be time to schedule a transmission service. Gears have an estimated life span. If you have reached that mileage marker, it may be time to replace the worn out gears.

Transmission Bands

The gears in your transmission are connected together with transmission bands. These bands can get worn from normal use, even under ideal conditions. They will need to be replaced within the recommended time schedule found in your owner’s manual. Transmission bands can also sustain excessive wear and breakage, if the transmission has been run with low, burnt, or old fluid for too long. If this happens, you can experience gear slippage, and the bands will need to be replaced more frequently.

Torque Converter

A torque converter takes the place of a clutch in most cars with an automatic transmission. It uses transmission fluid to transfer the power generated by the engine to the transmission. A torque converter can fail if the transmission fluid becomes too contaminated, burnt, or too low due to a fluid leak. The transmission fluid should flow freely through the torque converter. If there is a disruption in the flow of fluid, power from the engine cannot be transferred efficiently to the transmission. Common signs of a faulty torque converter may include: 

• Overheating 
• Shuddering 
• Slipping gears

Clutch

If you drive a manual transmission vehicle and notice that things just don’t feel ‘right’ when shifting, it may be time to schedule a service before a breakdown occurs. Issues such as those below should be addressed as soon as possible.

• Gears grind when moving into a different gear
• Clutch pedal sticks or grabs at the top or bottom when you press on the pedal
• The clutch pedal goes all the way to the floor without any tension

Transmission Service in Kirkland, WA

Fisher’s Auto Service hires only ASE Certified Technicians and Master Mechanics and uses nothing but high quality parts for transmission repairs. We offer you the additional convenience, integrity and personal attention of a locally owned business in Kirkland, Washington.

Schedule Your Transmission Service Appt.

At Fisher’s Auto Service, we specialize in repairing all types of transmissions, including manual, automatic and semi-automatic. Call us at (425) 441-3626 or visit us online to reserve your Transmission Service appointment time today!