It’s back to school time, which is a good time to give a little TLC (tender loving care) to your vehicle. It has worked hard during the hot months of summer, taking you to that special summer get-away, and returning you back home with confidence. As summer ends, and cooler months arriving, it’s a good time to schedule a transmission service to make sure your vehicle will get you to your school activities, work, and running errands safely and comfortably. Timely transmission service will prevent a costly transmission repair!
Does something feel not quite right with the automatic transmission in your car? Did you know that it is the most complex component of your vehicle?
To give you a little peace of mind, here is a list of the most common 8 early warning signs that you should know about:
- Leaks. Are you finding a pool of pinkish oil on the garage floor every morning? A transmission has about 20 different external seals that can leak. Some are simple to repair, while others will be a more involved and costly transmission service. A low level of fluid can cause a transmission to completely fail rather quickly.
- Vibrating or shaking-- Sometimes you will feel a shaking or jerking sensation, especially at highway speeds. This could be due to either poor engine tune, or the transmission malfunctioning.
- Hesitation while shifting – You notice a delay when engaging the shifter into "D" or "R." This can be caused by anything from a low fluid level to a failing internal seal.
- A neutral condition. A low fluid condition caused by leaking.
- Burnt odor. A sign of overheating or of leaking fluid onto the exhaust. Engine oil or fluid dripping onto a hot exhaust could catch fire.
- Flashing check engine light. Today's vehicles are computer controlled and extremely sensitive, detecting malfunctions that are not even yet noticeable to the driver.
- Gears slipping. The engine is revving but full power is not getting to the wheels. There are a variety of causes for this malfunction so schedule a transmission service sooner rather than later.
- Stiff shifting and wrong gear starts. A sign that your transmission is in a computer commanded "failsafe" or "limp home" mode. This lets the driver know that there is a problem and helps protect the motor from further damage until it can be repaired.
Closing Thought to Remember: Unfortunately, problems with vehicles do not fix themselves or disappear into thin air. If you take care of small transmission repair problems before they become bigger, you will avoid void a more costly and extensive transmission repair later on down the road!
Need expert transmission repair? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at www.clausenautomotive.com for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and surrounding communities.
It’s back to school time, which is a good time to give a little TLC (tender loving care) to your vehicle. It has worked hard during the hot months of summer, taking you to that special summer get-away, and returning you back home with confidence. As summer ends, and cooler months arriving, it’s a good time to schedule a transmission service to make sure your vehicle will get you to your school activities, work, and running errands safely and comfortably. Timely transmission service will prevent a costly transmission repair!
Does something feel not quite right with the automatic transmission in your car? Did you know that it is the most complex component of your vehicle?
To give you a little peace of mind, here is a list of the most common 8 early warning signs that you should know about:
- Leaks. Are you finding a pool of pinkish oil on the garage floor every morning? A transmission has about 20 different external seals that can leak. Some are simple to repair, while others will be a more involved and costly transmission service. A low level of fluid can cause a transmission to completely fail rather quickly.
- Vibrating or shaking-- Sometimes you will feel a shaking or jerking sensation, especially at highway speeds. This could be due to either poor engine tune, or the transmission malfunctioning.
- Hesitation while shifting – You notice a delay when engaging the shifter into "D" or "R." This can be caused by anything from a low fluid level to a failing internal seal.
- A neutral condition. A low fluid condition caused by leaking.
- Burnt odor. A sign of overheating or of leaking fluid onto the exhaust. Engine oil or fluid dripping onto a hot exhaust could catch fire.
- Flashing check engine light. Today's vehicles are computer controlled and extremely sensitive, detecting malfunctions that are not even yet noticeable to the driver.
- Gears slipping. The engine is revving but full power is not getting to the wheels. There are a variety of causes for this malfunction so schedule a transmission service sooner rather than later.
- Stiff shifting and wrong gear starts. A sign that your transmission is in a computer commanded "failsafe" or "limp home" mode. This lets the driver know that there is a problem and helps protect the motor from further damage until it can be repaired.
Closing Thought to Remember: Unfortunately, problems with vehicles do not fix themselves or disappear into thin air. If you take care of small transmission repair problems before they become bigger, you will avoid void a more costly and extensive transmission repair later on down the road!
Need expert transmission repair? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at www.clausenautomotive.com for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and surrounding communities.
