Transmission Services in Modesto, California

An Overview of Transmission Maintenance

Every car has a transmission—most of them automatic, some manual—and all of them do basically the same thing: The job of the vehicle transmission is to regulate the amount of power that goes to your wheels, always relative to the speed at which you’re traveling. The transmission actively shifts gears, much like on a multi-speed bike. Of course, there are some key distinctions between automatic and manual transmission, but what’s the same across every vehicle is that attending to regular transmission maintenance is vitally important.

Do You Need Transmission Service Done?

When it comes time for transmission repair at Meineke in Modesto CA, you’ll likely know it. You’ll experience any number of symptoms of a faulty transmission—trouble shifting gears, slipping out of gear, a whining noise or a grinding sound when you shift gears, etc. All of these are signs that the time for a transmission flush, or perhaps additional transmission repair work, is now.

How Often Should Your Car Get a Transmission Service?

As for how often you need transmission service, it just depends on the kind of car you’re driving. With some vehicles, it’s every 30,000 miles. The best practice is to simply check transmission fluid whenever you do your other routine vehicle maintenance. Meineke’s service technicians can tell you if you do for transmission repair or for a transmission flush.

The Reason to Check Your Transmission Fluid

Your vehicle’s transmission is essential for optimal performance—and if you allow the transmission to fall into disrepair, you shouldn’t be surprised when you encounter a whole host of other problems; potentially issues that are expensive to repair. Basically, your transmission is responsible for shifting gears, regulating the power generated by your engine. You can think of it sort of like a bicycle: You start pedaling in a low gear, building acceleration but not much speed; then, when you start coasting along a flat surface, you can switch to a higher gear and really ramp up your speed. Your transmission works in much the same way, and it can only do so when you take care of it—and that means being careful to check transmission fluid regularly, and perhaps even schedule a transmission flush.

Why Check Transmission Fluid?

Transmission fluid is a critical part of your transmission, serving in one key capacity: It keeps your gears lubricated, and safeguards them against wear and tear. In other words, it extends the lifespan of your transmission system. As the transmission fluid becomes dirty, though, it doesn’t lubricate nearly as well, which is why you’ll eventually need to schedule a transmission flush.

When to Worry About Transmission Repair

There are a few warning signs that it’s time for a transmission maintenance appointment. If you notice that your car seems to have a hard time shifting gears—if there is a jostling, or a grinding noise—that’s a dead giveaway. The car slipping out of gear, or changing gears at random times, is another one. And any whining noise you heard could point to a transmission issue. That means it’s time to take your car to Meineke in Modesto CA for maintenance!