Transmission Services in St. Louis, Missouri

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 St. Louis MO, 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.

How Transmission Fluid Works

Transmission fluid serves a pretty simple purpose: It lubricates your gears. Thus, as they shift, the wear and tear they take on is minimal. Transmission fluid extends the lifespan of your transmission considerably, which is what makes it so important to schedule a regular transmission fluid check, and to replace your transmission fluid when it becomes too dirty.

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 St. Louis MO for maintenance!