Transmission Services in Merrimack, New Hampshire

When Should You Get Transmission Maintenance Done?

As for when you should take your vehicle into Meineke at Merrimack NH to have transmission maintenance and possibly transmission repair work done, the short answer is: You should get transmission repair work done whenever your transmission shows signs of failure. There are many different ways in which you can tell your transmission is going out. If you experience hesitation when shifting gears, falling out of gear, or shifting gears for no reason, those are all warning signs. Grinding and shimmying between gears are also bad omens, and even unusual noises or whining sounds can point to the urgent need for transmission repair work.

What Makes Transmission Fluid Necessary?

Your transmission system itself works a bit like a bike. When pedaling a multi-speed bike in a low gear, it’s easy to get acceleration, but hard to work up much speed. By shifting into a higher gear—once the bike is on level ground and moving at a decent clip—higher speed can be achieved. That’s essentially the same function that transmission serves within a car—regulating the power relative to speed. And that requires the use of transmission fluid, which serves a critical function—lubricating your gears and minimizing the effect of daily wear and tear. All of this points to a basic point about vehicle maintenance: You should have transmission fluid inspection—and yes, transmission flush—as part of your regular preventative maintenance schedule.

The Benefits of Your Transmission System

To understand what makes a transmission so important, think of a bike. When you pedal in a low gear, you can get great acceleration, but usually not much speed. Once you start coasting along a flat surface, you can switch to a higher gear and start improving that speed. Your car’s transmission does basically the same thing, modulating your power to ensure optimal performance.

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.

Scheduling a Transmission Flush

A common question from vehicle owners: How often is a transmission flush needed? The short answer: It just depends. Some vehicles require a transmission flush more often than others. You can check your owner’s manual for a general recommendation. Also remember to get your transmission fluid checked on a routine basis, helping you stay on top of any transmission maintenance needs.

How Frequently is Transmission Maintenance Needed?

Some auto manufacturers recommend that you get a transmission flush every 30,000 miles. For other cars, it’s just once every 100,000 miles. You can check your owner’s manual for a general estimate, but really what we recommend is just asking a Meineke service professional to check transmission fluid levels every time you get an oil change or tire rotation. Just make it part of your preventative maintenance routine, and stay on top of all your transmission maintenance requirements!