Transmission Services Services in Sterling, VA

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.

Understanding Your Transmission Repair Needs

How much power does your engine need to generate? That’s a question you don’t have to think about, because your automatic transmission does it for you. That’s ultimately what a vehicle’s transmission is all about—regulating the power from the engine to match the current speed, ensuring optimal performance. Of course, this involves some wear and tear—as well as depletion of transmission fluid—so transmission maintenance is a must. But what should vehicle owners know about their transmission, and about the urgency of regular transmission repair?

How Does Your Vehicle Transmission Work?

The transmission is one of the most important systems in your vehicle, yet many drivers don’t quite understand how it works. Essentially, the transmission regulates the amount of power your engine sends to the wheels, relative to the speed you’re going—ensuring an optimal performance. To accomplish this, your transmission needs transmission fluid, which lubricates your gears and prevents wear and tear. Additionally, vehicle owners should be aware of the need for routine transmission maintenance—and in particular, transmission fluid inspection and replacement. You can have this done at Meineke in Sterling VA, and we recommend making it part of your routine preventative maintenance schedule.

How Often Do You Need a Transmission Flush?

As for how often you need a transmission flush, it just depends on the kind of car you’re driving. 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’re do for transmission repair or for 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 Sterling VA for maintenance!