What You Need to Know About Transmission Repair for Your Vehicle

Keeping your vehicle's transmission in good repair is vital for its overall performance; if there is any damage to the transmission, the vehicle could slip into neutral when you accelerate, which is obviously very dangerous when you're on the road. Overlooking needed repairs can also allow the transmission to fail outright, so the vehicle might then be stuck in park or in neutral and can't be driven at all. To avoid these risks, note a few considerations to keep in mind about transmission repairs for your vehicle to ensure you keep your car or truck running as it should.

Be wary of estimates over the phone

There is probably a wider variety of transmission designs on the road today than ever before, with a number of various parts of those transmissions that could be damaged and in need of repair. This is why it's good to be wary of repair estimates over the phone; a mechanic might suggest certain problems that could be causing the transmission to fail, but they should also recommend you bring the vehicle in for a full inspection before giving you a final price quote, simply because transmission systems are so complicated and complex.

It might not be the transmission

Don't be surprised if your mechanic tells you that the problem you're having with your vehicle isn't really the transmission at all. Many parts of a vehicle today are controlled by an internal computer, and this computer or its sensors could be failing, causing the transmission to lock up. Also, the transmission is connected to the brake pedal and to the shifter inside the car by various chains and parts, and these could also be damaged and need replacing, rather than the transmission itself needing repairs.

Transmissions need regular maintenance

You may know that your car needs regular oil changes and tune-ups, but you may not think about regular transmission maintenance for your vehicle. A fluid flush and fill can extend the life of the vehicle's transmission, as rust and other sediment can get caught in that fluid. In turn, this sediment circulates through the transmission system and causes early wear and tear on all its components. Adding fresh fluid won't be enough to remove all that debris, so have your vehicle's transmission flushed as often as is recommended in the owner's manual. Your mechanic should also routinely check and tighten the linkage of chains of the transmission and inspect the system for leaks. This will also help to maintain the vehicle's transmission and keep it in good repair.