4 Tips For Avoiding Transmission Problems

Modern automatic transmissions can take some abuse and perform wonderfully, to a point. But avoiding transmission problems needs to be high on your list of things to do for your car. Here are five simple things to do to keep your transmission humming.

First--and this should go without saying, but it usually does not--no machine can run forever without being kept in good working order. The manufacturer of the car you drive recommends preventative maintenance for a reason. Pay attention to those recommendations.

For example, changing filters and fluids can take a half-hour and cost $100. Fixing a blown transmission caused by skipping those simple changes can cost $2,500 or more, plus the time and income you lose while your car is in the shop. That's a bad trade.

If you do the simple things, like checking your filters and fluids on a regular basis, they stay little instead of turning into big headaches.

Second, remember that automatic transmissions are failure prone. It is a fact of life. Technological advancement in automatic transmissions has improved fuel economy and reliability, but it has also introduced more things to go wrong. That means sensors--lots of them. They are the little gadgets that monitor transmission operation. Every single one of them can go bad.

This is yet another reason to keep up with your recommended preventative services. A good mechanic can check things out and tell you if you're at risk of a major failure. Then you can decide what to do about it. In most cases, a simple preventative repair can save you a big expense later.

Third, pay attention to how you drive. Most automatic transmission problems boil down to overheating (excuse the pun). That might be caused by hard driving in stop and go traffic, towing excessive weights, rabbit starting and short stopping, etc.

These things tend to heat up your engine and break down the fluids in there. Your oil loses its viscosity, for example, and does not lubricate as well. Metal parts can warp or weaken. Rubber gaskets can harden, crack and start to leak.

This is yet another reason to stick to your maintenance schedule, because you'll catch lots of these problems before they become big. But don't forget to treat your car well when you're driving. Take it easy and your transmission will run smoothly for a longer time.

Fourth, pay attention to what your car is telling you. Your car can not talk, of course, but doing a little detective work can save you from big expenses.

Is your car leaking fluids? That's a sign that you need to give it some attention. It really does not matter what the car is leaking--any leak could be a sign of a bigger problem on the way. If you detect a leak, or even if you suspect one, have your mechanic check it out right away.

A modern automatic transmission is a marvel. It is also convenient to drive, especially in city traffic. Avoiding transmission problems is pretty easy. If you treat your automatic transmission right, without abusing it or letting it get out of shape, there's no reason it can't give you years of trouble free driving.