Know When Your Problems Require Transmission Repair

Any car owner with anything approaching a "budget" knows the chilling sound of the mechanic telling you that you'll need transmission repair. If caught early, these problems don't need to be expensive, but when are they ever caught early? No, more often you'll be facing an enormous bill that will cause you to consider riding a bicycle for your primary transportation. How do you avoid this situation? It's not easy. The first thing you should do is find a trustworthy mechanic and use them frequently for maintenance. The next thing is to learn a little bit about the problems you might be facing.

Low Fluid

Putting new fluid into your car is one of the cheapest fixes you can do in the realm of transmission repair. When fluid gets low it can cause your car to move sluggishly through the gears. If you leave it low for long enough, it can cause some serious damage inside the system. When that happens, you're no longer looking at a cheap fix. Keep an eye on your fluid levels for this very reason. Check it a couple of times a year. If it keeps coming up low, you might be burning fluid or leaking it.

Checking For Leaks

One good thing about checking for leaks is that you're dealing with a closed system. There are only so many places a leak can develop. First of all, you should be on the lookout for the telltale signs of a leak. Namely, spots and pools underneath the area where you park. The fluid is red of color (usually), so it's not too hard to determine what you're looking at. If you park on a black surface, use a piece of paper or a white rag to check the color. Fluid leaks can happen at the base of the filler tube, near the engine, at the selector shaft, or in the radiator. If you don't know much about transmission repair, have your mechanic give it a look.

Rebuilding

Other than full replacement, a rebuild is the most expensive piece of transmission repair. It basically involves having the mechanic take it fully apart and replace the parts that have been worn out or broken. Be wary of any mechanic that jumps immediately to this solution. This is going to cost you a pretty penny, so it's very worth it to check any possible problems before you get to that point. This includes changing the filter, changing the fluid, and anything else your mechanic can think to check. In the end, if a rebuild is necessary, make sure you get a warranty on your new system.