Transmission Repair and Things You Can Do To Extend Its Life

No one wants to be told they need serious transmission repair. It's expensive and time consuming. These are two of the last things a car owner wants to hear when it comes to their vehicle. Nonetheless, entire shops in nearly every city in America can afford to support themselves wholly based on fixing them. While there's nothing you can do to avoid something going wrong eventually -- and surprise problems can occur even when you do everything in your power to avoid them -- there are some things you can do to improve your chances of getting a long life out of the system before it breaks down. Here are some wise maintenance strategies you can put into practice.

Check the Fluid

Most car owners are well aware of the importance of checking their oil regularly. They'll stop by the gas station every few weeks, pop the hood, and take a look at the dipstick to make sure they aren't burning that all important fluid off a little too quickly. But these same owners often neglect to check their other fluids. While you don't need to do it nearly as often, a great deal of transmission repair can be avoided if you just check the fluid every so often. If you have a good mechanic, you can get him to check it whenever you bring your car in for an oil change.

External Cooler

If you are taking your car through the paces, you might consider having an external cooler installed in your vehicle. What car manufacturers refer to as "extreme conditions", such as towing something behind your vehicle, piling a great deal of freight (or several passengers) into the vehicle, or even sitting in traffic for a long time can build up a lot of heat in the system. If you have an external cooler aimed at the system, you can avoid some of this heat and avoid expensive transmission repair coming sooner than later.

Get Problems Checked Early

One of the worst things you can do as a car owner is let problems fester for a while before you put your vehicle in front of a mechanic. If there is any one universal truth when it comes to transmission repair, it is that the cost of the bill increases proportionally with the amount of time a car owner waits to have it looked at. At the first sign of trouble, take your car in to your trusted mechanic and see what the problem is.