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Proper Transmission Care 101

March 4, 2010 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

Cars will be able to run smoothly so long as their transmission is maintained in good working condition. There must be proper transmission maintenance that is performed regularly so there will be no problems that will happen later on. When you do regular transmission maintenance, there are things you need to change and add. In this article, we are going to discover a few basic ways by which you can performe engine maintenance to ensure that your car will keep on running smoothly.

You should do regular maintenance on your transmission, whether it be automatic or manual transmission, so you should from time to time replace the oil on the engine as well as the oil filter. We can say that the transmission oil is like the lifeblood of the engine, so it is essential that it needs to be replaced from time to time. You have the ability to finish this task in just a few minutes if you have the right tools.

First and foremost, you should drain the oil from the engine by removing the drain plug from the body which is located underneath the car. It is necessary for you to utilize a socket wrench so that you will be able to remove or drain all of the oil from the engine. After doing that, you can then replace the drain plug back.

And then you should remove the previously used oil filter using an oil filter wrench. You can easily locate the oil filter as it is the only cylindrical object which is right besides your engine. When you find it, coat the new oil filter gasket with a little amount of oil so the ring will not get stuck to the mount. And then you need to provision the new filter, and make sure that it is screwed on tightly and not loose. After fitting the oil filter, you can then proceed with filling the engine with oil, by replacing the oil filler cap and pouring on your preferred oil on the engine.

Last but certainly not the least, you can provision some specialized additives to your transmission oil. This will help in prolonging the life of your transmission. You can also purchase and install a transmission cooler which will prevent your oil from heating too much and keeping it at the optimum temperature. By accomplishing this, it is highly unlikely that your car’s transmission will break down easily.

These are the easy methods you can do to have proper transmission maintenance. These steps needs to be done on a regular basis so as to be assured that your transmission won’t break down easily due to wear and tear. Otherwise, you will encounter problems which will lead you to spend more time and money getting your car fixed.

For any transmission problems come to us at Escondido transmission repair.  Where quality is job one at Carlsbad auto repair.

How to improve how long your transmission will last

November 3, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

One of the expensive repairs you can do on the car is a transmission repair.  It is one of those repairs you hate to hear you have to do.So without question people are searching for methods to get their car to last longer.  Or they want to know if it is even possible. Like most things it is possible.You can do things that will help it last longer and that is by taking care of it.  But here are more specific things you can do to make your transmission last longer.

First thing you always want to do is maintain proper fluid level.  Just like everything in your car you want to keep your fluids right.But in regards to your transmission it is imperative if you truly want it to last longer.  Whenever a client takes there car in to the Oceanside transmission repair shop I run I always check their fluids.I am always talking to my customers to make sure they understand to watch their fluid levels.  If they run their car with low fluids they will surely ruin their transmission.  Or it won’t last as long as they want.

Second thing they can do is that heat kills transmissions.  So what you want to do is make sure you keep your transmission cool.One of the ways that work best is by adding in some transmission cooler.  You can easily find it at most auto parts dealers.  Of course when clients come and bring their cars in to our Escondido auto repair shop we add it in also.This gives the transmission the ability to run cooler.

Lastly here is one that is easy.  Never shift gears until you come to a complete stop.  You will be surprised at the number of people who ruin their cars by shifting gears while the car is moving.  I am not because we see it all the time in our Oceanside auto repair shop.People have their cars come in with transmissions ruined because they tried to shift while it was moving.

Some steps on finding transmission problems

October 31, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

One of the most costly repairs you can have for your car is the transmission.It is a huge part of your automobile.  Taking care of it is very important.By doing some maintenance on your car you will end up saving a lot of money.  Since you can’t fix it yourself here are some ways to check it at home.By having some of the checking done at home you can see if it needs to be brought in.

First off since I own a Escondido auto repair shop I know how expensive transmission repairs can be.So i like to have my clients do some checks themselves prior to taking it in.This way you can double check to see if it really needs to be brought in.First thing they can do is check the fluid.The fluid has to be clear.If the fluid is dark or black that is an indication of a problem and they have to bring their car in.

Another thing they can check is to see if the gear shifts normally.You accomplish this by simply moving the gears from park to drive.Or you can shift it from park to reverse.  What you are looking for is for the gears to shift smoothly.What you don’t want to feel is any jerking motion.If you find that your car is jerking that is an indication of problems with your transmission.  In my Oceanside transmission repair shop this is one of the big signs of transmission problems.  A lot of cars that come in have this very problem.

Lastly you can see if there could be any leaking of your transmission fluid.This is something you can check with your dipstick.But you won’t know unless you perform this check regularly.  I advise all my customers in my Oceanside auto repair shop to always check your fluids.  People are familiar with checking for oil.  But they should also check their transmission fluid.This gives you the ability to tell if the fluid is leaking.

If you perform these steps on your car you are making sure your transmission stays in good condition.

Checking a used car for transmission problems

October 11, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

As the bad economy touches more people it will also change their buying habits. One big area that has been affected is the area of car buying.When times were good a lot of people would just go out and get a new car.Now if they have a need for another car they are going to have to settle for used.That isn’t necessarily such a bad thing since you can get good value with a used car.But if you make a mistake and do it wrong it will end up costing you money.

One of the areas you can do wrong is the transmission.Even though they make transmissions more reliable they still can be expensive.  In other words it is easy to break and expensive to fix.  That is a bad combination and I have seen many of my clients suffer from this in my Vista transmission repair company.They go and purchase that used car but they end spending a lot more money.

One thing you can check is a car’s history.  You want to ask the seller for any service records.That can show you if it was a rental.  Or you can see if it was in an accident.So what you are looking for are any transmission problems.  That is one thing I have all my clients of my La Costa transmission repair shop to do is check the vehicle’s records.

Something else you can check is going over the transmission fluid levels.What you are going to have to do is have the car idle for a little while.  Then you just check the transmission dipstick.  If it is low it could be a transmission leak.If you find that the fluid is very dirty or even black, don’t even think about buying that car.It is an indicator of problems with the transmission.  The last thing you want to do is buy a used car then end up having to bring it into my Vista auto repair shop to fix the transmission.  Do these things and you can save yourself a lot of money.

Using maintenance records to sell your car

October 2, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

One trend that is gaining steam is when someone is buying a used car, they want the maintenance records.Most people are now wanting to see if a car they want to buy has a record of maintenance. Because you can be pretty sure that somebody who took care of their car, will have a car that will last longer. So when you have a car it is more important to keep good records.Because a lot of buyers will want to take a look at that.

So one of the things you want to make sure to do is to keep a receipt of all service you do for your car.  In my auto repair San Diego business I make sure to give all my clients a receipt of the work that was done.  Make sure whichever company you take your car into does the same.This could be the deciding factor in whether or not you get the price you wanted or have to get something less.

Also, when you have your car taken in for a tune up, don’t forget to keep a record of it.Getting your vehicle tuned up on a regular schedule will help it run longer and smoother.It is also beneficial in making your car pass any sort of smog test a lot easier.  In my smog test San Diego center I notice cars that weren’t tuned up regularly are the ones that fail the test.

Finally you want to keep good records of when you take your car in for brake maintenance.This is a big part of caring for your vehicle and its maintenance.  It is also something a potential buyer will look at.Because a new buyer definitely does not want to have to get an expensive brake job.  So in my San Diego brakes service I make sure to give a thorough report to all my clients.

Hopefully you fully understand how important it is to maintain your vehicles if you want to sell it.Most buyers now want the car they are buying to be maintained.By taking care to keep all maintenance records you will be able to prove that you did maintain it.

Importance of maintaining your car

September 17, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

In this day and age everybody needs a car.There are even some people who need to use planes.But the car to many people is crucial to live in this world.It gets people to and from work.It can take people when they need to go shopping.It transports people to their schools.  So what I would like to share is the 3 important parts of keeping your car in order.

This is from a perspective from my experience running a auto repair San Diego company.The two areas we need to take a closer look at is the health of your car and your overall safety. 

So when we are talking about safety in reality all vehicle maintenance pertains to safety.  But one part of your car is really important to your safety.  That part is your brakes.  With cars going faster and faster you need good brakes. With more and more people having so many distractions good brakes are a must.By taking the proper steps to care for them you will always have the ability to brake in time.Brakes that you make sure are well maintained will save lives and save money.  I have seen it first hand running a San Diego brake shop.

In reference to keeping your car healthy the critical thing to remember is to keep your car maintained.Some of the critical things that have to be done are getting tune ups and oil changes. By making an effort to always change the oil you allow your car to run smoother and longer.By not always changing your oil you run the chance of ruining your engine.

Another important point you should remember to do is have regular tune ups done.If you can do that you will be able to keep your car’s important functions taken care of.By performing this step you will have a car that runs smoother and cleaner.  If you don’t do this your car will run bad.Some things that can happen when you don’t do that is a failed smog test.  Most of the cars that fail in my smog test San Diego shop are the ones that didn’t take care of those things.

So by making sure to accomplish this you will be ensuring the safety of your car and you and your loved ones.

How to save money in your car

September 11, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

Today many Americans are looking for ways to save money.With the state our economy is in, you can’t really find fault in them.  They look at cutting expenses.Possibly they might start to not go out as much.They are not purchasing things they have no use with.But what I would like to look at is a way that you probably haven’t thought too much about.That way you can find with your car.

When most people think of their cars and saving money it usually involves saving gas.  They think of ways they can spend less on gas.  But I would like to suggest if you maintain your car you can save more.  I know this for a fact running my San Diego auto repair company. 

With most cars people usually don’t think of maintenance. Unfortunately the only time they do think about it, is when it is too late.  They wait for something to go wrong or break down.But from what I have witnessed doing this and waiting ends up making the auto repair expenses more costly.

Your brakes let examine for instance.If you do proper maintenance with your brakes you are able to avoid expensive repairs.If you do not do it, you will have some exspensive disc brakes that will need a repair.Or you may have to get the brake shoes replaced.By making sure that you use your brakes the right way and mainaining them you will save a lot of money.  So take it in to a brake shop like my San Diego brakes shop and you can find out if you need to do anything.  Thinks like making sure it has enough brake fluid. 

Or people don’t get tuneups with their car.  They let the engine go.They do not do an oil change as frequently as they should. This leads to the engines running bad in your cars.  So bad that it won’t pass a smog test.  From what I have seen running a San Diego smog check shop, if you fail a smog test, this can lead to expensive repairs just to get it to pass.

But if you do the proper maintenance you will keep your car running well.  The engine will run smoother and properly.Go and wait too long and it will end up costing you more money in the long run.

Hopefully this shows you that you can save money by maintaining your car. Spend a little now to save more in the future.

Getting your car to last longer

September 2, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

It is a brand new time period.  The economy has changed.  With it, most Americans don’t have as much money to spend as before.In regards to the auto industry you are able to witness it.  With automakers constantly losing money, you know people aren’t buying big items as much anymore. 

With that as a thought, a lot of Americans will be forced into having to keep their car a much longer times.When you do keep your car much longer it will need more maintenance.The better you are able to keep maintenance on your car will dictate how much longer it will last.  So I would like to offer a couple of tips from my experience owning a San Diego auto repair company.

One of the items that is easily overlooked is keeping your car running clean. Why does this matter?  Because if you don’t keep it running clean you could fail a smog test.If you can’t pass the smog test, this can be the start of some expensiver repairs.  I have seen this time and time again from doing smog test San Diego.

All you really need to do is to be sure that you change the oil on a regular schedule.Als be positive that it is tuned up for all the regular tune ups.

Second thing overlooked is brakes.You don’t really focus your attention on them.But everybody is positive that it is critical for safety.But if you are not diligent in caring for them, this will be an expensive repair.  I should know having to charge my clients to replace their brakes at my San Diego brakes shop.

Make certain that when you are using the brakes that you aren’t too hard on them. Be prepared for all your stops and then apply the brakes slowly.Also be sure there is enough bake fluids.  This can save you a lot of money in repairs.

Do these couple of things and you will save a lot of money in repairs.  When you have to keep your cars longer you will be glad you did.

Find ways to save money with your car

September 1, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

Today a lot of Americans are searching for ways to spend less of their money.  With the way the economy is you can’t blame them.They try to cut expenses any way possible.  Maybe they go out less.They aren’t going out and buying things of no use.But I would like to examine a way that might not have crossed your mind.That way you can find with your car.

When people think of saving money with their cars, they think of gas.They try to come up with ways of spending less money on gas.But what I would like to point out that if your car is properly cared for you will save more in the long run.  I know this for a fact running my San Diego auto repair company. 

With a lot of cars people in general don’t think of doing maintenance. Unfortunately, when they do find themselves thinking about it, it is because it is too late.They wait for the inevitable part breaking down or something going wrong.But from what I have witnessed doing this and waiting ends up making the auto repair expenses more costly.

As an example let look at your brakes.If you can keep your brakes properly maintained you can prevent expensive repairs.If you fail to, you are going to have disc brakes that will be expensive to repair.  Or you might have  to replace the brake shoes.By making sure that you use your brakes the right way and mainaining them you will save a lot of money.  So take it in to a brake shop like my San Diego brakes shop and you can find out if you need to do anything.  Thinks like making sure it has enough brake fluid. 

Or a lot of people won’t take their cars for tuneups.They disregard the engine’s maintenance.They aren’t doing an oil change as much as they are supposed to. This ends up making your cars engine to start running badly.So poorly that it isn’t going to pass a smog check.  From what I have seen running a San Diego smog check shop, if you fail a smog test, this can lead to expensive repairs just to get it to pass.

But if you properly maintain your car you can keep it in good shape.  The engine will run smoother and properly.Wait longer then you should and you will end up spending a lot more money then expected.

I hope this shows you that maintaining your car is a great way to save money. Spend a little now to save more in the future.

How to prevent a used car costing you more money

August 30, 2009 by amabq · Leave a Comment 

Well the decade of wealth and exuberance is gone.  For most Americans luxuries like new cars are a thing of the past. Nowadays when a family needs a new vehicle they often look for used cars.This is clear by all of the money troubles the big three auto makers are having.There sales have gone way down.

But most families will still need some sort of transportation.But when families are on a tight budget they have to go with a cheaper choice.  That alternative is used cars. 

As a San Diego auto repair shop owner I am asked to inspect some of these used cars.Because when you are making a purchase of a used car, the last thing you want is a lemon.So by making sure there is proper inspectino performed, you can avoid most expensive repairs.

So when you are examining the used cars, take in mind these 2 things to look for.First thing you have to check is the brakes.  We do San Diego brake in our shop.So I know from experience that having to repair brakes can be very costly.If you buy a used car where the brakes were not taken care of by the previous owner it can become expensive.  Last thing you want is to have to replace the entire braking system.So be sure you have good brakes.

Second, you want to ensure that the car is running clean.  In other words can it pass a smog test.  In my business I do San Diego smog check.The last thing you are going to want is the purchase of a used car that needs some expensive repairs.Especially if the repairs are going to involve any emmission problems.

If you purchase a car that can’t pass a smog test that isn’t good.It is an indicator that the car was not maintained.  Most likely they didn’t do oil changes or tuneups.These could be the beginning of a lot more issues down the road.

If you take the time to inspect a couple of items you will save a lot of money. By not doing proper checking you can fall into some huge repair bills.  When you are trying to save money I am sure you don’t want that.

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