Does this sound familiar? “We were taking a camping trip at our favorite state park over a three day weekend. About half way to our campsite, the transmission went out on our SUV. It took all weekend to get towed out and get back home.”

What can I do to prevent transmission problems in the future?

Transmission repairs can be expensive. On top of that this vehicle was in the backcountry. Their vacation weekend turned into three days of car repairs.

Look, Car or SUV transmissions are tough and durable. All you have to do to maintain them is replace the fluid on schedule. The fluid gets contaminated with bits of clutch plates and metal. Dirty transmission fluid under pressure acts like liquid sandpaper, eating away at important gaskets and seals. Then your transmission doesn’t shift as well. It can start to leak and overheat. And then you could end up stranded.

Another thing: if you carry heavy loads or tow a trailer, your transmission is working much harder and running hotter than under normal conditions. Your transmission fluid may need to be changed sooner. Check your Car or SUV owner’s manual for your severe service schedule or talk with us at Douglas Automotive Repair, Inc about when you should have your transmission serviced.

Car owners who do a lot of towing may want to consider adding an external transmission cooler to reduce transmission operating temperatures and extend its life.

Call us today to take care of your transmission maintenance.

This entry was posted in Differential, Transmission, Vehicle Maintenance and tagged Preventive Maintenance, Transmission, Vehicle Maintenance on June 12, 2014.