About Transmission Repair
With offices in North America and Europe, we’re establishing www.RepairMyTransmission.com as the leading online directory for transmission repairers.
The go-to place to sort out any car transmission problem. Providing a clear, easy to use interface coupled with a concise and uncluttered listing of car transmission specialists within easy reach of our customers.
So that together we can help make repairing car transmission systems simple.
What to Know About Transmission Repair
Rule #1: Don’t Panic
Transmissions have torque converters that lock at cruising speeds to save fuel. Sometimes when the locking stops and the engine has to maintain higher RPMs to keep the car moving at the same speed, it’s simply because the clutch wire came loose or has a short. Tightening the wire or replacing it can solve this problem very cheaply.
Rule #2: Fix Everything Else First
Today’s cars have a computer system that operates the engine and transmission in unity with each other in order to achieve greater fuel economy. Sometimes shifting problems that appear to be transmission related are actually engine problems. When the engine is not working right, the computer system is not able to provide the smooth-shifting it is supposed to.
Rule #3: Use the Codes
One should use a scan tool to check for engine codes and transmission codes. Most auto parts stores will let the public use their ODBII scanner for free. Then one should evaluate all the codes to determine logically what the problem might be, starting with the engine codes and moving into the transmission codes. Something as simple as charred distributor wires, or a broken coolant sensor can cause the computer system to prevent the transmission from shifting properly.
Rule #4: Don’t Spend Money You Don’t Have To
Always make sure to check for OE Technical Service bulletins (TSBs) first to see if there has been a recall. If so, it could save a lot of money and effort. Next check the fluids. Transmission fluid flushings and changes are expensive, and a lot of people balk at the price tag, so they just don’t do it. If the fluid is black and smells burnt, it could need changing. Get out the trusty engine scanner and look for any code you can find. Fix all the engine-related problems first. Then move to the internals of the transmission. Seals wear out, and pumps break down with age. If you do find an internal transmission problem at this point, you will know for sure it is a transmission problem.
Side note: an ECM is an Engine Control Module. A PCM is a Power Control Module, and it controls both engine and transmission.
An example of something outside the transmission that can seem like a transmission problem. A 1997 Ford Escort had a speedometer problem. The speedometer was stuck at zero. This was an electronic speedometer, so it got its measurement from the speed sensor. Since the speed sensor was not working, the car went into limp-home-mode. The transmission was stuck in second gear as part of the limp-home-mode. Fixing the speed sensor fixed both the speedometer and the transmission.