TIPS TO HEALTHY & WEALTHY TRANSMISSIONS

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3. BE WARNED BY THE INDICATORS OF IMPENDING TROUBLE. TOP UP, SERVICE, REPLACE OR REPAIR.

1. Squealing or squeaking noise when braking – Can be worn out brake shoes or pads, dirt or debris trapped between the pad and the rotor.

2. Light scraping noise when vehicle is moving with foot off the brake pedal – Can be the wear indicators on disk brake pads scraping on the rotors to indicate that pads are worn beyond their serviceable limit.

3. Heavy scraping noise when brake pedal is depressed – Can indicate severe brake pad or shoe wear to the point where the steel backing behind the brake lining is cutting into the rotor or drum.

4. Vehicle pulling to one side or the other when brake is applied – Can indicate brakes applying on one wheel but not another. Could be a frozen disk brake caliper or drum brake wheel cylinder (the devices that provide the hydraulic pressure to apply the friction devices such as the brake pads or shoes).

5. Fresh fluid stains under the vehicle near the wheels – Can be brake fluid leaking from hoses, calipers or wheel cylinders, or hydraulic oil leaking from shock absorbers or struts.

6. Vehicle pulling to one side or the other when brake is not being applied – Can be very low tire pressure on one side. Can be a worn or damaged steering component such as ball joints, tie rods, steering rack and pinion unit, idler arm, or steering box.

7. Steering wheel hard to turn to one side or the other or won't return to center on its own after executing a turn – Possible steering box or rack and pinion damage. Wheels out of line from an accident or hitting a curb, or worn steering components.

8. Vehicle leans to one side or the other – Can be a weak or broken spring or low tire pressure.

9. Front of vehicle dips excessively when braking. Can be weak or broken springs or struts.

10. Vehicle keeps bouncing after going over a bump – Possible wear or damage to shock absorbers or struts.

4. TAKE NOTE OF PROBLEMS OFTEN MISINTERPRETED AS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE

Many things can happen to your car that might make you think you have a transmission problem when you really don't. Here are ten conditions that can affect transmission performance, but are not part of the transmission itself and can be relatively inexpensive to repair.

1. Poor fuel system adjustment.

2. Dirty fuel injectors or fuel filter.

3. Engine timing out of adjustment.

4. Poorly adjusted shifter cable or throttle linkage.

5. Damaged engine vacuum line.

6. Broken engine or transmission mounts.

7. Poor performing engine.

8. Collapsed exhaust pipe, muffler, or clogged catalytic converter.

9. Computer or sensor malfunction.

10. Electrical or wiring problem of any kind.

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