My friend just had a very pricey transmission repair in Ada. How can Grand Rapids motorists like myself avoid transmission trouble?

My friend just had a very pricey transmission repair in Ada. How can Grand Rapids motorists like myself avoid transmission trouble?

Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service Answer:

Next to your engine, your transmission is the most pricey component in your vehicle – so you and your fellow Grand Rapids motorists want to do all you can to avoid costly transmission repairs.

Grand Rapids motorists may have noticed a trend of engines becoming more and more powerful in recent years. At the same time, fuel economy has been improving in nearly every motor vehicle segment in MI. More power and better gas mileage have always been at odds. Some of the improvement in fuel economy has been due to engine design, but most of the increases in gas mileage can be credited to auto manufacturers’ advances in transmission technology.

Every engine has a sweet spot in which it most efficiently makes power. This is often referred to by Grand Rapids technicians as the power band – the optimal engine speed (measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM). The computers that control what gear your automatic transmission is in try to keep it in the right gear in order to maintain optimal engine speed – whatever your Grand Rapids driving conditions may be. Modern automatic transmissions have anywhere between four and ten speeds. The more “speeds” your transmission has, the more time your engine can operate at peak efficiency. Needless to say, transmissions have become more sophisticated and costly.

Transmissions are cooled and lubricated by transmission fluid. This pressurized fluid is directed through small passages to effect gear changes. When transmission fluid gets old and contaminated, the small passages can become plugged which adversely affects shifts. The dirty fluid circulating in the transmission can eat away at vital gaskets and seals causing detrimental internal leaks that also hurt shifting. This is why some vehicle manufacturers recommend that transmissions be serviced from time to time. The interval varies by vehicle, so check your owner’s manual or with your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service tech about your transmission service recommendations.

Old, harmful contaminated fluid is removed and new fluid is installed. Keeping up with the auto manufacturer’s recommended service schedule helps prevent harmful internal damage that may result in a significant transmission rebuild. Let Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service help you extend the life of your sedan and prevent expensive repairs with recommended preventive maintenance service.

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Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503