Everything you need to know about this vital piece of your vehicle’s motor
A Transmission is an essential component of a car’s motor designed to shift it into the correct gear and keep the engine running smoothly. Whether you’re speeding up or slowing down, the transmission’s job is to keep everything regulated. It literally transfers the power from inside the engine to the vehicle’s wheels so that you can move.
The life of a transmission is between 80,000 – 150,000 miles.
How to tell if your transmission is going bad
There are some sure tell signs your transmission might need a little TLC from the mechanic.
- Gears slipping
- Burning smell
- The car has difficulty starting or won’t start
- Leaking fluid
- Making a strange noise
- Your “check engine” light comes on
- A grinding noise when you switch gears
A trusted mechanic will know right away if it’s the transmission that is giving your car problems. Driving on a bad one can cause more damage to the vehicle and it’s a huge safety risk. If you suspect a problem, take it in for a diagnostic test.
My transmission is shot…now what?
Here’s the bad news – transmissions are one of the most expensive repairs you can make on a vehicle, and you’ll likely have two choices: repair and rebuild your current transmission (which could save you money) or get a new one. The cost varies depending on the kind of car you have but they can range in price from $1500 – $4000. Luxury or exotic car transmissions can be $10,000 or more.
Here’s something to keep in mind, it’s almost always less expensive to repair a car than buy a new one, but before you make any decisions, you should consider the age of your vehicle and how many miles it has.
If your car only has 80,000 miles on it and is in overall good shape, it may make the most sense to install a new transmission, rather than spend thousands of dollars to repair the existing one, then possibly repair it again before you’re ready to trade it in for a new model. If your vehicle has more than 150,000 miles on it, it makes more economical sense to repair the current transmission and keep it running for a little while longer.
How to get the most out of your transmission
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. It’s important to check your vehicle’s transmission fluid regularly, if you don’t know how to do this, a mechanic can do it for you. If the fluid needs to be flushed or changed, do it.
It’s important to stop completely before shifting your car from park to drive or reverse. Wait for your car to come to a complete stop – then switch.
If you treat your vehicle gently, don’t drive aggressively, and stay on top of routine maintenance, you should be able to get the most out of your vehicle’s transmission.
Transmission Protection
A vehicle service contract from Protect My Car can help cover the cost if anything happens to your transmission. In fact, you could pay as little as $100 dollars to fix a transmission that would otherwise run into the thousands of dollars. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee each day, you can get coverage for your:
- Steering
- Suspension
- Engine
- A/C and Heating
- Navigation and Electronics
- …and so much more.
When you walk into the repair shop with a coverage plan from PMC, you can rest assured that you’re covered for repairs like these. You pay a deductible in accordance with your plan, then just like insurance, and we pay the rest.
Visit our website or give us a call at (800) 253-2850 for a free quote on the plan that works best for you and your vehicle.
Protect My Car is a vehicle service contract provider, also referred to as extended car warranty provider, with multiple coverage plans for new and used vehicles with low to higher mileage to help meet your needs and budget. Protect My Car customers work directly with the company for customer service, claims administration and contract financing. No middleman or the need for third-party approval. All Protect My Car Plans include best-in-class claims and customer support, 24/7 roadside assistance, free oil changes and tire rotations and the exclusive PMC Rewards Plan, providing daily deals, giveaways, coupons, and thousands of ways to save money every day. Protect My Car has a 30-day money-back guarantee.