Prevention is better than cure. You've probably heard that said plenty of times. The phrase is most often used to talk about health and medicine, but it is just as valid to apply it to vehicles. It's great if your problem can be sorted without much trouble, but even better not to have a problem in the first place. This is especially true when it comes to your vehicle's transmission, as this can be one of the more specialized parts to repair. Not all transmission problems require an extensive overhaul, but they will all cause at least some trouble and inconvenience. Avoiding transmission problems is clearly preferable to even the problems that are quickest and cheapest repair. This is why it is important to ensure you take good care of your transmission. This will help prevent problems and keep it working smoothly. Ideally, it will mean that it doesn't develop any faults at all. Even if it does eventually go wrong, however, it is entirely possible that good care will mean the fault is less serious and easier to repair than it would have been otherwise.

A good technician will give your car a quick inspection whenever you have maintenance performed. Fluid levels, tire condition, dashboard lights, and a variety of other items typically are briefly explored whenever you bring your vehicle in for maintenance. At Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ, we're good at noticing things that need repair, but the fact of the matter is that only you know your car. You know when your car feels off, when its been serviced last (or that it hasn't been serviced at all,) and have at least some vague idea of what’s going on with your vehicle day to day. Here are some questions you can ask us next time you come by the shop:

Checking the fluid level on your transmission is fairly easy, but a bit more complicated than checking your oil. Firstly, this only applies to automatic transmissions, and secondly, some modern cars don’t have dipsticks or dipstick tubes to check and add transmission fluid. With that in mind, here are some tips from Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ in regard to checking your transmission fluid.

Transmissions rarely go out without a warning. Typically it takes a while, during which time there will be observable symptoms. Sometimes it’s an easy fix and sometimes it isn’t, but it’s always better to catch an issue and get it repaired as soon as possible. Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ has provided you with a few things to watch out for.

Your drivetrain is where most of the process of moving your vehicle occurs. The drivetrain includes all the parts powered by the engine to turn the wheels, including the transmission, axles, or driveshafts that combine efforts to propel your car forward (or backwards, when you’re in reverse.) At Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ, our drivetrain specialists are well equipped to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliably on the road and running smoothly along.

We have had many customers who needed a transmissions they could depend on over the years when they had issues and now we have the solution here at Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa thanks to JASPER Engines & Transmissions!  Just announced is the addition of their Chrysler 65RFE-66RFE remanufactured transmission for the 2012 through current model year for:  Dodge Durango - Jeep Grand Cherokee - RAM 1500, 2500, & 3500 trucks!  Backed by a 3 Year | 100,000 Mile Nationwide Parts & Labor Warrantywhich is one of the many reasons we recommend them. 

Transmissions, while generally durable, can be highly complicated devices. For this reason, they are also expensive to replace, and maintaining one will save you a lot of headache and money in the future. This article from Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ discusses how your driving habits affect your transmission. While automatic transmissions are by far the most common, there are still a considerable number of manual transmissions on the road, so this article covers both.

If you drive a vehicle with more than a few miles on it, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed an occasional drip underneath it that leaves spots wherever you park. Identifying what is leaking from your car will help you determine whether or not it’s a cause for concern, and what to do about it.

Your car will rarely just break down or take a turn for the worst out of the blue. Nine times out of ten, your car, truck, or SUV will let you know if something is about to go wrong. Here’s a few things to watch out for, from Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ.

What is your flywheel, and when do you need to replace it? Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ has the answers you’re looking for.

If you drive a standard shift vehicle, you probably know your clutch is an important part of your driving experience. Proper maintenance and use of the clutch will dramatically increase its lifespan, saving you a lot of money in the future. Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ explains:

Whether we’re talking about your engine, transmission, differential, suspension, or otherwise, correct specifications are necessary to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliable, drivable, and running smooth. From Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ, here’s what you need to know.

Your transmission suddenly isn’t shifting right. So what’s wrong with it? Do you need your transmission rebuilt? Good question. Unfortunately, the answer is: No one knows. At least, not yet. To find out what’s causing your transmission problem, a technician is going to have to perform a series of tests. Basically, these tests are designed to answer the simple question: “Is it inside or outside?” That is, is the problem inside the transmission, or in one of the many control systems that operates the transmission?

For those of you who aren't mechanically-savvy, you probably still understand that transmission problems are among the most expensive repairs required for your vehicle. That's because your transmission is a complex system of gears that transmit mechanical power to your engine, ultimately determining the rate of speed you travel.

TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS

Every so often you notice it: The transmission shifts a little late, or maybe it seems to miss a gear entirely. Then it’s okay again… for a little while. Worst of all, there’s no rhyme or reason behind the condition. One minute it’s fine, the next it’s not. So you pop the hood to check the transmission fluid level. Then you notice it: A big mountain of corrosion on the battery terminals. You’ll have to take care of that, but it can’t have anything to do with the transmission, right?

How often should you get your transmission fluid changed?  The transmission industry's standard is 25,000 to 30,000 miles or every two years.  If you tow a trailer, 15,000 to 20,000 miles is recommended depending on the amount of towing. Motorhomes can vary with the amount that they are driven. The best thing that you can do is check the fluid regularly; notice the color, odor and level of the fluid. If you notice a change in the color, odor or level, have it checked by one of our trained technicians.

What type of fluid should you use? The suggested fluids differ from one manufacturer to another and you can check the owner's manual to ensure the correct transmission fluid is utilized per your specific auto or truck make and model.  However, here our technicians have a computer program that will insure the right fluid goes into your transmission. We offer a full line of transmission fluids to cover all the various demands of any car or truck.