Question & Answers:
|
|
How Do I Get A Proper
Diagnosis?
Although a Transmission Shop or Service Garage
may have good intentions, transmission repair service technicians who
quote prices for transmission repair or rebuild service over the phone
are actually doing more harm than good. An Accurate diagnosis requires
a thorough inspection.
Think About It like This:
If a doctor quoted you prices for medical procedures that didn’t apply
to you... they basically would be wasting your time. And if you were
told over the phone you needed major surgery.... without being properly
diagnosed... you would definitely consider getting a second opinion.
It’s funny to some that we compare it this way...... But basically your
transmission repair technician is your cars “doctor” and we know how
important it is to you to have an accurate diagnosis so that you can
know exactly what your transmission or differential repairs will be.
Here are just a few basic steps that might make the process easier for
you:
Make sure the “squeak ,grinding, slip, shake, or pull...that you
describe are the same meaning to your transmission service
professional. If possible, try to show the auto service technician
exactly when your vehicle malfunctions.
Have all the complex diagnostic procedures performed on your vehicle
which are necessary to provide you with an accurate and cost efficient
transmission repair estimate. ( Many times accurate diagnosis require “
high tech”, very expensive diagnostic test equipment before even the
most professional technician can render a qualified opinion.
The results of the testing can determine which system(s) in the
transmission have failed and then the extent of the inside damage 0r
problems can now be determined. (Make sure this is done before cost is
discussed.)
Make sure all proposed repairs and/or work done is put in writing. And
request in advance that all of your old parts are returned to you.
We know car troubles aren’t easy to have to deal with...and definitely
not fun.
And in many cases unavoidable if you want to be back on the road. We
want to make repairing your vehicle as simple and as stress free as
possible. Please call us to make an appointment today. We're happy to
help you at Tucker Transmission Service.
TOP
Should I Replace Or Rebuild My
Transmission?
Q. What is a " Rebuilt" Transmission?
A. Rebuilt
transmissions are units that have been reconditioned in a mass assembly
line process rather than using a custom rebuilding job.
When making the decision to have a " Rebuilt" transmission versus a
custom transmission repair service done for you, consider the following:
● How long do you plan to keep your vehicle.
● How do you use your vehicle.
● Do you drive in "special" conditions?
● Is your transmission in your car a simple type unit or a problematic
type?
The quality of a rebuilt transmission really depends on which company
remanufactured it and what standards the company sets for their
rebuilts. These are all important to consider before making your
decision to order a rebuilt transmission. Your transmission service
repair professional should be able to answer any questions you may have
in the details of a rebuilt transmission.
We have THE HIGHEST STANDARDS set for all of our rebuilt
transmissions.... to keep you on the road.
Call us at Tucker Transmission..... we can further assist you with any
other questions you may have.
TOP
Why Do You Need To Disassemble
My Transmission?
Q. Why do you have to
take my transmission apart first before telling me what it is going to
cost for repairs? Can you just tell me over the phone before I come in
how much it will cost me?
A. We want to accurately diagnose your vehicle.
It is very common and easy to miss or not recognize a symptom that a
trained technician would normally see or hear. A shudder, a vibration,
a whining noise and a slipping or pulling feel to the transmission can
be different degrees of needed repair. Or possibly not the transmission
at all. We never recommend you buying car repairs over the phone.
Because all transmission shop technicians know that we can't be sure of
what is wrong until we are able to get inside the "tranny" itself. And
because transmission repair can be costly....you want to make sure you
aren't paying for repairs that were not needed in the first place.
Q. My repairs seem like alot...Why is it costing so much to have my
transmission repaired?
A. It really isn't costly when you understand
what exactly goes into repairing your transmission problems. It isn't
easy as getting your oil changed or changing your spark plugs.
Especially newer automatic transmissions that are equipped with front
wheel drive technology or computerized.
● Did you know that there are over three thousand
parts in an average Automatic transmission?
● Parts for some older model imported vehicles can be 10 times higher
than older, larger size modeled cars.
● Just getting to the specific parts just to find out what is
malfunctioning is a major task for technicians. Especially if the
manufacturer has crammed in all the different mechanical systems on top
or around each other(common in smaller cars).
Serious work is unavoidable in getting a proper diagnosis. If anyone
claims he can accurately diagnose your transmission or differential
problems without looking at the your car or truck first.... we would be
very concerned.
TOP
How Can I Be Sure Its The
Transmission?
A. There are many symptoms of a failing
transmission that are also shared symptoms of other things that can be
wrong with your vehicle, other than your transmission, such as transfer
case or differential or even a Engine Miss or slipping clutch. The best
way to know for sure is to take your vehicle into your ATRA Certified
transmission specialist.
Here's why: Wouldn't it be a perfect
world if your vehicle could actually " talk " to you? Tell you when it
isn't feeling right, and then tell you what to do to fix it?When you
get a common sickness, ... you can go to the doctor ( often knowing
your diagnosis before you even arrive at his office), tell him your
symptoms, And the Doctor simply makes you better.
So now your car isn't driving right.... You're
sure it is the transmission..... You try to pass another vehicle and
all of a sudden it feels like someone slammed on your brakes... or your
car is stalling at every stop light..... and when driving at faster
speeds you feel a "shudder." These problems commonly accused on the
transmission, have many times been due to something else.
We know that our vehicles can't "really" talk to us ...at least not yet
anyways....... But we can give thanks to Automotive Engineers and their
idea to put computers inside all late model vehicles. Our cars use one
computer and/or multiple computers which share information with each
other to control the engine and in many cases the Transmission.
The computer inside your vehicle uses sensors to keep track of
important information that your vehicle gives out. Like how fast you're
going, throttle position, the input speed of your transmission, and the
different switch positions. We drive many different speeds, our
acceleration increases and decreases as we drive on and off highways,
and as we're passing other drivers, and even when we're coasting or
slowing down with traffic to an idle.
The computer in your vehicle knows how you're driving because it uses
the sensors throughout the vehicle to monitor the cars engine and
transmission performance. So as we drive on and off freeways, demanding
constant changes in speeds, using our everyday maneuvers like passing,
slowing down as we approach a stop, and even when we're at idle.....
the computer acknowledges this from monitoring certain sensors. And
then to improve fuel economy, the computer can engage a clutch inside
the torque converter.
The problems you had on the freeway, or at the light, could be a number
of things. Without special equipment and an experienced Transmission
Shop Service Professional, you can't tell if a "shudder" or " pulling"
is caused by the torque converter, a slipping transmission, limited
slip differential, a dirty fuel injector, or maybe a weak spark. It
could be a number of things.
The best way to know for sure is to take your car to a differential or
transmission repair service specialist. At Tucker Transmissions we can
help.
TOP
Should I Shop For A Car Repair
Over The Phone?
STOP!! DON'T BUY CAR REPAIR OVER THE PHONE!!
I wish all mechanics were honest... but unfortunately as in any
business...there can be those comfortable with cheating consumers.
Especially when over 90% of consumers that are truly cheated are
entirely unaware that they have been made a victim. The person who
cheats consumers knows that these percentages are in their favor. And
to those of us who aren't very knowledgeable in transmission or engine
repair can sadly... become a victim. It is common knowledge among
Certified Transmission Repair Technicians that successful computer
controlled automatic transmission repair service requires disassembly
in order to find where it is malfunctioning.
Q. How do I know I'm not being cheated or ripped-off?
A. We know that their are very few garages that are actually fraudulent
or out to cheat you. But it doesn't change the fact that they do
exist.
Always insist on
certified transmission shop service technicians. Because an educated
technician keeps themselves up on all the latest technology and
"Upgrades" (better) ways of doing transmission repair. Always ask to see your automatic or standard
transmission when it comes apart and insist your old parts be returned
to you. Always be involved in your
clutch, differential or transmission repair-- ask questions-- and don't
be afraid to ask for something to be explained to you.
TOP
|