Transmission Repair Questions & Answers

At Elite Transmission Specialists we realize many of you may have questions about your transmission repair or related components.

If you have questions about your transmission repair please email it to:

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Please provide as much information as possible about your transmission repair including the make, model, and year of your vehicle; the engine and transmission type if known, and any details such as whether it is hot or cold, or which gear the issue occurs in. We will do our best to answer all transmission repair and auto repair questions and will feature questions of general interest on this page.

Transmission Repair Question - There are many types of transmission fluids on the store shelves. Which one is right for my car?

Transmission Repair Answer - Consult your owners manual for information on which fluid is required by your transmission. As a general rule GM vehicles use Dextron while Fords use Mercon. There are also a number of multi purpose fluids suitable for a range of vehicles. It is important you use the correct fluid.

Transmission Repair Question - How often should I change my transmission fluid?

Transmission Repair Answer - Like everything else the automatic transmission fluid in your car wears out. Transmission repairs should include a fluid and filter change every 30,000 miles. Heat is the enemy of your transmission; stop-and-go city driving, towing, fast acceleration and extreme temperatures, like those we have here in Houston, will shorten the life of your transmission. Regular fluid and filter maintenance is probably the best tool to avoid premature wear and the need for major transmission repairs.

Transmission Repair Question - My transmission is slipping a little. For transmission repair, what is the best treatment product to put in it?

Transmission Repair Answer - Please do not put goo or potions into your transmission! Products of this type are not a good transmission repair; they only mask the systems. If problems are caught early it is possible that the transmission repair can be relatively inexpensive. However, using transmission tune-up or stop-leak products all but guarantee a catastrophic failure and major, transmission repair job in the near future.

Transmission Repair Question - Is it good to overfill the transmission so it has extra fluid?

Transmission Repair Answer - No! Never overfill your transmission. Too much fluid will cause foaming, leading to erratic shifts, oil starvation, and serious transmission damage. Using too much fluid may also cause leaks. Add fluid slowly, a little at a time, while your transmission is hot and your engine is idling with the transmission in park. Always check your fluid on a level surface as slopes or hills will give incorrect readings.

Transmission Repair Question - I have a car with a manual transmission. Is it bad to keep my foot on the clutch pedal?

Transmission Repair Answer - Yes! This is called "riding the clutch," and it is probably the worst thing you can do to your manual transmission. For maximum clutch life never keep your foot on the pedal when driving, don't use the clutch to hold your car on a hill, and never clutch so as to save your brakes. Anytime the clutch pedal is in any position other than all the way up or all the way down, you're causing premature clutch wear and may need early transmission repair work.