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There is some bad news, though. When today's computer-controlled electronic transmissions do break down; they are very expensive to repair. It's not uncommon for a newly rebuilt electronic transmission to cost over two thousand dollars. According to former Indy car mechanic Dave Bowman, regular fluid changes are the key to keeping your automatic transmission trouble free. Ron Sessions, author of the Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 Handbook (HP Books), states the ideal operating temperature for transmission fluid is between 175 and 225 degrees Fahrenheit. "Anything other than light duty use will raise fluid temperature beyond this," Sessions says. He also advises car owners to check the fluid level monthly, and to change the fluid regularly. Checks and changes of fluid are an important part of transmission care, but so are driving habits. One common practice that really hurts the transmission is shifting from drive to reverse while the vehicle is still moving. Always make sure your foot is on the brake and the vehicle is stopped before shifting into reverse. Another habit that shortens transmission life is to park without using the parking brake. This is an especially bad practice when the car is parked on a slope since it puts all the vehicle's weight on a tiny metal catch inside the transmission. How
often should the fluid be changed? The answer to this question depends
on the kind of vehicle you drive. Most carmakers recommend that
the transmission be serviced every 20,000 or 30,000 miles. |
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