Alright, let’s talk about that awful grinding noise when you shift gears in a manual transmission. I’ve spent over 25 years with my hands inside these gearboxes, and I can…
Transmission
Why is the automatic transmission slipping during acceleration and stuck in 2nd gear?
When your automatic transmission starts acting up, slipping under acceleration or getting stuck in a single gear, it’s not just an annoyance. I’ve seen this scenario play out countless times…
How to tell if your automatic transmission has a clogged valve body or filter
Alright, let’s talk transmissions. If you’ve got an automatic that starts acting funny only after it’s warmed up, you’re likely staring down a hydraulic issue. And in my 25+ years…
Can Low Transmission Fluid Cause Jerky Shifting?
What Low Transmission Fluid Really Feels Like (From the Driver’s Seat and Mine) When a customer tells me their automatic transmission is acting up, “jerking” or “shifting hard,” my ears…
What to Do When Your Automatic Transmission Goes into Limp Mode
Alright, let’s talk about limp mode. If you’re reading this, chances are your automatic transmission just decided it’s had enough, locking itself into a single gear—usually second or third—and refusing…
Why Is My Transmission Jerking After a Fluid Change? — Wrong Fluid Type Used
Alright, let’s talk transmissions. You just had yours serviced—maybe a routine fluid change, or a full flush—and now your car is jerking, shuddering, or shifting like a teenager learning stick…
Why Does a CVT Transmission Slip Under Load?
Alright, let’s talk about CVT slipping. When a customer walks into my shop and says their car’s “slipping,” especially with a continuously variable transmission, I know exactly what they’re usually…
How to tell if your manual transmission synchros are worn
If you’re driving a stick shift and it’s suddenly feeling like you’re stirring a bucket of rocks, or worse, you’re getting that teeth-grinding crunch when you try to shift gears,…
Can transmission fluid leaks cause gears to slip or pop out?
Alright, let’s talk transmission fluid leaks. I’ve been turning wrenches for over 25 years, and a leaking transmission is one of those things that can go from a minor annoyance…
Why Does My Car Hesitate When Starting? Clutch or Transmission Problem?
“My Car Hesitates When I Turn the Key.” Let’s Talk About What That Really Means. After 25 years in the shop, when a customer tells me their car “hesitates” at…
Why Does the Lada Vesta with a Manual Transmission Whine in 3rd to 5th Gear?
Alright, let’s talk about that whine. You’ve got a Lada Vesta (VAZ 2180 manual transmission), and you’re hearing a distinct, mechanical whine that kicks in somewhere between 3rd and 5th…
Common Torque Converter Failures in Nissan Models with the Jatco RE5R05A Transmission (Maxima, Pathfinder)
Alright, let’s talk about the Jatco RE5R05A 5-speed automatic transmission. If you’ve got a Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder, or one of those other mid-2000s to early 2010s models, chances are you’ll…
P0700/P0730 Transmission Codes: Sensor Issue or Mechanical Failure?
Alright, let’s talk about the P0700 and P0730 codes. I’ve been turning wrenches for over 25 years, and these codes are some of the most misunderstood in the business. People…
Why Does a DCT Dual-Clutch Transmission Shudder When Starting from a Stop?
That low, rhythmic vibration when you take off from a stop? That’s a Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) shudder, and it’s your transmission telling you it’s in trouble. I’ve seen it hundreds…
How to Fix an AMT (Easytronic) Transmission Stuck Between Gears
Stuck in Gear? Here’s What I See (and What to Do) Alright, let’s talk about automated manual transmissions (AMTs) like the Opel Easytronic. When one of these things gets stuck…
Which car models are prone to early automatic transmission failure (e.g., Ford 6F35, GM 6T40)?
Early Automatic Transmission Failure: What I’ve Learned in 25 Years Alright, let’s get straight to it. If you’re reading this, your transmission is probably acting up, or you’re worried it…
Car Jerking During Smooth Acceleration: Is It the Transmission or Engine?
That annoying jerk under light acceleration – whether you’re pulling away from a stop or just trying to hold a steady 35 mph – isn’t just a nuisance. Trust me,…
What to do if your automatic or dual-clutch transmission acts sluggish after a battery replacement — does it need an adaptation?
Alright, let’s talk about one of those head-scratchers I see in the shop all the time. You just swapped out a dead battery, or maybe jump-started the car, and now…
Why does the transmission shift hard when cold but smooth when warm?
Alright, let’s talk about that dreaded hard shift when your automatic transmission is cold. If you’re feeling a sharp, jarring shift, especially that first 1-2 or 2-3 upshift of the…
Can Moisture in an Automatic Transmission Valve Body Cause Winter Failure?
Cold Transmission Acting Up? It’s Probably Moisture. Alright, let’s talk about those mornings when your automatic transmission just doesn’t want to cooperate, especially when it’s freezing outside. You know the…
Can a Transmission Output Shaft Seal Leak Cause Low Fluid and Overheating in an Automatic Transmission?
The Drip: What a Leaking Transmission Output Shaft Seal Really Means If you’re seeing that tell-tale red or brown fluid dripping from the rear of your transmission—right where the driveshaft…
How to Tell if Your Transmission Control Module (TCM) Has a Hardware or Software Fault
The Transmission Control Module: Decoding the Brains of the Operation Alright, let’s talk transmissions. When a customer rolls in complaining about hard shifts, delays, or the thing just dropping out…
Transmission Shifting Differently After Software Update: How to Reset Driving Style Adaptation
When a Software Update Breaks Your Transmission’s Brain Look, if your car just came back from a software update and now the transmission feels like it’s fighting you—jolting into gear,…
Why does the automatic transmission overheat when towing a trailer, even on flat roads?
That Transmission Heat? Yeah, It’s Real – And It’s Not Normal. Look, if you’re out there towing, even on a flat stretch of highway, and your transmission temperature gauge starts…
Can a bent frame or body after a crash cause misalignment between the engine and transmission, leading to vibration?
When a Crash Messes Up More Than the Paint: Powertrain Misalignment You just had a fender bender, or maybe something a bit worse, and now your car feels… off. Not…
How to Identify a Worn Dual-Mass Flywheel in a DSG or Automatic Transmission
That Rattle in the Bellhousing? It’s Probably Your Dual-Mass Flywheel. I’ve been turning wrenches for over 25 years, and I can tell you, when a customer comes in complaining about…
What to Do If the Transmission Won’t Relearn After a TCU Replacement — Is Online Programming Required?
TCU Swap Gone Wrong? Here’s Why Your Transmission Won’t Relearn Alright, let’s talk about a problem that lands in my shop far too often: you’ve swapped out a Transmission Control…
How often to change electric vehicle transmission fluid?
EV Gearbox Fluid: The “Lifetime” Myth, Busted Let’s be blunt: “lifetime fluid” is a marketing term, not an engineering one. After 25 years in this business, I can tell you…