Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Question on Your Transmission

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Express Car Care Tech Question:
My name is Suzanne.  We were taking a camping trip at our favorite state park over a three day weekend.  About halfway to our campsite, the transmission went out on our vehicle.  It took all weekend to get it towed out and to get back home.  What can I do to prevent transmission problems in the future?

Express Car Care Answer:  Transmission repairs can be expensive at auto service centers.  On top of that, Suzanne was in the back country, her vacation weekend turned into three days of car repairs.

First of all, vehicle transmissions are tough and durable.  All that needs to be done to maintain them is to replace the transmission fluid on schedule.  The fluid gets contaminated with bits of clutch plates and metal.  Dirty transmission fluid under pressure acts like liquid sandpaper, eating away at important gaskets and seals.  Then your transmission doesn’t shift as well.  It can start to leak and overheat, and then you could end up in a situation like Suzanne.

Another thing to consider:  if you carry heavy loads, or are towing a trailer on the highway or up mountain passes, your transmission is working much harder and running hotter than under normal conditions.  Your transmission fluid may need to be changed sooner.  Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for your severe service schedule or talk with your helpful and knowledgeable pros about when you should have your transmission serviced.  If you’re planning a trip that you know you will be doing some towing or other severe driving, make sure to have your transmission fluid checked before you head out.  It’s always better to be safe, rather than sorry.

Viva la Differential

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Viva la DifferentialWith front-wheel drive being so common these days, the differential is also being taken care of during a transmission service at Express Car Care, so most Denver drivers don’t even have to think about it.  And most rear-wheel drive differentials don’t need to be serviced for many miles, so it’s understandable why it’s not something on the top of drivers minds.  Because of this, it’s not uncommon for people not to know they have a differential, let alone know that it needs service.

To understand better what a differential does, think about a high school track.  There are lanes marked on the track.  For the long distance races, the starting lines are staggered.  The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes.  That’s to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes.  Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.

The differential compensates for the difference in speeds on drive wheels between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.

Differentials do a lot of work and require very heavy duty parts, and those parts need protection.  The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool.  The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down.  Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time.  So follow recommended intervals for replacing your differential fluid.

Your helpful and knowledgeable pro at Express Car Care will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears.  He’ll then replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.

Four wheel drive vehicles need special attention to their differentials because they have a differential on both the front and rear axles that work at different times and sometimes under heavy loads – so they may need to be serviced at different intervals.  Your service adviser can look up the recommended service interval or you can check your owner’s manual.

 

Transmission Service

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Transmission ServiceAutomatic Transmissions have gotten more sophisticated in recent years for car owners.  Take the number of gears for starters:  The base is four speeds, five is very common.  Many manufacturers are using six speeds and several have seven or even eight speeds.  As you can imagine, this means more parts in your vehicle’s transmission.

Today’s transmissions are computer controlled.  Some high end transmissions have two or three computers.  Car owners are trusting that transmissions are engineered to last, but motorists need to understand that they are also engineered to tighter tolerances.  If a portion of the transmission is starved for lubrication, it can lead to failure.

This can happen if there isn’t enough fluid and also if the transmission fluid gets dirty or sludgy.  Small passages in the transmission can get clogged, then the lubricant is blocked and can’t get to all the parts to protect them, so they wear out prematurely.

Most newer vehicles require special transmission fluids and at Express Car Care we can make sure you get the type of fluid your manufacturer recommends.

As you can imagine, repairing one of these new transmissions can be quite costly at most auto repair shops.  That’s why manufacturers have a transmission service schedule for how often drivers should change the fluid and what type of fluid to use.  Come in and see us and let us help you with this or any other of your car’s service needs.

Transmission Service: Smooth Shifting in Denver

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Transmission Service: Smooth Shifting in DenverLet’s suppose you’re going to take some friends out on the boat for some water skiing on a beautiful lake for your last summer fling.  Of course, you get the boat ready, but what about your tow vehicle?

Think about it… heavy Denver traffic, hilly Colorado terrain.  Maybe some dirt roads-and it could be pretty hot.  And all the time you’ll be towing several thousand extra pounds around the Denver and surrounding areas.  That all adds up to a lot of severe strain on your transmission.  It’s going to be working overtime, spending more time in lower gears.  The internal transmission temperature is going to be much higher than normal.

Denver drivers need to make sure they have enough transmission fluid.  If it runs low, the transmission will run hotter and won’t have the protection it needs to cope with the added stress of towing.  Transmission fluid breaks down and gets dirty over time.  Whether your truck has an automatic or manual transmission, you need to have it serviced on schedule at Express Car Care to make sure it runs efficiently.

If you neglect your truck transmission too long, it can fail.  You really don’t want to pay for a major transmission repair even with the reasonable rates at Express Car Care.

Before you leave your home and head to the lake, bring your vehicle into Express Car Care for a trip inspection.  Your Express Car Care service technician will check your fluids, belts and hoses and let you know if your brakes are in good shape.   Don’t take a chance on spoiling an awesome vacation with a vehicle breakdown.

Simple Answers from Express Car Care: Differential Service

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Differential ServiceQuestion:  What is a differential and why do Denver auto owners need to have it serviced?

Express Car Care Answer:

First of all – your vehicle has a differential.  If it’s a rear wheel drive, your differential is on the back.  If it’s a front wheel drive, your differential is built into your transaxle (transmission).  Denver auto owners with all wheel drive or four wheel drives will have differentials in the front and rear and maybe in between.

When you are steering through a turn at an intersection in town, the wheels on the outside of the truck or car have to spin faster than the inside wheels because they have to travel a slightly longer distance through the curve.  The differential compensates for these speed differences between the wheels.

Because it is part of the vital equipment that transfers engine power to the wheels, the differential is working pretty hard.  Differential fluid – an especially heavy-duty oil – cools, lubricates and protects the differential.  It needs to be replaced on a schedule to remove metal shavings and other contaminants.  Note:  If you have a front wheel drive vehicle, replacing your transmission fluid takes care of your differential service needs.

Differentials have become increasingly sophisticated for Denver auto owners.  Rather than the simple mechanical devices of “the good old days”, they are more complicated and may actually be part of the key computer controlled stability system.  This means they are more costly, so it pays for drivers to have them serviced on schedule at Express Car Care in Denver to avoid premature wear.  Talk to your helpful Express Car Care technician.  At Express Care, we provide quality automotice service including air condition service, transmission service and tire rotation.

We install quality NAPA replacements parts.  To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com

Power Steering Flush

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Have you ever had a dream where you’re racing down the highway with the wind in your face and then all of a sudden it becomes a nightmare, and you lose your ability to steer your car?  I have, and I decided at that moment, I never wanted to have that experience in my real life!

The power steering system is one of the most critical parts of your vehicle.  Rack and pinion steering is the most common type of steering found in cars and minivans, but you can also find it on some SUVs and trucks.  To put it simply, rack and pinions are a pair of gears that work together to steer the vehicle.  In order to operate smoothly, the gears need hydraulic fluid, which is also called power steering fluid, to transmit power to your vehicles power steering system.  If the power steering fluid is dirty and isn’t flushed, there is an increased risk of damage to the entire power steering system.  A power steering flush is simply draining out your car’s old power steering fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid.  The function of the fluid is to transmit hydraulic pressure so you can steer your car easily in every driving situation no matter the temperature, from frigid cold to scorching heat.  Power steering fluid also lubricates the pump, controls the valves, and ensures a quiet operating system.

Over a period of time, the internal power steering components, as well as the seals and O-rings are subjected to wear and tear and they will begin to wear out.  When this happens the power steering fluid gets contaminated with broken down debris.  This forces the power steering pump to work harder.  Now the power steering pump has to pump the debris as well as the fluid and it eventually breaks down.  We have noticed that the 1996-1999 Toyota 4-Runners and Toyota Tacomas seem to be more prone to leaks if their systems aren’t flushed routinely.  If you own one of these vehicles you might want to have the power steering fluid checked to make sure you don’t need a power steering flush.  The fluid should appear either an amber or pink in color when it is fresh.  It is time for a change when the color appears significantly darker than when it was fresh.  Check your owner’s manual for specific recommendations for your particular vehicle.  If they aren’t available, a good rule of thumb is to change the power steering fluid as often as you change your engine coolant {anti-freeze}.  Since the fluid is the least expensive part of your power steering system and flushing it can help prolong the life of the more expensive parts of the system, a power steering flush is something that should be seriously considered.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care.  Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

CV Joint Replacement

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Since front-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles are very popular here in Colorado, having the CV joints and boots checked should be a regular part of our car maintenance routine.  We need to make sure that we aren’t in need of a CV joint replacement.

Torn CV Boot

Front-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles work by transferring the power from the transmission to the wheels through a drive axle assembly.  These drive axles have constant-velocity (CV) joints at each end.  A CV joint is a group of bearings and cages that allow the axle to rotate and deliver power at different angles so that the axle can change its length as it moves up and down.  The CV joints are protected by rubber boots that keep dirt and contaminants out and a protective layer of lubricant inside.  These rubber boots can crack or tear over time and torn CV boots and worn CV joints or axles can cause damage to your transmission as well as other components.  If moisture and dirt get inside a CV joint and the lubricant leaks out, the potential for a complete CV joint failure is greatly increased.  If a failure occurs, than it will be necessary to have an entire CV joint replacement.

The signs of a possible CV joint replacement are a clicking or crackling sound while turning, or a clunking sound during accelerating or sudden deceleration.  You might also notice some front-end vibrations.

CV joint replacement can be a costly service, so if you haven’t noticed anything unusual, you should still have the CV joints checked routinely to stay ahead of the repairs.  But if you think that your vehicle is showing any of these signs,  come in and see us or give us a call  at (303) 691-2760 before the damage becomes more costly.

 

 

Automatic Transmission Flush

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Since we live in Colorado, a state known for its various outdoor activities.  Many of us use our vehicles for mountain driving or towing a trailer.  These extreme driving conditions will make an automatic transmission work even harder than usual.   It’s important to schedule an automatic transmission flush as a part of your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.

Your automatic transmission creates an enormous amount  of heat  because of all the friction created  within  its parts.  Every time your transmission shifts up and down and with every start and stop, it is generating more and more heat.  In today’s transmissions, there are a number of electronic components necessary in order to keep the transmission operating properly.  Transmission fluid is also needed to reduce the heat that is produced by these components when the vehicle is running.  Low levels or dirty transmission fluid can clog the components and the tight spaces in its interior.  It doesn’t take the automatic transmission fluid long to heat up even under normal driving conditions, so towing a trailer, mountain driving, stop and go city driving, or trying to get your car out of a snowbank, will make your transmission work even harder.  This causes the fluid to overheat, break down and oxidize.  Transmission fluid that is oxidized turns brown and can smell like burnt toast.  Excessive heat will destroy the transmission fluids ability to lubricate or reduce friction and will ultimately cause damage to components.  This is the main reason why car manufacturers and auto repair shops recommend an automatic transmission flush every 30,000 miles–more often if you use your vehicle for frequent towing.

If we can help you with a transmission flush or any other automotive service, please come by or call us at (303)691-2760

 

Does Your Car Transmission Need Repair?

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Your car transmission is a pretty awesome device.  The way each part of the transmission, the bell housing, gears,  the filter and the transmission fluid, all work together to send power to the wheels and keep them rolling.  Your transmission also knows how and when to  shift the engine smoothly from one gear into the next and does it, at exactly the right time.   At least that’s what it does when the transmission is performing the way it was designed to!  But what happens when your car transmission needs repair?

There are a few things to look for such as:  leaking fluid, unusual noises,  whining or clunking, rough shifting or grinding.  For a more detailed explanation of these symptoms, read How to Determine If Your Car Transmission Needs Repair.  Give us a call at (303) 691-2760 or come in and see us.

Transmission Troubleshooting

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Since we have gotten quite a few questions concerning transmissions in recent weeks, we thought we would reprint a prior blog that could supply some answers to those questions.

Your transmission is the one piece of equipment that is  multi faceted.  It controls everything from shifting your car from gear to gear, to controlling how fast your car goes.  While you may never change out a transmission or spend time learning how it works, there are some tips to help you with transmission troubleshooting, so you will know when its time to call in a mechanic.   

While there are many pieces that make up a standard automatic transmission system, all transmissions have a few basic parts.

  • The bell housing, or metal case that sits underneath your car
  • The gears
  • The transmission fluid
  • A filter to keep the transmission operating properly

You’ll usually notice a problem with your transmission in one of two ways.  Either your car will simply stop, or it starts to run roughly.  These two problems are generally caused by:

  • Low transmission fluid level, which causes your car to shift poorly and can eventually lead to transmission damage.
  • A leak within the system.  This is usually easy to spot as transmission fluid has a red tint.
  • A clogged filter, which limits the cars performance.

Because of the many parts associated with a transmission, and the specialized tools you’ll need for troubleshooting and fixing it,  its usually wise to leave it up to a professional.  A professional understands what can be causing the problem, and can usually spot the problem quickly.  They will test a variety of things before moving on to a rebuild or replacement.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

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