Transmission Flush

Archive for February, 2010

Did you know more transmissions are rebuilt due to damage caused by overheating? The good news is this rather common problem is easily fixed. What’s even more surprising is most mechanics don’t explore the benefits of synthetic lubricants.

Choosing the right lubricant can be the biggest difference in the performance of your transmission. When 92% of all transmission failures can be traced to the ATF getting too hot it only makes sense to start experimenting.

There is an easy way to determine the best transmission fluid. Go buy a quart of your favorite brand of transmission fluid and then pick up a bottle of synthetic transmission fluid. There are very few good synthetic oils on the market and I will recommend a good one at the end of this article.

Pour about 2-3 ounces of your favorite fluid onto a metal surface that can withstand the heat from a blowtorch. Watch how long it takes to start smoking and possibly catch on fire. Transmissions can suffer the consequences of high heat in a short period of time. And if you tow then you can imagine the massive amount of heat your transmission is producing.

Now do the same thing with a quality synthetic oil and you should notice it won’t catch on fire like the petroleum oil did. Some very good synthetic transmission fluids can withstand temperatures up to 50 degrees hotter than what petroleum will withstand.

The other benefit to using a high quality synthetic ATF is the longer drain intervals. With some synthetic ATF’s on the market you can achieve drain intervals that exceed 100,000 miles.

The argument that synthetic cost too much is really a mute point anymore. With 100,000 miles intervals the high cost are easily justified. Would it really matter how much more synthetic ATF cost if you knew there was a nearly 0% chance of replacing or rebuilding your transmission. Synthetics shouldn’t be considered expensive.

Last, but not least is the affect a high quality synthetic oil will do for your fuel mileage. In most cases I have seen an increase of up to 2 more mpg. Imagine if you only had two gas stations to choose from where you live. If one of the gas stations always sold their gas for 3 cents less every single day, which one would you go to? Initially you wouldn’t think 3 cents would make much of a difference, but it clearly does.

So the next time your transmission comes up for service, which should be around 30,000-40,000 miles for most vehicles consider switching out your fluid to a high quality synthetic oil. Don’t be fooled by the imitation synthetic oils on the market, do your homework and talk to experts about what fluids work best.

COLOGNE, Germany, 12 May, 2000 – Ford and Getrag have signed a letter of intent to form a 50:50 joint venture for the engineering and manufacture of manual transmissions in Europe.
Announced as part of Ford of Europe’s business review strategy, the joint venture company would take ownership of existing Ford manual transmission plants at Bordeaux in France, Cologne in Germany and Halewood in the UK. Manual Transmission Operations at Ford’s Engineering Centre in Merkenich, Germany would also transfer to the joint venture. All current employees at these facilities, who move to the joint venture, can remain Ford employees.
Subject to the completion of negotiations, the new joint venture company is expected to begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2000. It would continue to produce the IB5, MT75, MTX75 and VXT75 transmissions currently used in all European Ford vehicles. Further investment would be committed to develop and produce new transmission products for Ford and other vehicle manufacturers, subject to any appropriate Government grants being negotiated.
“This is an outstanding business proposition for Ford,” said David Thursfield, President of Ford of Europe. “Joining with a highly respected partner creates an opportunity to take the Ford manual transmission business forward with fresh momentum, opening up the prospect of innovative new products and future growth through sales to other vehicle manufacturers.”
Tobias Hagenmeyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Getrag GmbH, commented: “The joint venture offers Getrag a great opportunity for substantial growth enabling us to become a significant presence in the rapidly consolidating automotive industry, while maintaining our independence as a global automotive supplier. With the joint venture we are pursuing the goal of driving forward the joint development of innovative transmission systems.”
The three Ford Manual Transmission Operations plants in Europe employ 3,700 people and produced 1.72 million transmissions in 1999.
Getrag is one of the world’s leading companies in the development and production of manual transmissions and supplies most of the major vehicle producers. Founded in 1935, it employs 5,000 people at 11 sites in Germany, India, Italy and the US. It has its headquarters in Ludwigsburg, Germany.For more useful tips & hints, please browse for more information at our website:-

http://www.reprintarticlesite.com

http://www. jointventures.reprintarticlesite.com

On a recent flight from San Francisco, California, to Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Julie Gerberding was thrilled to get bumped up to first class. The thrill, however, quickly disappeared: As she did her victory walk to the front cabin, she noticed that the woman in the seat next to hers was hacking up a lung.

“She was on her cell phone, saying, ‘I feel miserable. I just know I have swine flu,’Gerberding remembered. “I thought to myself, ‘Oh, great.’ ”

For the duration of her transcontinental flight, Gerberding played viral roulette as she sat shoulder-to-shoulder next to Ms. Sneezy in a confined space.

Gerberding, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a few strategies for avoiding this woman’s germs, some of which you can use on planes, trains, automobiles and anywhere else if you get stuck next to Typhoid Mary — or, in this case, H1N1 Mary.

Gerberding’s first step was to point the air vent in the ceiling toward the sick woman and away from herself.

“That helped point the germs towards her and away from me,” she said.

She then pivoted her body — she was sitting on the aisle seat — away from Ms. Sneezy.

“There wasn’t much else I could do. At some point, I just crossed my fingers,” Gerberding said.

Actually, Gerberding realized later there was one more thing she could have done.

“I could have approached a flight attendant and said, ‘The person sitting next to me has swine flu. Could you please offer her a mask?’ In retrospect, I wish I had done that.”

On airplanes, you’re most likely to catch an illness from the people sitting in your row and in the row behind you, according to researchers at Purdue University, who developed an animation showing how germs move around an airplane.

“The bad news is if you’re in that strike zone, you’re at risk,” Gerberding said. “If someone sitting right near you has the flu, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get it. Flu is very transmissible.”

Gerberding adds that you probably won’t catch the flu from someone sitting several rows away, since circulating air on planes goes through a HEPA filter. ”

The good news is, if you’re not right in that strike zone, you’re probably at low risk,” she said.

Whenever you’re out in public, you can catch a germ from anyone within about six feet of you; that’s how far some germs can travel, according to Dr. Rhonda Medows, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health.

“Air droplet spray actually comes into your body. You’re inhaling it. You’re breathing those respiratory droplets,” Medows said.

Another way you can catch a germ from someone is if you touch something a sick person has touched. For example, think about a busy escalator handrail.

“You and millions of others have touched it,” Medows said. “And they could be sneezing, wiping their nose, coughing in their hands, and then they touch the handrail.”

If you’re healthy, your immune system should be able to fight off most of what’s on a germy handrail, but even if you’re in tip-top shape, chances are you have no immunity to the H1N1 virus, since it’s so new.

Medows’ strategy: After you touch something like a handrail, make a conscious effort not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, and use hand sanitizer as soon as you can.

The National Institutes of Health offers more advice about preventing the spread of germs.

Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona known as “Dr. Germ,” says his research shows that another potential bastion of germs are water fountains. Some schools have actually shut down their water fountains for the duration of flu season.

But you don’t have to avoid water fountains. Gerberding says that if you want to drink from a fountain, follow these simple steps: Don’t let your lips touch the spout, and before taking a sip, let the water run for a few seconds to flush away germs. Also, wash or sanitize your hands afterward, since the bar or button that turns on the fountain has probably been touched by many other hands before yours.

You might be wondering why Gerberding didn’t go back to her seat in coach or ask for another one when she saw she’d be sitting next to Ms. Sneezy in first class.

“It was a full flight ,so someone else would have had to sit next to her,” she explained. “And I’m healthy, so I figured if someone had to be near her, better me than someone who’s immune-compromised in some way.”

By the way, Gerberding didn’t get sick from Ms. Sneezy on that long flight from San Francisco to Atlanta. She says she doesn’t know whether it’s because of her germ-prevention strategies or just dumb luck.

If you decide to buy a manual transmission vehicle then you’ll need to learn how to drive it because it’s a lot different then driving your regular automatic transmission vehicle. There are many things you need to learn and you should find someone you know who you can practice with in order to learn. Once you’ve learned how to drive manual transmission then you should also make sure to keep some tips in the back of your mind in case you run into problems. This article will outline some of the problems that arise and tips you should remember to prevent these problems from ever occurring.

When you park your car and it’s a manual transmission you should park the car in gear and then apply your parking brake. The reason you park it in gear rather then in neutral is to prevent it from rolling when you start it again. When in your driveway if you have room for allowing it to roll a little bit then I would park it in neutral but when on a hill or near other cars keep it in gear.

The ways to ensure you have your manual transmission in the right gear when driving is when it’s smooth and there isn’t any sputtering. If your car is sputtering then you need to switch your transmission to a lower gear and it you hear a very high pitched noise then you need to knock it down a gear or two. Try always making sure that you have it in the right gear and running smoothly without any noises.

The last thing you should always try avoiding is keeping the clutch down when riding around. At traffic lights place the car into neutral and let off of the clutch, as it wears your needle down and causes problems quickly.

If you can follow these simple tips then driving a manual transmission will soon become as simple as riding around in an automatic transmission. If you don’t follow these tips then your car will soon wear down very quickly and you’ll be replacing and fixing parts far more then you need to be and you should make sure that you avoid this at all costs or else it will cost you. A manual transmission is a lot more fun to drive I find and many of the sports cars nowadays are manual transmissions so it’s important to know how to drive a manual car.

The best way to learn is through the help of a family member or friend who already knows how to drive a manual transmission. You should go with them to an empty parking lot and practice there, so that you don’t hit anyone and so that you don’t look like a fool on the road. Once you have it down to a science you’ll be able to take your manual car out onto the roads. It shouldn’t take you long to get use to a manual transmission as long as you can follow a few simple rules.

One of the most expensive types of repair you will encounter for your vehicle is automotive transmission repair. You will find yourself spending even more if you know nothing about automotive transmission repair. Do not allow yourself to be clueless like other vehicle owners who know nothing about car repair such as automotive engines, brakes and transmission systems repair or even simple auto AC repair from an auto service. Instead, find yourself a trustworthy Tampa mechanic who will not only give you efficient diagnostic and car repair work but will also educate you on what you have to know about your vehicle and its needs.

Certain problems of your transmission system may need merely minor repair or adjustment without the need to remove the entire transmission system from your vehicle. Shifting problems in computer controlled transmissions, for instance, may be traceable to faulty sensors that send inaccurate signals, defects in the solenoid pack or defective connections that prevent the transmission system from responding to the command sent by the computer. These types of problems do not need the removal or overhaul of the transmission system. They usually occur in later transmission systems dating from the Nineties.

In older transmission systems which are not equipped with computers, problems in shifting may be traceable to a need for adjustment in the throttle cable. This issue is not caused by wear and tear from normal use of a vehicle. Rather, the throttle cable may have been damaged in an accident or by incorrect adjustments done previously in earlier repairs. This is precisely why you should only go to reputable auto service shops when you need car repair.

Certain vehicles have a vacuum modulator and not a throttle cable. Certain modulator designs have a vacuum modulator that can be fixed through an adjustment screw. This is presuming, of course, that your mechanic has already ruled out any vacuum leaks and has checked that your vehicle’s engine is efficiently running. This is because there are cases when problems that were thought to be related to the transmission were found to be actually related to the engine and were taken care of by an engine tune up or engine repair.

In some cases, transmission repair involves the replacement of parts. You will spend less if these parts can be accessed without having to bring out the entire transmission system from your vehicle. Many control and electrical parts may be accessed by removing the oil pan. There may be a problem, however, if the auto service shop you approach is not willing to give a warranty on external transmission repairs because they have not checked on the possible existence of other internal transmission problems. To avoid such an inconvenience, make sure that you have built a professional relationship with a full service car repair shop with a reliable mechanic.

When your vehicle is leaking transmission fluid, it will need transmission resealing service. Warning signs of transmission fluid leakage include oil spots found on the ground or parking slot under the vehicle. Remember that your vehicle can leak transmission fluid even if it is running well. To check and reseal leaks, your vehicle will have to be placed on a lift. If the leaks are found only on external seals or gaskets they can be resealed without the need to take the transmission system out of the vehicle. If it is the front seal that has a problem, however, you should prepare to spend more because the transmission system will have to be lifted out.

Knowing the types of automotive transmission repair for your Tampa vehicle will enable you to discuss it better with your auto service mechanic. You will be on better footing and will be less likely to be swindled.

If plane rides to crucial business or personal trips are not an option, there are rental cars to turn to. People unwilling to add to the family car’s mileage numbers or raise the wear and tear on it see renting a car as a viable alternative. However, car rentals do not always come cheap. The good news is, with a little digging you can save serious bucks on your next car rental.

Car Rental Money-Saving How-Tos

Most travelers have it wrong, thinking that all rental car rates are nearly the same. In reality, rates do actually vary (often considerably) between destinations and companies. There are plenty of ways to save a boatload of money on rental cars. The list below provides answers to many of your car rental cost concerns and dilemmas. Take a look.

No airport rentals. While airport rentals offer convenience, the privilege comes at a price. People on business trips can often just rent cars from their downtown hotels. Save money by arranging for public transportation or a hotel shuttle from the airport to the hotel front desk.

Size matters. Decide what kind of automobile you require. People traveling with kids or plenty of gear might go for a SUV or a big sedan. For those looking to just save on gas and rental rates, reserve the smallest model available. Specify a stick shift or an automatic transmission car and see if the firm gives any extras your group might want or need – like GPS systems, ski racks or car seats.

For how long. For under-a-week rentals, you will do best to stick with major rental car companies. Car rentals exceeding a week or two could get you better rates from the local firms, especially the auto dealers. Take care though when dealing with local firms if you plan on driving a lot. These guys often fall short of the car accident or breakdown support services offered by the major rental companies.

Use online discount codes. Coupons giving customers a percentage of the rental price or free days for car rentals are available online. Book online and sign up for various opt-in lists to allow you to get attractive offers in the future straight from their email inbox. Find coupons for Dollar Rent A Car, E-Z Rent A Car and others. Rental car discount codes are usually alphanumeric and give customers a specific percentage off their rental fees. Register your email address with particular car rental firm sites to ensure you continue receiving the most recent specials along with discounts and coupons.

Record accepted or not. Find out from travel agents if particular car rental firms check potential customers’ driving records. Some wind up rejecting customers with records that fail to satisfy company standards. Confirmed reservations do not guarantee you will not be disqualified from renting. Issues like moving violations within recent years, seatbelt violations and driving with invalids, revoked or suspended licenses are some grounds for disapproving applications.

Understand rental agreements. For online bookings, go through the terms and conditions prior to confirming reservations. For phone bookings, ask agents on restrictions. See that you grasp the gist of the reservation conditions.

Return car rentals. Be on the alert for prepaid gasoline plans. Fill tanks yourself before driving the vehicles back so you only pay for the gas amount you actually utilized.

Refuse car insurance. Majority of private auto insurance policies cover the rental cars so long as the individual signing the agreement or contract drives it. Chances are the auto insurance policy you have at home covers car rentals too. Verify by calling your agent. Find out from your card company if using the credit card to pay for the rental also provides collision insurance coverage.

There are plenty of ways to land great rental car deals. The key is to keep looking and not simply settle on the first deal you stumble across. It never hurts to look around and see what the different car rental companies are serving up. When it comes to zeroing in on the best car rental contracts, comparison-shopping is never a bad thing.

Tips on automotive maintenance procedures that will prepare your vehicle for summer are given by an auto service as a public service on its website. Scott’s Automotive, Inc. provides both easy maintenance procedures that vehicle owners can do by themselves and more complicated maintenance procedures that should be done by a professionally trained and skilled automotive mechanic. Also included are diagnostic check ups by the automotive mechanic. Â

In following these maintenance procedures, the risk of mechanical failure and breakdown for your vehicle is lowered and vehicle owners can hopefully lessen the need for car repair. It will also lengthen the running life of the vehicle and will definitely increase its resale value.

Summer can be a challenging time for a vehicle. The vehicle is still suffering from the effects of the previous winter which has also put much stress on its parts and body. In summer, the factors that could cause problems include high heat, dust and traffic that is stop-and-go. Taken together, these factors can cause the vehicle to malfunction.

Auto AC repair is a common need in summer. Vehicle air conditioning operating systems that are not well maintained are most likely to fail in high heat. To avoid auto AC repair, ask a qualified automotive mechanic to check your vehicle’s air conditioner regularly, and especially before summer. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual on the schedule of replacement for the air conditioner’s filters.

The summer heat causes vehicle overheating which can damage the engine and transmission. To prevent this, completely flush and refill the vehicle cooling system every two years. Ask your automotive mechanic to regularly check your coolant level, condition and concentration, as well as your vehicle’s drive belts, clamps and hoses.

Follow the instructions on your vehicle owner’s manual on the schedule of replacement for your oil and oil filter. Do this more frequently, though, if you make long trips with heavy loads or towing a trailer, or if you make frequent short trips.

Follow the instructions on your vehicle owner’s manual on the schedule of replacement for all other vehicle filters, including the air filter and fuel filter. Do this more frequently if you drive under very dusty conditions. If you notice engine performance problems such as hard starts, rough idling or stalling, immediately consult an automotive mechanic.

Have your brakes checked by an automotive mechanic regularly, and immediately if you notice any changes in performance.

Using eye protection and rubber gloves, regularly remove all corrosion on battery posts and cable connections, clean its surfaces and tighten connectors. Be careful not to touch the corrosion and battery acid.

Immediately replace any busted light bulbs. Use a dry rag to clean all light lenses regularly, being careful not to scratch them.

Clean your windshield regularly, replace worn windshield blades immediately and always refill your windshield washer solvent.

Have your tire pressure checked monthly. Before a long drive, check your tire pressure again along with your spare tire and jack. Regularly inspect your tires’ treads and sidewalls. Have your tires aligned if you find some uneven tread wear or if your vehicle tends to pull to one side. Rotate your tires every 5,000 miles.

Be prepared for any emergency. Make sure that your vehicle is carrying all the basic tools for troubleshooting as well as flares, a flashlight and a first aid kit. It would be best to always carry a cellphone wherever you go so that you can easily call for help.

Follow the aforementioned automotive maintenance tips given by a concerned auto service in order to prepare your vehicle for summer and watch how it lowers your car repair costs.