Automotive and diesel
Transmission and Clutch
Transmission trouble rarely fixes itself, and it usually gets more expensive the longer it is driven. We service automatics and manuals both, from a fluid change through a full overhaul.
What it usually turns out to be
You do not need a diagnosis to call. Describe what it is doing and we will tell you whether it is a shop job.
It shifts harder than it used to, or hunts between gears
A transmission that changed character is worth looking at early, and this is the symptom people wait longest on. We check fluid level and condition first, then read what the transmission's own control module has recorded, because modern units log the fault before you feel it.
There is a delay between selecting drive and anything happening
Usually pressure. It can be fluid level, a filter, or something further in, and the length of the delay and whether it changes when cold are the things that separate those.
It slips: the engine revs and the vehicle does not go
Do not keep driving it. Slipping generates heat, heat is what kills a transmission, and every mile makes the repair bigger. This is the one where getting it towed is genuinely cheaper than driving it in.
The clutch pedal goes soft, or the bite point has moved to the floor
On a hydraulic clutch a soft pedal is usually the master or slave cylinder rather than the clutch itself, which is good news. A bite point that has crept up is usually wear. Both are worth checking before the clutch strands you.
The fluid is dark, or smells burnt
Burnt fluid means it has been hot, and heat is cumulative. It does not always mean the transmission is finished, but it does mean something has been working harder than it should, and it is worth finding out what before you just change the fluid and hope.
What we do
- Automatic transmission repair and resealing
- Automatic transaxle service
- Manual transmission repair
- Transmission overhaul
- Clutch and pressure plate replacement
- Hydraulic master and slave cylinder repair
- Electronically controlled transmission diagnosis
- Transmission fluid service
Will it fit
The question owners ask first and almost nobody answers on a website.
- Service bays
- 7
- Sized for a Class A
- 4
- Yard entrances
- 2
Two yard entrances is what makes a long rig easy to get in and back out of. Call with your length before you drive over and we will tell you whether it fits and when the bay is free.
What we do not do here
- We are not a transmission specialty shop and we are not going to pretend otherwise. We service, repair and overhaul automatics and manuals, and where a unit needs something beyond that we will tell you rather than take it on to keep the work.
- We do not name a fluid brand or specification here. The right fluid is what your manufacturer specifies, and on a modern automatic the wrong one causes exactly the symptoms you brought it in for.
- We do not publish a rebuild turnaround. It depends on the unit and on parts, and a date on a website would be a guess.
- We do not quote transmission work sight unseen. The difference between a fluid service and an overhaul is the whole range of what this could cost, and nobody can tell which one you need over the phone.
Before you call, have this handy
None of it is required. It just gets you a real answer on the first call instead of the second.
Automatic or manual, and whether you tow
Towing is the single biggest thing that shortens a transmission's life, and it changes what we expect to find.
When it happens: cold, hot, at speed, under load
A fault that only shows up cold and a fault that only shows up after an hour on the highway point in different directions.
The service history for the transmission specifically
When the fluid was last changed, and whether it was a drain or a full exchange. If it has never been done, say so; it is common and it is useful to know.
Questions
Questions we get asked
Is it worth changing the fluid on a high-mileage transmission?
Usually yes, and the folklore that it will finish off a neglected unit is mostly folklore. What matters more is doing the right service with the right fluid for that transmission. We will tell you honestly if we think yours is past the point where a service changes anything.
Can I keep driving it?
If it is slipping, no. Slipping makes heat and heat is what destroys a transmission, so every mile makes the bill larger. A hard shift is less urgent but still worth booking rather than watching.
Do you rebuild, or do you replace?
Both are on the table and it depends on the unit, the mileage and what you want from the vehicle. You will get both routes with real numbers rather than one recommendation.
Do you work on manuals and clutches?
Yes, including the hydraulic side, which is where a surprising number of clutch complaints actually live. A soft pedal is often a cylinder rather than a clutch, and that is a much smaller job.
What about the transmission in my motorhome?
Same bench, and four bays are sized for large RVs. Whether a particular heavy-duty unit is in scope is worth a phone call, and we will give you a straight answer rather than book you in and find out.
Could this be covered by an extended warranty?
Transmission failure is one of the most common claims those policies see. Bring the contract. We write the estimate and deal with the carrier.
Talk to someone who works on these
Call the shop and we will tell you the soonest realistic date rather than book you and hold your rig. Mon-Fri 8:00 - 5:00, Saturday 8:00 - 12:00.