What does seized engine sound like?

There are specific engine locked up symptoms, which give hint about the disaster you are going to face. However, there is also distinctive seized engine sound that foretells the impending issue.

When the problem is at the initial stage, you will hear light tapping or knocking sounds when driving the car. The noises seem to be coming from the engine. The next stage involves thundering knocking sounds barring metallic striking. This condition is known as a ‘dead knock’ and it happens when the piston rod bangs into the crankshaft.

You should take the car to a garage after spotting the seized engine symptoms. Diagnosing it sooner can spare your thousands of dollars.

Seized Engine Symptoms: How To Tell If Engine Is Seized?

It is necessary to take the car for an engine checkup in the event of subpar engine performance, the check engine oil light, and weird noises coming from the engine.

Stay alert of these seized engine symptoms:

• Blaring Sound

It has already been discussed that booming knocking or clunking sounds can also be indicative of a locked up engine. The noise is the result of the state striking the flywheel.

• Fumes

Fumes or even fire coming from under the hood can be another symptom of a seized up motor. As the starter is unable to start the engine in this condition, the wiring can be overheated, causing smoke and even fire sometimes.

• Engine Failure

When this happens it is quite obvious that your car is in a big trouble. You should not wait for the motor to reach this condition, though. Complete engine failure means it won’t kick off under any circumstance. The battery-operated accessories such as the lights, radio, and others can still be functioning.

• Loose Motor Parts

When a component of an internal combustion engine is loose such as the piston, it may pierce through the cylinder block. An inspection under the hood will make you aware of this problem.

Insufficient engine oil is the most common cause of engine locking up. Low engine oil leads to friction, overheating, and other complications that ultimately result in engine failure. Water or rust accumulation inside the engine can also be the reasons for this trouble. The failure or damage of engine parts can be another probable reason, but it is very rare for this problem to create a seized up engine.

The Signs and Symptoms of a Seized Engine

A car’s engine is like a delicate ballet or a synchronized swimming event; everything must work in perfect harmony or the whole thing is thrown off. An engine, however, does not just get up and start over. It typically causes major damages when all of its components are not working properly. One thing that can happen is that the engine can seize. Seizing of the engine is when a major component stops moving, stopping the entire engine.

Nothing

When an engine seizes, the tell-tale sign is nothing. You attempt to turn the vehicle over, and all of the electronics seem to work: radio turns on, heater fan blows and the lights turn on. When you attempt to crank the vehicle’s engine though, nothing happens except a loud clunking noise from the vehicle’s starter impacting the engine’s flywheel.

Inside-out

When an engine seizes, a lot of times it is due to an internal component coming loose and lodging against another component. Sometimes, this component — typically a piston connecting rod — can penetrate the engine block and pierce through to the outside. In some cases, the component that is now piecred through the engine block can be seen from the top.

Burning Wires

When an engine seizes and can no longer move, the starter will still attempt to crank the engine when the key is turned. Because the starter cannot turn the motor, the electric wires can overheat and begin smoking, a tell-tale sign of a seized engine.

Testing

There are a few ways to test for a seized engine, but one procedure stands out as the most reliable. Try to turn the crankshaft pulley on the engine — the large pulley in the middle of the engine. The best way to do this is to remove all of the spark plugs, place a large socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt and turn the socket with a large breaker bar. If the crank does not move, it is very likely the engine is seized.

Precursors

There are plenty of warnings given before an engine seizes. The initial stages are very light tapping noises or even a faint knocking sound. You’ll know the end is near when you hear what technicians call a “dead knock.” This is a loud knocking sound that lacks any metallic pinging sound. This “dead knock” is typically the piston connecting rod hitting the engine’s crank shaft.

Repairing

Repairing a seized engine really depends on what actually caused the seize. Typically, the best mode of repair is to replace the entire engine, as the internal damage may be very heavy. If repairing the engine is best — high-performance engines or a rare engine — you can anticipate replacing nearly all of the internal components and having the engine block repaired by a machine shop, both of which are very costly.

Can You Fix a Seized Engine?

In addition to knowing how to tell if an engine is seized, there is some confusion about whether there is a seized engine fix. Some people will say that you cannot fix a seized engine, but it actually depends on the situation.

It will depend on the cause of the problem. An engine seized due to a lack of oil where you catch the problem early may be able to fix it. The same may be true of a bad starter or seized engine. However, if the same problems occur and you do not take care of them right away, they may cause damage to other parts of the engine. If a Briggs and Stratton engine seized no oil, the damage may be too great for repairs.

Every case is different and while you can learn how to break loose a seized engine, it is not possible to know how to unlock a seized engine in every case. Sometimes, it is just impossible, even for experts. Generally, if the answer to what does a seized engine sound like is louder and more noticeable, this will indicate more extreme damage that is harder to repair.

What Causes a Seized Engine?

So, why does the engine seize like this? Well, it usually comes down to engine components that have either welded together or overheated. The most common components include the piston rings, pistons, and rod bearings.

It is hard to repair these problems after they’ve occurred. You may end up having to replace your entire engine. That, of course, will mean spending thousands of dollars that you probably don’t even have available.

Engine Locked Up Symptoms

Fortunately, a seizing engine will not mean it is already destroyed. There are some symptoms that you should recognize as early warning signs. If you can spot them early on, you may have time to take your vehicle to the auto mechanic and have them fix the problem before it causes worse problems for the engine.

Below are the top 3 symptoms of a car engine seizing up.

#1 – Check Oil Light

If your engine components are locking up, it will hinder the circulation of oil. Your engine control unit will immediately detect something is wrong with the oil flow once this happens. In response, the unit will activate the “Check Oil” light on the dashboard. Some vehicles share this warning light with the “Check Engine” light, so you may have either or both lights come on.

#2 – Weak Acceleration

You cannot have a seizing engine and still be able to drive your vehicle normally. When your engine begins to seize, you can expect its performance to diminish. This means that each time you step on the gas pedal to accelerate your vehicle, you are probably not going to go as fast as you normally would. In fact, you may not be able to pick up speed at all. It will eventually get to the point where your engine won’t accelerate and then your car will just stop for good.

#3 – Knocking Sounds

During a seizing engine situation, the piston rod knocks against the crankshaft. This will happen repeatedly, causing knocking sounds to be heard. The sounds will continue to become louder and worse unless you address the problem fast.

How to Free a Locked Up Motor

Treating a locked up motor depends on its cause. You can tell if your engine is locked by trying to turn the crankshaft with a breaker bar. If it turns, the engine isn’t seized, and you should look for a different cause.

• If your engine has seized up while you’re driving, there’s nothing you can do about it short of an intensive engine repair or replacement.

• If you have an engine that seized from sitting for a long time, pull the spark plugs out of all the cylinders. Fill the cylinders with engine oil and let it sit for a few days. Then, try turning the engine over with a breaker bar. If it moves, you may be able to salvage the engine. If not, you’ll have to pull it apart and rebuild it.

• If your engine is hydrolocked, take out the spark plugs right away and crank the engine over. The water will pump out of the cylinders, releasing the hydrolock. That’s IF there aren’t damaged parts inside.

• For a vapor locked engine, you need the fuel to cool to the point of condensing. It can happen frequently just by letting it sit and cool off. Or, if you need to get it going right away, you can cool off the fuel pump and lines by splashing cold water or ice on them, condensing the vapor back to liquid.

TYRE TIPS

IMPROVE MILEAGE AND SAFETY.

The tyre is the sole point of contact between the vehicle and the road surface. It is crucial to the safety both of users and goods transported. For a given load and type of work, in clearly defined conditions, there is only one optimum cold tyre inflation pressure.

To ensure optimum safety, reliability and business efficiency it’s important to fit the correct tyre specification.  If you follow our basic steps to tyre maintenance, your tyres can deliver maximum mileage potential, even wear and safety.

It’s a fact: smarter tyre management leads to better mileage potential and lower operating costs. Regular care will keep your tyres rolling longer. Good tyre pressure maintenance is vital.

To keep your tyres in top shape, look for these six common problems during routine inspection:

Under inflation

Over inflation

Twinned fitments with different cold inflation pressure

Twinned fitments with different tyre dimensions

Irregular wear pattern

Missing valve caps

TYRE INFLATION BASICS – WE CAN HANDLE THE PRESURE

Want to prolong the life of your tyres and improve the safety of your truck? Check your cold tyre inflation pressure every month, before setting out. Here’s some tips to help you get your tyre pressures just right. (Kpa stands for KiloPascal and PSI stands for Pounds per Square Inch) Another common unit for measuring tyre pressure is Bar, which equals 100 Kpa or approx. 14.5 PSI.

TAG ARCHIVES: HEAVY DUTY TRUCK TIRE

Tires have tendencies to make noise for a variety of reasons while a vehicle is in motion. Common causes for the noisy nuisance of loud tires may include improper inflation, tread wear, and balancing issues. The most effective and affordable solution to noisy tires is preventative service and routine maintenance. Some useful tips to avoid costly repairs down the road and rid your trip of loud tires are using balancing beads, checking for proper inflation, and inspecting tire tread wear

Tractor-trailers, RVs, light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks are often prone to noisy rides because of tire size and the weight of the vehicle. Tread patterns play an active role in the sound produced by the tire and since most equipment tires will vary in style and brand, diagnosing the cause of noises can be difficult. While in some circumstances this sound is attributed to the road condition, in others the problem lies deeper.

Balancing Beads are an affordable and simple solution to tire balancing and can help improve the noise and vibration on tires once installed. Balancing beads should be applied when new tires are being mounted as they will last the full lifetime of the tire. ESCO Balancing Beads can be installed within tires by method of convenient individually packaged bags or by scoop in loose form. Balancing beads also have an added benefit of improving fuel economy and reducing tire vibration, permitting a smoother ride.

Checking your tire pressure often will lengthen the life of your tires, provide the best gas mileage and assist in preventing additional noise. On September 1, 2007, the Tread Act was passed by United States Congress which mandated all light-motor vehicles (under 10,000 lbs) to have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) technology. Controversially, no legislation exists for heavier vehicles including RVs, tractor-trailers, cargo vans or other medium and heavy-duty vehicles. To reduce noise from tires, check your tire pressure with an accurate dial or digital gauge before any long trip and while conducting other routine service or maintenance on your vehicle.

An excellent habit for drivers of heavier vehicles to develop is conducting routine visual inspections of tread wear on tires. When faced with unusual noise from tires, examining your tires’ tread could lead to a quick diagnosis of uneven wear or damage. Uneven tire tread is often the culprit for noisy tires and is typically linked to improper inflation or inaccurate wheel alignment. Should your vehicle’s tire noise not subside after proper inflation, it’s recommended you visit a local tire service specialist to check for other mechanical issues.

truck driving tips from experienced truckers

My first lessons included good practices to make your day go more smoothly. I didn’t get that information from a book, but from qualified trainers who took the time to cause me to think about the next step and develop good habits that would help me in my work.

Look back at your truck after parking.

I park my truck in a parking spot, get out of the truck and walk toward the operating center. I have been told numerous times what to do when I walk away from the truck and I think I know it by now. My trainer says to me, “Are you done?” I respond, “Yes!”

Be aware of your trailer 24/7.

If it leaves the road or goes outside of the line, you aren’t driving safely. That trailer is a weapon that could get you and others injured or killed. But the expression I learned when I was backing up very close to the trailer next to me was, “Drive that trailer or you are subject to failure!” I never forgot it. Thank you, Ken Booker!

Do a good pre-trip inspection.

You never know when you will be asked, “Did you do a pre-trip?” And if it’s a DOT officer, you want to know if you looked good at the inspection date, the lights, the tires, the pins, fifth wheel, lights and even the valve stem covers. I’m picky about them and keep plenty extra in my side pocket door.

When you see the spot you want, pay attention to the tire path.

Many times the truck that just pulled out will have a perfect path to back into. Aim your tire for that path. You will be surprised at how close you can get and how much you will improve your accuracy by paying attention to the path your wheels are taking. But don’t forget to G.O.A.L. (Get Out And Look)! That is some of the best advice truckers ever got! I heard it from all trainers, but more often from Joe Ward, retired, and my own husband, Joe Nader. Thanks to all!

CAR CARE TIPS

we want our customers to be in the know about how to properly care for their car or truck. We want you to understand why and how your tires wear; how to get the best gas mileage; and overall how to get the most out of your tires. Hopefully, with these helpful tips you will be able to improve gas mileage and reduce tire wear when driving

Car Maintenance and Care

Change your fluids on time, every time.

Change your oil every 3,000 miles for regular, 5,000 miles for synthetic oil

Change antifreeze fluid every 30,000 miles.

Change brake fluid every 30,000 miles.

Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles.

Schedule a maintenance check every 15, 30, 60, and 90,000 miles.

Replace your air filter every 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first).

Replace your fuel filter every 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first)

Tire Maintenance and Care

Rotate your tires every 5,000 miles or every 6 months.

Check your tire pressures approximately once a week. Low tire pressures can affect fuel economy, handling and comfort. To accurately measure your tire pressure, check tires when they are cold. Wait at least three hours after driving.

Always make sure that your wheels are properly aligned. Badly aligned wheels will again lead to dragging of the car on the road.

Check your spare tire each month and keep it properly inflated so it¹s ready to go when you need it most.

Use the penny trick to determine if the tread on your tires is worn to low. Take a penny and put Abraham Lincoln’s head into one of the grooves of the tread. If part of his head is covered by the tread, you’re ok. If you can see all of his head, it’s time to replace the tire. When the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, tires must be replaced.

Gas Mileage Tips

Check and/or change your air filter every 6 months to improve fuel economy and keep your engine running smoothly.

Don’t top off. Don’t bother topping off when filling your car’s gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out.

Tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car’s gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year.

Go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also evaporates fuel from your gas tank.

Use the right oil. You can improve your car’s gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.

And most important of all……

Always check for potential problems before they happen.

Tips For Light Truck Tire shoppers

Are you in the market for new rubber to replace your worn light truck tires? If so, there’s some critical information you should keep top of mind.

Foremost, remember that the ability to bear weight is the defining distinction when considering tires made for light trucks (LT). When 
conducting your tire research, keep your particular vehicle’s weight and the load you’re expecting it to carry – or haul – at the very forefront.

Michelin’s fitment guide reminds users: “Sizing for light truck tires takes the performance requirements of the vehicle, and the tires, into account.” Reading the sidewall markings of your tire is, therefore, a very good place to start. If the “LT” marking precedes the tire’s size markings (e.g. LT235/70R16), then you should be looking for a replacement tire that also bears this marking, rather than a P-Metric marking (e.g. P235/70R16). In the latter instance, P stands for passenger.

P-metric tires are installed on vehicles primarily used to carry passengers including cars, station wagons, sport utility vehicles and even light duty 
pickup trucks. Their load capacity is based on an engineering formula which takes into account their physical size (the volume of space for air inside the tire) and the amount of air pressure (how tightly the air molecules are compressed). All P-metric sizes are based on the formula for load. Euro metric and P-metric tires in the same size (i.e. P215/65R16 and 215/65R16) are equivalent in their dimensions with just slight differences in their load capacity calculations and inflation pressure tables.

Light truck tires, on the other hand, have evolved along with the expanded applications of trucks and vans that have grown to be multi-purpose vehicles, which consumers use for work, for recreation or as passenger vehicles.

“Rebuilt” is a relative term when it comes to engines

Buying a classic car can be an uncertain proposition, especially when it comes to words like “restored” or “rebuilt.” “Restored” can refer to any number of finish levels, with terms like “body-off,” “concours” or “rotisserie” tossed around with abandon. The same sort of ambiguity applies to the term “rebuilt,” particularly when it comes to an engine, and it can mean anything from a newspaper-masked rattle-can paint job to a completely remanufactured long block engine assembly.

The difference between rebuilt and remanufactured — if sellers are using them correctly — is that rebuilt implies some engine components and parts were replaced as needed, while remanufactured means that the engine was completely torn down, cleaned, inspected and machined back to original or better tolerances than when it left the factory. The terms “balanced” and “blueprinted” are often associated with this type of work. Rebuilt engines run in scope from the aforementioned rattle-can job to complete remanufacture. It’s in your best interest to determine exactly what’s been done, and by whom, to an engine in any car you’re looking at. Following are a few varying degrees of “rebuilt.”

TOP-END REBUILD

As the cylinder head or heads comprise the top end of an engine, this remove, rebuild and replace procedure is known as a top-end rebuild. An overheated engine can blow the head gaskets. Clouds of white coolant or blue oil smoke might mean it’s time for a top-end rebuild or valve job. The sort of heat that breaches head gaskets usually warps cylinder heads in the process. Replacing the head gasket after an overheat involves removing the cylinder head and either sending it out for machine work and a valve job or swapping it as a core for a remanufactured head. A fresh cylinder head can breathe new life into an engine.

RE-RING AND BEARING

If the engine is out of the bay for something like a top-end rebuild, a re-ring can be considered depending on the condition of the engine, bearings and clearances — and if the deck on the block is true. Pulling the crankshaft and pistons for a good look at the connecting rod and main bearings is another way to gauge engine condition. A fresh set of piston rings and/or bearings in an otherwise untouched engine is known as a re-ring, which is not so much an engine rebuild as a refresh to restore proper compression and should be considered as a temporary lease on engine life.

SHORT BLOCK

If the cylinder walls are scored, the crankshaft and bearings are shot, pistons holed or the deck is warped, then it’s time to send the rotating assembly and block out to your favorite machine shop. The block is decked, bored and honed for new pistons. The connecting rods are resized with new rod bolts installed. Camshafts are reground or replaced. The crankshaft is either polished or cut and then polished. Timing chains or belts are renewed. The finished rotating assembly minus the cylinder head (or heads) is known as a short block. A short block can mean sending the original to the machine shop or exchanging your rebuildable core for a like remanufactured short block.

Buying a replacement car engine – what do you need to know?

Engines are the heart of any vehicle.  If you’ve got an engine problem, you’ve got a car problem. Despite their importance, though, engines can be purchased second-hand like almost any car parts.  However, there are many things you’ll need to consider when purchasing a replacement second-hand engine for your vehicle.

Which type of engine do you need to get?

Understandably, car engines aren’t completely interchangeable.  This doesn’t mean that there isn’t some crossover: two slightly different models released by the same company within a five-year period might well be able to use the same engine.

Long or short block?

One of the main considerations is whether or not the engine is a long or short block.  These two variations can actually be found on what is otherwise the same engine, so it’s an important point.

The difference between the two is on which engine components are included:

A long block engine includes the full works when it comes to parts: cylinder heads, camshafts, valves, valve springs and an intact head gasket.  As such, long block engines can normally be installed quickly and easily, and will make a suitable replacement for any engine that’s been written off.

A short block engine, on the other hand, is designed for cases where the full engine doesn’t need replacing; just parts of it.  A short block engine is usually much cheaper as a result.

A note on replacing parts: it’s worth checking (and double-checking) to ensure that it’s not a single part of the engine causing the problems.  The following individual bits are all capable of causing wear and tear:

Engine valves.  These work together, one responsible for taking in the air and fuel mixture and the other responsible for expelling exhaust.

Piston.  This is a piece of cylindrical metal that moves upwards and downwards within the cylinder.

Piston rings.  These seal off the area between the cylinder’s inner edge and the outer edge of the piston and prevent the leakage of fuel and air into the sump during the compression and combustion phases.

Connecting rod.  This allows the crankshaft to be connected to the piston; both ends may rotate to allow for full movement of both pistons.

Crankshaft.  Changes upward and downward strokes of pistons into a circular pattern, allowing the pistons to perform their function.

Oil sump.  Otherwise known as the oil pan, this surrounds the crankshaft.

Should I Buy A Car With A Rebuilt Engine?

An engine can wear to the point of being unable to perform adequately. At that stage, it must be taken apart and then put back together with new parts to replace the worn components. Tell tale signs of an engine that needs to be rebuilt include high oil consumption and white smoke coming from the tail pipe.

Rebuilding an engine is a detailed process that includes the cleaning and assessment of the short block, replacement of the piston rings, bearings or other components in addition to reconditioning of the cylinders in order to make sure the engine is in top shape. This can sometimes be a sign that the engine has experienced some wear and tear, though

Where was it rebuilt?

Our expert for this article, Troy Snyder, is the chief operating officer of NADA Guides, a publication that follows the transaction prices of used cars. The folks at NADA Guides offer great insight into the value of used cars. “A rebuilt engine can be as good as the OEM one,” Snyder said. “Sometimes a rebuilt engine can maintain the original engine warranty.”

If you’re looking at a car with a rebuilt engine, he said that you should look at where the service was performed. “Certain organizations (like a dealership) are trusted to handle such a job,” she said. “If you go down to your regular mechanics shop there’s more risk involved.”

Even so, Snyder said vehicles with rebuilt engines aren’t necessarily something you should avoid. “I wouldn’t put a rebuilt engine in the same realm as a salvage title,” he said. A salvage title could have many underlying problems like flood damage or a serious accident history, while a car with a rebuilt engine has just one concern: the motor.

Engine Rebuild and Replacement Services

Affordable Engine Rebuild Service Near You

There is a good chance that an engine rebuild could save you a whole ton of cash, depending on the root of the problem and the parts required to fix it. As one of the few shops in partnership with NAPA, you can take comfort in the knowledge that we use only the finest auto parts and have the skill required to integrate them seamlessly into your engine.

At times, an engine rebuild can save you anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the cost of replacing the engine completely. Depending on the parts needed and the number of man-hours required doing the job. Often, repairing the engine will also give you a good opportunity to replace a few parts that would have otherwise been neglected. Let us take care of your car’s needs. You may also find there are a few upgrades you would like to make while we have our heads under the hood.

In some cases, simply replacing the engine may be a better option than an engine rebuild. It will add valuable years to the life of your engine and turn a once problematic and fickle vehicle into the working and reliable car you require as a driver. Replacing the engine also removes the quick and potentially annoying addition of miscellaneous parts such as hoses, belts, filters, and coolant. Rest assured, our number one priority is providing you with the best option for returning your vehicle back to you in a stable working condition.

Reliable Engine Services You Can Trust

The vast majority of engine rebuilds could have been avoided with proper diagnostics from a qualified and honest mechanic. We are ready to be realistic and forthcoming with, what we know, is one of your most important investments. An accurate diagnosis of the root issue is extremely important in saving you money, both in parts and the cost of labor. Unlike other mechanics, we are dedicated to the idea that healthy engines make for happy people. Fixing the problem correctly the first time gives you, our customers, a reason to come back.

Choosing the Right Machine Shop for your Engine

Every month, we receive emails from enthusiasts asking what steps should be taken to begin building his/her engine

Build it right the first time.

So what do you look for in a good machine shop? We’ll try to shed a little light on the matter, so that next time you are hunting for the right place you know you’re in good hands.

Foremost, the first and most important thing you want to address is knowing how you plan to drive your vehicle (time attack, drag, autocross) before you start your project. All too often, we hear about customers wanting a stout, reliable street motor who suddenly change their mind in the middle of a machine job and request that their setup spins to 8,000 rpm with the addition of a big turbo or nitrous, all while on a budget.

Machine Shop

Is the shop clean or messy? Most machine shops are typically cluttered, but on the flip side, a shop that is messy will typically reflect the machinist’s work. A shop that is clean will have machinery that is clean. Simply stated, clean tools do their jobs better.

Types of Machinery/Tools

The defining characteristic of most shops is the type of machines they operate. Is the equipment new, top of the line, and well maintained? Many customers prefer old-school machinists using old-school machines, but take into consideration that as a piece of equipment gets older its ability to hold narrow tolerances slips, particularly if it has not been regularly maintained and periodically calibrated. CNC machines are regularly calibrated or replaced due to wear and tear issues every 10 years to keep up with newer, more improved technology.

TIPS WHEN CHOOSING CAR TRANSMISSION REPAIR SERVICE

While a big portion of the population may own their own vehicle that certainly doesn’t mean that all of us are experts in identifying or repairing the problem, in the event of an unexpected breakdown. Cars and especially, transmissions are complicated and should only be handled by a trained expert who understands the ins and outs of car transmission repair. Therefore, it’s important to follow these three tips when searching for a car transmission repair service for your vehicle.

Find a mechanic BEFORE your transmission goes out (or even, before it starts acting up). Many people make the fatal mistake of waiting to find a repair shop until their vehicle is broken down. This way, they have no other choice, but to go with the cheapest (which could be the worst option)…or the closest option (which could also be the worst). Don’t wait until your car transmission actually needs repair — get a reliable transmission repair shop you can trust, today! There are several ways to find a reputable mechanic or repair shop who is experienced in car transmission repair. A professional repair shop will have the capabilities and the expertise they need to solve even your most difficult transmission problems, in an affordable and effective manner. If you choose an experienced transmission repair shop, you will have the benefit of getting good quality work with good, long-term results and you can spare yourself from being cheated by inexperienced service personnel or mechanics.

Look for money-saving promotions, coupons and other discounts. Most car transmission repair shops will advertise their discounts, post coupons or run other promotions in the hopes of obtaining your business. Check through the local newspaper — many repair shops offer special promotions or coupons to discount-savvy shoppers through the local newspaper. If you’re paying for an expensive transmission repair — even a discount of 10 to 20 percent can save you a lot of money. We offers discounts to, seniors and military personnel, as well as, printing several coupons to make your car transmission repair, more affordable.

Get everything free. Okay, well maybe you won’t be able to get the actual repairs free, but there are several “free offerings” that you should look out for when shopping for a car transmission repair service. Some of the free options include, a FREE estimate, a FREE pick-up and delivery service (as long as you are within a pre-determined distance) and FREE diagnostics services. Some car transmission repair shops also offer FREE routine check-ups and FREE fault-detection services, as well

If you consider yourself a smart consumer, you know that playing it smart is about saving as much money, but getting the most bang for your buck, as you can — is definitely the way to go. Keep these simple tips in mind, the next time you are choosing a car transmission repair service for your manual transmission vehicle

Tips for Choosing the Best for Auto Transmission Repair Service

Many people now have cars and they know pretty well to take care of their vehicles. However, when there are technical problems in the engine of the car, the only way to make the car rolling again is to avail services from the competent service provider, who can deal successfully with auto transmission repair and bring the car into original working condition again. Nevertheless, there may be numbers of auto transmission repairing service centres in a locality and the car owners need to select someone, who has thorough knowledge about the repairs of car transmission. It is better to keep in touch with any local auto transmission repair service centre or mechanic, for meeting any urgent requirement in near future

Look out for Recommendations – It is best to ask the close friends or colleagues or other family members about the references of suitable service centres providing auto transmission repair in the same locality. These people can answer from their own experiences and may recommend the service providers that have satisfied them with best car transmission repairing works.

Check out the Customers Reviews Online – Every auto transmission repairing centre nowadays has their own website, which can be checked for going through the testimonials or reviews posted by their previous customers, whether they are satisfied with the auto transmission repairing services of these agencies or not.

Compare the Quoted Estimates – Ask every shortlisted auto transmission repairing service provider of the locality free quotes, after they check the exact problem that needs to be rectified in the concerned car and be ready to provide the estimate for auto transmission repair of that car. Then the customer can compare all the given quotes and choose the most affordable one as per his budget and the quality of the service, though, decide only after judging other qualifying factors too. If any service provider is offering any discount or coupon on their specific services, the customer should have knowledge about it for availing the scope of lowering his expense on car repairs.

Know about Qualification of Mechanics – It is better to check whether the auto transmission mechanics of the repairing service provider are duly certified on dealing with all types of auto transmission repairing works from any reputed institute or the car manufacturing companies. Moreover, these mechanics and the service provider company should have a valid license from the local authority for handling auto transmission works.

How to Choose Good Transmission Service Repair Shops

Are you looking for good and honest service providers or repair shops for your car transmission? Finding a perfect service provider can be a daunting task if you are doing it for the first time. You may have heard some cases about bad transmission repairs. The transmission repairs can be cheap, provided you choose the reliable repair shop, such as Borst Automotive. Your car cannot function without proper transmission. When you know you are having problems in your transmission you need to repair the engine. If you do not get it done on time from a good service provider, you have to pay for that at a later stage where the car can completely breakdown. Many important things are there, you need to understand when you look for the repair shops.

Finding a perfect service provider can be a daunting task if you are doing it for the first time. You may have heard some cases about bad transmission repairs. The transmission repairs can be cheap, provided you choose the reliable repair shop. Your car cannot function without proper transmission. When you know, you are having problems in your transmission you need to repair the engine. If you do not get it done on time from a good service provider, you have to pay for that at a later stage where the car can completely breakdown. Many important things are there, you need to understand when you look for the repair shops.

Ask for referrals: You can start with asking referrals to your friends, family, and co-workers for some good contacts, which they have used. It is possible that you will get some good references, which can make your life simple. You can make a list of nearby service shops and see if you have the shop, which is referred to you.

Experience: Once you shortlist some good options then you check with all the other things such as the experience of the mechanic who is going to help you with your transmission service

Know-how: With experience, they should also have the right knowledge about the particular engine type. As different car companies use different technology in engines. They should be able to identify the problem and work accordingly. They should help you with all the repair and servicing works and with genuine parts if needed.

How to Find a Transmission Repair Shop

Transmission repair is anything but cheap, and when you decide to take your car to a repair shop, you better make sure you pick a reliable shop that suits your budget. When transmission repair costs can range anywhere from $1000 to $4000, you don’t want to pay for a slipshod service and end up with a transmission that will only develop problems again. A poorly done repair can end up costing you more in the end, which is why you shouldn’t choose the cheap option all the time. You don’t want to overpay either, so an honest, high quality, friendly transmission repair shop is what you want. There are a few things you can look for in a shop before you decide to bring your car in for repairs.

Ask around for recommendations – Chances are your family and friends have experienced car problems before, and they probably know some trustworthy shops around. Ask people you know for their recommendations of repair shops that offer fair prices, high quality repairs, and awesome customer service.

Avoid cheap or over the top services –When looking for a transmission repair shop, look for one that offers prices in between too expensive and cheap. You are going to want to get estimates from multiple shops first before you decide on one. Expensive shops are often just ripping you off and might be dishonest about what they are doing to your car. They might be tacking on a bunch of services that you don’t need just to increase the bill. On the other end, cheap is cheap. If you are looking for repair shops that offer cheap prices, chances are you’re going to get cheap repairs. Avoid shops that offer remarkably low prices, because oftentimes they are lowering the price just to get the job, their quality of work is sloppy, or they will mark up the price once they’re finished.

ATRA membership – ATRA stands for the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association, and they’re an organization that specializes in transmission repair. ATRA offers membership to shops that meet their Code of Ethics, which includes honesty, professionalism, and friendliness. ATRA accredited shops also offer a warranty program for repairs, which can range from 12 to 36 months. You can find an ATRA accredited repair shop here at their site.

Professionalism – You can usually tell how seriously a transmission repair shop takes their work by the way the shop is portrayed, in ads and appearance. A clean, organized shop is indicative of a high quality organization. You should also look for training, certification, and memberships in organizations such as the Better Business Bureau. Avoid shops that appear sleazy or a bit off. (The commercial below is a parody, but you get the point.)

Transmission Repair Options

Are you faced with a failed transmission and the dilemma of deciding which transmission repair option is best for your vehicle? It’s a tough spot to be in but here’s good news: you have options aplenty.

Depending on the age, make, and model of your car, light-duty truck, van, or SUV – and whether your vehicle features an automatic or a manual transmission – your decision will likely be determined by a multitude of factors including cost, quality, and when you need your wheels back.

A New Transmission

Many people believe when they buy a new transmission to have installed in their vehicle, that they are getting a brand new factory-made one. That is usually not the case. Brand new transmissions are not available from the manufacturer, your automotive dealer, or any other source. New transmissions are only used in the production of new cars and trucks. Thus, when you purchase a “new” transmission, you are, in fact, getting one that has been remanufactured. Be advised the price tag affixed to a so-called new transmission and a remanufactured one may not be the same

A Rebuilt Transmission

Whether you call it a rebuilt, refurbished, reconditioned, or overhauled transmission, the result is the same.  A rebuilt transmission is a transmission that has been disassembled and inspected, all the worn or damaged parts are replaced, and then the transmission is reassembled to factory specifications. Some components will be replaced as part of this process: new gaskets.

The term “rebuilt” is used in a shop setting where the customer’s transmission is removed from the car, rebuilt and then reinstalled. It is a custom process performed by an experienced, technology-savvy technician. One of the major benefits of having your transmission rebuilt is that often there are new updated components that can be installed. These updated components often address common weak points of the transmission; thus they are less likely to fail in the future